Question

Harry, a 49-year-old construction worker recuperating from a myocardial infarction, returns to the medical clinic for a follow-up evaluation. Harry is uncooperative; Dr. Cooper discovers that Harry is not taking his anticoagulants, is back to work a month prior to the recommended time, and is still chain-smoking. Harry is quite agitated and secretly believes that if he ignores his heart issue, it will all go away. Today he fears that Dr. Cooper will be quite unhappy with his noncompliance and is not sure he can face the consequences he knows for certain he will hear about.

1. Is Harry using any defense mechanism and, if so, which one(s)?

2. If you were Dr. Cooper, what would your therapeutic response be to Harry?