A 34-year-old woman seeks treatment for increasing symptoms of anxiety. She is the single mother of a 4-year-old girl, after having separated from her daughter's father 3 months ago. She reports that their separation was mutual and they continue to be friends, but anxiety is increasing. She is concerned about her ability to be a single parent and has recently considered sending her daughter to live with the father. She feels disconnected and unsure how to get things back to normal. What should the social worker do FIRST?

• A. Discuss a referral to a psychiatrist for medication evaluation.
• B. Offer a joint session with client's ex to discuss ways to split the daughter's time between the two of them.
• C. Assess whether there have been any recent incidents that contributed to client's increased anxiety.
• D. Acknowledge client's feelings of distress.

Answer: (D)