aufsuchen

10:56 May 25, 2012 

The PM, who has some training in the field but I don't know how much, replied: "I guess it is meant as follows: the patients try to avoid a situation but the extent of the avoidance depends on whether they face the situation alone or in company. So the major reference is the EXTENT - they might avoid a fear situation less, if they are not alone."
I don't find this very helpful in translating the specific sentence, so I am probaably going to leave it as a query when I submit the translation.

21:19 May 24, 2012 

...I'd better send the client a query. The more we discuss it the more confusing it seems to get. The reason I did not think it was a typo or similar error in the German text is that, as my original posting showed, I find the same thing elsewhere (in German) on the web--not just the example I gave, but others based on it. If I get any response I will post it here. Thanks, everybody!

20:48 May 24, 2012 

In real life I would do the same. But during therapy, people are exposed to those situations and then they may still show avoidance reactions. That's what I was trying to say. :-)

20:16 May 24, 2012 

It could mean that a patient who is e. g. afraid of going by bus walks to the bus station (= "Situation aufsuchen"). Then, the question is if he is able to overcome his fear and get on the bus - either alone or in company - or if he avoids the problem.

19:28 May 24, 2012 

Well, if I were afraid of snakes (for example), I would not walk up to them and then get frightened and run away. I would avoid them. I would not go anywhere where they might be!

19:01 May 24, 2012 

... that you have to expose yourself to that threatening situation first, in order to then exhibit symptoms of avoidance? Just wondering ... Like walk into the room (alone or under supervision) but then not look at the eight-legged monster?

17:43 May 24, 2012 

In English at least, you can't confront AND avoid something. It has to be one or the other.

17:10 May 24, 2012 

"aufsuchen" by "vermeiden", especially if it is in company. There has to be a seeking out of the experience before the avoidance can come in?

17:05 May 24, 2012 

I see your point and the sentence certainly should be rephrased, but in the end, I think we mean the same thing: avoidance when (confronted) alone.
If you would just replace "aufsuchen" in the German sentence by "vermeiden", you'd probably have to read the sentence twice to get the meaning, because IMO, we'd rather think that 'situation' and 'alone' belong together. So either way, the German sentence is not very clear.