Regarding parental visits during the upset stage, which statement is true?

• A. Parental visits should be avoided to reduce distress
• B. Parental visits guarantee immediate improvement
• C. A parental visit can evoke intense grief and anger but indicates the child has not yet entered despair
• D. Parental visits are irrelevant to the child's emotional state

Answer: (C)

During the upset stage, a parent’s presence can stir strong emotions in the child—grief, fear, and anger—because the child is still deeply connected to the caregiver and is processing a frightening or painful situation. That intense reaction isn’t a sign to withdraw support; it’s part of working through the distress. Importantly, these strong feelings indicate the child hasn’t yet moved into the despair or withdrawal phase, where engagement often diminishes. So the best statement recognizes both the potential for a parental visit to provoke powerful emotions and what those emotions signify about where the child is in their coping process.