Coping self-statements are best described as:

• A. Positive affirmations or reminders that help clients manage stress and negative thoughts.
• B. Negative self-talk that reinforces anxiety.
• C. A set of breathing techniques with no cognitive content.
• D. External instructions from therapists.

Answer: (A)

Coping self-statements are a cognitive-behavioral tool in which clients use positive self-talk to influence how they appraise and respond to stressors. They consist of affirmations, reminders, and coping statements that counter negative thoughts and help maintain adaptive behavior under pressure. This makes the description of positive affirmations or reminders the best fit, because it captures both the cognitive content and the self-directed, proactive nature of these statements. In contrast, negative self-talk would amplify anxiety; a set of breathing techniques without cognitive content lacks the internal cognitive component; external instructions from therapists are not self-generated coping statements.