Top Discussions

Active Listening

Active listening occurs when a person is responsive, attentive, and encouraging towards a speaker. This can involve asking questions for confirmation or simply staying silent to fully comprehend everything being said. The goal is not to respond but to understand. This type of listening assures the speaker that they are not only being heard but understood. Because of how it supports the speaker (or client), active listening is considered a highly effective therapy technique. 

Passive listening, however, is not a recommended technique. By appearing distracted, giving no responses (verbal, physical/body language), or appearing forgetful, it shows the client that what they have to say is unimportant. Even if it seems obvious, small, or dramatic, supportive therapists need to show their care. To them, it could be the most tragic incident or deepest feelings. Listening actively is one step that makes a large difference in trust-building. 

I found a source to help me put the feelings into words (below), but my true understanding of active listening comes from a very dear friend of mine. Our relationship is fully virtual, so words are our platonic "love language". Every time I share an event, thought, or feeling that he thinks I need support for, he listens actively to me. He responds with conformational questions or statements to make sure he is correctly understanding me. This alone makes me feel like I am truly being heard and that someone wants to know what's going on in my head or my mindset on something. This also helps us in future interactions when a similar topic is brought up, and thus our bond grows. I have even asked his advice and tried to copy his methods in order to be a more active listener myself.

Managing Anxiety and Fear with Emotional Intelligence

Anxiety and fear run rampant in a world favoring speed. It's crucial in these fast-paced environments we live in to slow down and manage our stress. Stress, which runs alongside anxiety and fear, occurs in the sympathetic system. This is our fight-or-flight response. When we are relaxed, however the parasympathetic response occurs. Ideally, these systems work in harmony. We need the parasympathetic system to digest, sleep, and for our heart rates to slow. Many important bodily functions occur during this time. Adrenaline increases, however, as the sympathetic response turns on. This allows us to appropriately react in times of stress, fear, disorganization, or speed. When only one system or the other is always on, our bodies can't work properly. 

Although the body responds similarly to fear and anxiety, the psychological reactions are different. When faced with anticipation from generalized anxiety (my personal diagnosis and thus my favorite topic), an individual will be avoidant and future-oriented. The fight-or-flight response is ready, but not activated (Hooley, J. M., Nock, M. K., & Butcher, J. N., page 163). When a phobia is challenged, though, the fight-or-flight response turns on. The individual is focused entirely on the present situation and wants to get out as soon as possible (Hooley, J. M., Nock, M. K., & Butcher, J. N., page 163). 

Anxiety disorder affects an individual's emotional intelligence. When anxiety is present, consideration for other people or situations is far harder to focus on. Emotional intelligence slips as logical explanations and reactions seem further out of grasp. No matter how much I personally learn about my emotions and how to handle them, anxiety still takes over even when I try to be prepared for it. This is why I believe therapy, mindfulness, and other coping strategies are incredibly important yet not the entire solution to anxiety. Medication sometimes is necessary for an individual to access their emotional intelligence and rational thinking.

Hooley, J. M., Nock, M. K., & Butcher, J. N. (2019). Abnormal Psychology (18th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780135191033

Changes in DSM concerning homosexuality and PTSD

Homosexuality was labelled a mental illness or disease in 1968 and is still often viewed as such. In 1973, the terminology changed yet conveyed the same message that homosexuality was abnormal. It was only completely removed from the DSM in 1987, but conversion therapy is still deemed ethical to this day. 

The mental health field has greatly progressed to become what it is today. The growing education in the intersection of psychology and sexuality has partly fueled this, as the DSM change throughout the mid-to-late 1900s was the first step of many. Concern for and legitimacy of PTSD also grew. Today, complex PTSD is being recognized more frequently (and accurately) rather than the more obvious or extreme PTSD. These contributions have pushed for social change in the knowledge and respect of mental health. In many states (countries), shorter work weeks are being considered. More individuals go to therapy than ever before. Education of smaller mental health practices such as meditating and developing healthier patterns is widely taught now. 

DSM research trends apply to self-care. As diseases and identities are researched, normalized, and welcomed into culture, individuals with these will find validation. This drives self-acceptance and social relationships, which ultimately helps people take care of themselves. Mental health is a precious, crucial part of being human.

Drescher, J. (2015a). Out of DSM: Depathologizing Homosexuality. Behavioral Sciences, 5(4), 565–575. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.3390/bs5040565

Drescher, J. (2015b). Queer diagnoses revisited: The past and future of homosexuality and gender diagnoses in DSM and ICD [Abstract]. International Review of Psychiatry, 27(5), 386–395. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.3109/09540261.2015.1053847 Friedman, M. J. (n.d.). PTSD history and overview. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/history_ptsd.asp#:~:text=In%201980%2 C%20the%20American%20Psychiatric,in%20psychiatric%20theory%20and%20practice Humphreys, P. (2011, April). Psychopathologies: Paul Humphreys explores definitions and diagnoses of ‘abnormality,’ from historical perspectives to the present day. Psychology Review, 16(4), 2+.

Perina, K. (Ed.). (2015, September 18). When homosexuality stopped being a mental disorder. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201509/when-homosexuality-stopped-being-mental-disorder

The Impact of Gender Roles from Childhood to Adulthood

My upbringing was, like most individuals, very dependent on gender. As the textbook video mentions, girls played with dolls and boys played with toy cars. My and my brothers' childhoods were no different, and I now find it comical how much meaning we as adults give toys that, in reality, have no gender. Little girls may learn to mother from taking care of plastic babies, but they still view it as play. Toys have nothing to do with it all; the children just want to do whatever their parents are doing and appear independent. 

Still, I was taught "feminine" roles such as cleaning, wanting children, and getting married as if those were the only possible aspirations. My brothers were always told to clean, but they didn't have to like I did. They were also asked to be more quiet, but they didn't have to like I did. Violence has not been a thought in my head since childhood, but my brother is in the army. Even in a less traditional household, the implication was everything. Don't sit with your legs like that, that isn't very ladylike, your clothes make your brothers uncomfortable...The best part of it all is that I still am agender and laugh at it all now. 

My family was in an in-between stage that wanted women to have rights and work, but they still had to be treated differently. School, sports, and even some forms of leadership were encouraged, but a girl's role was to become a (working) mom someday. I didn't want any rules or roles at all. I was taught to bite my tongue and let someone else handle the work. Because of that, I grew up believing I was less qualified, less capable, less ambitious, less. The moment I began to question myself, all of that changed. I still have anxiety in leadership roles because of how poorly I was prepared. However, I look back knowing it was all a lie.  

Technology and social media greatly impacted my acceptance of my own gender and the genders around me. I actually wonder what I would be like had I not introduced myself to social media at such a young age. Perhaps I'd be less anxious of my appearance, but I learned a lot from those I didn't see enough in my daily life. Trans people were rare for me to meet as a child, and social media and the internet allowed me to discover the world for myself. I got to connect with people I would've been told to stay away from. Still, I didn't even consider my own gender until adulthood. Actually, one day at work I was heading to the bathroom and jerked to a stop mid-doorway under the woman's sign. It was like walking into an invisible wall of agender. 

As a nanny and new pibling, I cannot imagine putting a child in a box that is gender, or at least gender roles. Kids were built to take over the world; how could they do that in highly socially constructed ways based on parts of their bodies they shouldn't even be concerned with?

[Agender: someone who does not experience, have, and/or believe in gender. They may not conform to gender roles or align with their assigned gender at birth. They may or may not be transsexual, and sexuality is treated separately.] 

David G. Meyers & Jean M. Twenge. 2022. Social Psychology. Chapter 5: Gender Roles and How Individuals Adapt Over Time. McGraw Hill. 

Importance of Culture Similarities Between Counselor and Client

Culture heavily impacts the relationship between counselor and client. Most clients prefer counselors of similar backgrounds as they feel most comfortable with those that may understand them better. The first factor of diversity that counselors should consider when approaching their client is race and/or ethnicity. Whether intentional or not, we always notice what we see first. A counselor who looks like us we automatically put more trust into, especially when that counselor may experience the same racism that the client experiences. Racism, stereotyping, and other oppressive experiences play a very crucial role in mental health and mental health treatment. A white therapist would have to work hard to obtain the trust and ensure the safety of a black client. 

A second factor is gender and sexuality, specifically whether a counselor and client both belong to the LGBT+ community or not. Of course, every identity's experience is different. For example, the trans experience is extremely different from the gay experience growing up. By establishing a sense of safety and security- just as with race- any counselor can offer support. However, it is incredibly difficult for someone without an oppressed experience to understand or properly support their client. 

The third factor I believe should be considered is socioeconomic background. The rich versus poor experience, especially as a child, heavily impacts a person's views on the world and ability to connect with one another. A client who was raised with many limitations and used to realism may need to work with a counselor who understands how that affects their mental health and personality. A counselor who never struggled financially will not be able to completely empathize with a client who is in therapy partially because of financial stress. 

Ultimately, a good counselor does not depend on their own experiences in order to connect with their client. Every individual's stresses, struggles, and oppressive experiences are different. A good therapist will be able to research the topics and learn through their clients. They will reflect and listen to their client rather than tie it back to them personally.

The Barnum Effect and Stereotyping

The Barnum effect is a psychological phenomenon in which broad, non-specific persona traits are accepted as true and applicable to specific individuals. It mostly relies on a sense of gullibility (although we've all fallen for them, and probably always will in part). This is seen in horoscopes, tarot readings, church sermons, personality tests, and just about any TikTok you can find about mental health and personality. In one of my last classes we had a very similar discussion topic and I talked about the Barnum effect in online mental health spaces. Too often, we accept characteristics- even disorders ones- as our own because we have no context or "this is what normal-ish looks like" to refer to. 

The Barnum effect applies to groups, too. Often, we judge a group based on accepted, vague beliefs. Some of the text's examples reference my own experiences with "stereotypes" (LGBT+, Native American). It challenges many of these broad statements with the question, "Who isn't like that?" (Shiraev & Levy, page 54). 

Immigrants are also subject to the Barnum effect. We (as in those like me who were born here) always heard in school that immigrants come here for a "better life". As I've grown up, of course, I've seen what that better life looks like. To some, it's a miracle. To others, it's a disaster. In many cases, the life is better, but at what cost? What did these people lose? What did they go through to get here? What are they still/now facing here? There was never room for the question, "What is a better life?", or, "Why?" There was never even room for, "Are you an immigrant? What was your experience like?" 

We live in a constant state of "otherness" and the Barnum effect fuels it. It does not, however, have to keep us separated or confined. Just like with personality tests, most religious or spiritual "proof", and ADHD TikToks (that's my rabbit hole), we have to use our critical thinking filter. In this aspect, it is no longer ourselves we are defining- it is entire people groups. It is how we deal with the world. We cannot do such hastily. 

Shiraev, E. B., & Levy, D. A. (2020). Cross-Cultural Psychology (7th ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780429534478

Possible Social and Cultural Causes of Mental Illnesses (Nature VS Nurture)

The idea that some mental illness is an environmental response is not new or revolutionary. I've believed this my entire life. Of course an organism designed for survival is not going to do well in a society designed for far beyond such. Our bodies are meant to eat, sleep, socialize, and take care of ourselves on schedules and without many limitations. We've thrown rules in the mix, though. We can only eat according to our work schedules, we have to work in highly stressful environments in order to eat and provide, we have to provide rather than hunting and gathering, and we have forced ourselves into so many boxes that go against our biology. We stare at screens for hours and hours, subconsciously gathering information we probably don't even want. We confine ourselves away from each other for hours and sometimes days for work, or for those of us who live alone. Humans have to socialize, though. We give ourselves societal rules such as manners and social expectations that were biologically as simple as eating bugs off of each others' fur. Obviously that's nobody's ideal image of our world- perhaps our society's progression is a wonderful thing. However, our brains and bodies were never made for this. 

If we told ourselves and each other that our disordered behaviors and symptoms were our individual means of survival, I think that mental health care would completely change. In fact, this is a coping mechanism taught in therapy: there's nothing wrong with you, you just need to do _ in order to function properly. 

Labels and diagnosis are incredibly important to many people, however. To some degree, saying that ADHD or anxiety is just another brain state is harmful because many will abuse that in order to belittle or dismiss these behaviors. Sure, my anxiety is a response to stress, but that doesn't help the fact that my anxiety keeps from doing the things I ultimately have to do. My panic attacks still suck, my sleep is still dysfunctional, and my depression still keeps me in bed when I should be writing a discussion post for Abnormal Psychology. These behaviors are still unwanted and unhelpful and sometimes detrimental, so people still need to take them seriously. 

This relates to self-care. Being diagnosed or, at the very least, self-diagnosing can be incredibly relieving. To know that there's nothing "wrong" with you and in fact a very reasonable explanation for your behaviors and feelings is therapeutic in itself. No matter how you or those around you view mental illness, you should always understand your symptoms and recognize that you are not broken, you just need to take extra steps. Once you've accepted this fact, the symptoms become manageable.

Social Context in Community

As described in the article Changing Contexts and the Field of Community Psychology, social conditions impact community psychology and vice versa. In the sixties, there was optimism and anticipation for the growing field concerning civil rights, feminism, and war. The 90s were met with health crises and crime rise, and thus psychologists emphasized a better method of handling these problems. We draw from these experiences to see the greater emergence of the field we learn of today. 

Our generations are no strangers to public health crises, rights and protests, war and foreign aid policies, and crime. We have all been concerned with these problems in as little as the last four years. Community psychology matters in these contexts. Had we not prepared for and directly addressed COVID-19, policing issues, gun laws and school shootings, foreign policies, and other problems, we may be even more unstable than we are now. Many of our communities- large and small- did not appropriately address such events and are facing severe consequences. 

To me, all of these issues matter. Public schools should be a safe educational space for children both physically and mentally, healthcare should be accessible to all, no one should starve, and so on. It is not always so simple, though, to demand everyone get what they deserve and every conflict resolved. Internal disagreement on method, though one of the beauties of our country, holds us to a standstill. I believe that the smallest communities- individually and as a combined whole- are the key to working towards safety, equity, and possibly even peace. 

Kelly, J. G. (1990). Changing Contexts and the Field of Community Psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18(6), 769. https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fchanging-contexts-field-community-psychology%2Fdocview%2F1295895232%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D3783

Western VS Non-Western Countries: Locus of Control

According to the text, locus of control is the degree to which an individual believes they have control over their major life events (Shiraev, page 446). For example, I grew up religious and therefore was taught that God planned out everyone's lives and that everything "good" or "bad" (according to whichever church I attended at the time) would result in life events to match. This would represent an external locus of control. As I've grown up, worked, and had many events that I believe do not deserve to be labeled as consequences and rather are pure coincidence, I've developed a more "neutral" locus of control. I can now see that not everything is a punishment or reward from the universe.

Many people, usually religious or spiritual, have a more external locus of control. This, in part, plays into the geography of the question, "Why do individuals from Western countries, as a group, tend to display a somewhat stronger internal locus of control?" Buddhism and Hinduism- Eastern religions- largely emphasize the idea of karma, or that the events we undergo directly represent the actions we have previously committed. Although many religious people live in Western countries as well, they often keep their spiritual beliefs separate from their drive/life plans. 

The second cause comes from individualistic ideas that we've previously discussed. In the U.S., it's our infamous "American dream". Concepts of capitalism, saving up money, moving out of the home as soon as possible, creating your own/new family, and always having personal goals fuel an internal locus of control. This remains true in other Western countries where these traits are highly valued. In Eastern areas, collectivists stick together and may practice more "acceptance" of what happens to them individually because they often rely on one another.

It's important to remember that these trends are not always true, though. Many religious, collectivist people have a strong sense of control over their own lives. This can be due to experience, trauma, "preferred" teachings, or even simply personality. Conversely, many non-religious and individualistic people believe strongly in the power of external forces. Most of us lie on a continuum determined by the combination of these factors. 

Shiraev, E. B., & Levy, D. A. (2020). Cross-Cultural Psychology (7th ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780429534478

Community Response to Criminal Justice (Current Events, Community Planning, Social Change)

Since the height of 2020, the country has had a huge influx of awareness in criminal cases and criminal justice. George Floyd and Breona Taylor- we are all familiar with these names by now, and they sadly continue to add up. 

As court and criminal case knowledge spread across social media, news outlets, journalists, community leaders, and victims' families, the public began to take action. Endless educational posts were shared, and more than ever, citizens of these countries came together to demand justice for victims of police brutality. The protests continued as bills were introduced, including H.R.1280- the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. This would create a range of programs and training in order to "hold officers more accountable" (U.S. Congress 2022). Floyd's murderers were sentenced to prison recently; the involved officers given over three years in prison, and Derek Chauvin, the one who held his knee over Floyd, was sentenced to twenty-one years (Parks and Levenson, 2023).

The public has not stopped there, though. We have all become hyper-aware (and some desensitized) of how frequently these cases occur. Since 2020, more Americans have kept up-to-date with cases of police brutality, as well as race-based policing. The ideas of defunding, dismantling, training, re-building, and reforming American police have stayed highly relevant even as media coverage has decreased. 

There are always individuals who stay aware of and involved in social causes, but communities come together when a problem is unignorable. And once that happens, it is (thankfully!) very difficult to stop them. 

United States Congress. (2022). H.R.1280 George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2022. Congress.Gov. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1280

Brad Parks and Eric Levenson. (7 August 2023). Officer who held back crowd during George Floyd's murder sentenced to over 4 years in prison. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/07/us/tou-thao-george-floyd-sentence/index.html

Maslow's Theory Across Cultures

Humanistic psychology was first recognized as a respected, useful field in the mid-1900s as psychologists grew more interested in human values and intentions. Self-actualization is a large part of this research. Abraham Maslow further developed these concepts with his theory that humans have various sets of needs that must be obtained in chronological order. This Hierarchy of Needs has five levels, beginning with physiological needs. These are the physical needs of food and water, and safety follows as the second level. Level three, belonging and love, includes social needs. Level four moves into self-esteem and confidence, and the final level is self-actualization (Shiraev, page 274).

This theory recognizes the first-world perspective on human needs. To most of us, this makes perfect chronological sense. However, many cultures are not awarded food, water, shelter, and safety in childhood so easily. Many indigenous tribes and independent nations work on each need simultaneously as they grow up, as well as during adulthood. Many areas of the world face terrorism, dictatorship, and poverty, but the people undergoing these circumstances are highly holistic and/or self-aware. 

Palestinians are a family-oriented, land-tied culture rooted in Sunni-Islamic beliefs. Like many cultures we have previously discussed, they are mostly collectivist and have external locus controls. From October 7th, 2023 to January 1st, 2024, nearly 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli Gaza strikes (Gaza Health Ministry 2024). We are all aware of the ongoing tragedy, but many of us remain naive to the culture and the people. Survivors have been diminished to starvation, disease, cruel treatment, and home raids- this does not even touch on the hospital crisis. Despite all of these human rights violations- removing layers 1, 2, and almost entirely 3 of Maslow's hierarchy- Palestinians remain helpful to one another, hopeful for change, and have large senses of community and self-actualization. The erasure of material and physical circumstances does not take away their bravery or identities, and I believe this applies to any culture. 

Maslow's Theory helps understand why someone may be suffering emotionally/mentally/psychologically. For example, not sleeping and eating will of course lead to a disrupted sense of self. However, the hierarchy of needs is not fixed in reality. It does not attribute to culture, religion, spirituality, society, or even the self. To better fit humans, these categories must be expanded upon and intertwined. 

Evason, N. (2020). Palestinian Culture: Religion. Cultural Atlas. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/palestinian-culture/palestinian-culture-religion

Michigan School of Psychology. (2019). Humanistic Psychology. Michigan School of Psychology. https://msp.edu/about/explore-msp/humanistic-psychology/

Gaza Health Ministry. (1 January 2024). 21,978 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/21978-palestinians-killed-israeli-strikes-gaza-since-oct-7-gaza-health-ministry-2024-01-01/#:~:text=21%2C978%20Palestinians%20killed%20in%20Israeli,7%20%2D%20Gaza%20health%20ministry%20%7C%20Reuters

Shiraev, E. B., & Levy, D. A. (2020). Cross-Cultural Psychology (7th ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780429534478

Conformity & Obediance

As emphasized in the text, conformity is not necessarily consequential, beneficial, or "bad". Many cases of conformity and public obedience have shown dangerous effects on minorities, though. COVID and the year 2020 brought up popularized cases of rebellion versus conformity. An older historical example, however, is the AIDS crisis. Throughout the beginning of the epidemic in the 80s and 90s, millions of homosexual men needed support yet were disowned by their loved ones. The public saw the condition as a sign of homosexuality and thus inferiority, and even an excuse to deny treatment. People have notoriously ignored health crises due to peer pressure since the dawn of medicine. 

The idea of obedience is taught in CPR class a lot as well. Oftentimes, CPR-trained individuals freeze up in a crowd because they see everyone else standing helpless when someone goes into cardiac arrest, even if they understand the critical circumstances. This goes hand in hand with conformity and "following the crowd". The smaller the group of people, generally, the easier it is for the person to step forward and perform CPR. It also gets less intimidating the more the person performs CPR, and I suspect this is the case with other forms of conformity. The more an individual grows used to standing out from the crowd, the more comfortable they feel doing so. It appears that the only way to overcome the negative effects of conformity is to do the exact thing one is embarrassed by or afraid of.

Myers, D. G. & Twenge, J. M. (2022). Social Psychology (14th ed.). McGraw Hill.

The Bystander Effect

I have witnessed the bystander effect and been part of it numerous times, especially as a child. In school, they often teach about bullying and encourage the bystander to overcome their fear of responsibility. In CPR classes, this is taught because the bystander effect often occurs for those with CPR training when someone within a larger group goes into cardiac arrest. Still, Kitty Genovese's story horrified me. To even imagine watching someone be brutally assaulted and/or killed and do nothing at all is incredibly saddening. However, it makes me consider all of the times I've kept walking past people in public who I thought were experiencing an emergency. Just as discussed in the textbook, I see that no one else is concerned and therefore release stress over the situation. Many times, it is a safety concern; "What if they attack me? What if it's a trick?" 

Ever since a bullying experience in elementary school, I've tried to overcome the bystander effect in verbal conflicts. As a queer person, I also have a general understanding to stick up for others. Violence, however, I imagine I would have a much harder time reacting to. I don't believe a 911 phone call or something less involved would be difficult, but stepping in a hostile scene certainly would. I hope that if I am ever presented with the unfortunate opportunity, I help in every way I can. 

Myers, D. G. & Twenge, J. M. (2022). Social Psychology (14th ed.). McGraw Hill.

The Bystander Effect (?) Part Two

Kitty Genovese's story, as told by psychology textbooks, is far less disappointing in terms of how witnesses reacted than I previously believed. Rather than be completely ignored, Kitty was helped in small ways by dozens of people. Some called the police, some shouted in intervention, and the last woman to see Kitty held her in her arms until medics arrived. This is, of course, according to these witnesses in trial. It is entirely possible that they changed their stories to hide any shame. Still, a question of ethics must be raised when spreading disputed information as fact in textbooks and schools. Kitty Genovese deserves her truth to be told, whatever that may be. Read about her life here.

Dimensions of Wellness in Me & My Community

The eight dimensions described in the Colorado Nurse’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness inspire the reader to closely analyze the internal and external factors contributing to their state of being. Emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual lifestyle components all constantly impact our mood, health, and other makeup. This concept reminds us to be aware of these experiences to better care for ourselves.

The dimension that sticks out to me personally is the environmental construct. In today’s mental health and wellness spaces, there is a large emphasis on internal factors of wellness and what we can do to change them. However, it is often neglected the pivotal impact of the environment. The article defines this as promoting "good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments" (Garcia 2015). This is a broad statement that can be narrowed by further examining what makes an environment: demographics, job competition and diversity, resource availability, economic and social pressures (because these always intertwine), access to external and global resources, ethics, and, of course, politics. This leads to my main point that wellness is not exclusive to internal systems, but rather heavily relies on the vast relationships between each of the eight dimensions. There is little conversation of social health without addressing social justice, or financial wellness without addressing the economy, or intellectual without addressing education resources, and so on. 

My thoughts on this topic stem from my lived and observed experiences in my own environments. I have witnessed domestic violence, criminal injustice, the destruction of public school education and safety, and countless bans, and these do not simply frustrate an individual or group. These factors can completely destroy a demographic's wellness, from external trust and confidence to internal. 

Garcia, C. (2015). What are the Eight Dimensions of Wellness in Your Life? Colorado Nurse, 115(1), 6.

Wellness & Climate Change

A wellness issue that I believe will be considered important to explain current society (and all societies) is climate change. This connects to wellness as our environment impacts our physical and mental health via anxiety for safety, health, and future generations. Air, water, and land pollution contaminates our resources whilst irregular fires and storms threaten the safety of all animals. Global temperature rises (the quickest seen in, what, 22,000 years? Anyone else read that graph*?) are at their highest humanity has ever seen, and many fear we are not reacting quickly enough to protect ourselves and our resources. 

A reflection on this topic expands my understanding of wellness. In today's society, we think of our health and wellness as mindfulness, CBT, and Ozempic for weight loss (I hope someone talks about that). Many of us, even those who remain involved in current affairs and activism, forget how impactful these forces can be on our health. 

Climate change today is more discussed than ever before, but much of the general population still misunderstands it. And, more importantly, energy companies and other impactful corporations ignore and even refuse to adjust business strategies. I believe this is a timeless historical, scientific, social, and environmental issue. 

*Article that shows & explains the graph I'm referencing:

Desjardins, J. (15 September 2016). This stunning graphic shows Earth's temperature over 22,000 years. Visual Capitalist. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/stunning-graphic-earths-temperature-22000-years/

Psychological Studies in Media

In the peer-reviewed article, the writers used their own data and conclusions to form their summary. They kept it clear and concise, using a short paragraph that made sense to the reader. They also emphasized that although their research is suggestive, no generalizations should be made (Crockett et al, 2008). However, the journalist in the popular media article emphasized the suggestions. They expanded the scientists "serotonin could be..." to "serotonin absolutely will in an immense way..." (Laurance 2008).

This example shows why it's so important to refer to the empirical studies that media is based on. Journalists and reporters add their own assumptions and interpretations that they know will grab the population's attention. Scientists will publish the unbiased facts, which can then be understood by each person individually. 

This relates to social justice. So often, studies and theories are used to weaponize minorities or make smaller issues seem catastrophic. Climate change is a great example, as many outlets use research as a fear tactic rather than publish what we can do to help protect our environments. Plastic, pollution, and zoos are also great examples. Throughout history, this has been a corrupt phenomenon- take the AIDS crisis as another example. Links between homosexuals and AIDS turned into the illness being deemed a "gay disease". This happens especially in psychology. Women are more likely to have anxiety so of course every single health problem is due to their anxiety or hormones. Black people are more likely to be incarcerated so of course it's their fault rather than a questionable policing and educational system. The concept goes on and on, unfortunately. 

Crockett, M. J., Clark, L., Tabibnia, G., Lieberman, M. D., & Robbins, T. W. (2008, June 27). Serotonin modulates behavioral reactions to unfairness. Science (New York, N.Y.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2504725/  

Laurance, J. (2008, June 5). The cheesy secret behind successful decision making. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-cheesy-secret-behind-successful-decision-making-841419.html 

Data Literacy

The study I chose for Project Two was Casual Deviance and the Attribution of Moral Responsibility. It was made up of four experiments aiming to settle the hypothesis of whether people will assign less moral responsibility to someone accidentally committing an act that they originally intended to do anyways. For example, one of the twelve scenarios given to participants was an agent shooting a person who died right before they could due to a heart attack. There were heroic scenarios as well, but, interestingly, no significant difference was found between the negative and positive scenarios in relation to participant answers. In the last experiment, the researchers focused on the participants' intuitive versus rational thinking. That is, whether they answer logically or how they "feel". The study found that, except for when they are instructed specifically to answer rationally, people will waiver blame if there is an interruption. This could be very significant for both psychology and crime. If a person "accidentally" killed their victim and this information was presented to a jury, it very well could persuade a lesser sentence. This relates to social justice as it could very well change how people are punished or rewarded. At the very least, because the physical action was still committed, the way that person is viewed by the public would be swayed. Consider politicians, children, homeless people, and anyone whose intentions and actions tell different stories. 

Data literacy is crucial to properly sharing information, especially with the general public. Findings have to be simplified in order for people to understand without taking away from the importance of minor details. In this study, for example, the researchers switched from a negative and positive scenario to two negatives. Then, they analyzed the results in a different method as well. People need to understand the significance of each method and reason in order to fully appreciate the findings. If this study was summed up with "people discount moral blame when intent and action are disconnected from one another", that simply wouldn't be accurate. Word choice, transparency, and bias are crucial to how the public understands research.

David A. Pizarro, Eric Uhlmann, Paul Bloom. Causal deviance and the attribution of moral responsibility. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Volume 39, Issue 6, 2003, Pages 653-660, ISSN 0022-1031.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022103103000416

Statistical Literacy: How Important is Understanding Statistics to Effective Citizenship?

In order to rank the importance of understanding statistics, first we have to know what exactly an effective citizen is. According to the National Assessment for Educational Progress Civics Framework, these citizens contribute to the American political system through five dispositions: 

1. Becoming an independent member of society;

2. Assuming the personal, political, and economic responsibilities of a citizen;

3. respecting individual worth and human dignity;

4. participating in civic affairs in an informed, thoughtful, and effective manner; and

5. Promoting the healthy functioning of American constitutional democracy.

Statistics apply especially to number four. An effective citizen must be informed about politics and social issues in order to participate appropriately, which requires a basic understanding of statistics. Data literacy, as well as recognizing unbiased facts from opinion, is highly necessary.

Statistics in relation to effective citizenship apply to social justice. Media- and especially individual people- manipulate data to be understood in a specific way. Frequently, agendas are pushed in order to encourage an "us-versus-them" mentality in the public. Knowing where information comes from and the "filters" it has been put through before it gets to the individual can make a large difference in social conflicts. The effects of hormone replacement therapy, for example, have been completely misunderstood by the public due to transphobic influence. One common misconception is that "a lot of people", a majority even, regret HRT. In reality, 1% of people do- and the majority of this number is due to harassment and/or abuse. Interestingly, more people regret knee replacement surgery and college debt than HRT. This, and many other misconceptions about HRT data, continue to encourage doctors to deny HRT and other gender-affirming care to trans people. 

Misunderstanding data and statistics is not only confusing- it's dangerous. Thus, understanding statistics absolutely is necessary to effective citizenship.Always read the original sources when speaking on social issues, healthcare, or mental health.  

Admins. (2023). Building your skills as a citizen. Center for Civic Education. https://civiced.org/build-skills

Maria Anna Theodora Catharina van der Loos, MD; Sabine Elisabeth Hannema, PhD; Daniel Tatting Klink, PhD; Prof Martin den Heijer, PhD; Cchantal Maria Wiepjies, PhD. (October 20 20222). Continuation of gender-affirming hormones in transgender people starting puberty suppression in adolescence: a cohort study in the Netherlands. The Lancet. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(22)00254-1/fulltext

Marriott, N. (2014). The future of statistical thinking. Significance, 11(5), 78-80. Royal Statistical Society. doi:10.1111/j.1740-9713.2014.00787.x

Addiction Assessments (SASSI-3 and ASI)

Counselors should be well-versed in assessing addictions. In order to do so, it's important to understand the assessment process and different forms of such. Unstructured assessments are performed most easily by a range of counselors working in emotional health. These allow clients to feel comfortable as they discuss their experiences in casual conversation. Semi-structured assessments are slightly more involved as the counselor prepares a loose script. By using a list of topics or questions, the counselor can cover areas with the information they need without applying too much pressure on the client. In order to get the most accurate and reliable information, though, structured assessments are performed. Counselors who want to eliminate their own bias will use structured assessments, conducting a more formal interview (Capuzzi, D., and Stauffer, M. D., page 108). 

Counselors use assessments in order to create the best treatment plan for their client. Firstly, they'll need to know their client's demographics. They may ask about the client's family history, domestic life, close relationships, and other information surrounding their social life. It's also extremely important to for a counselor to know about the client's mental health history. This could include any addictive behavior, possible triggers, and any consequences they have suffered (Capuzzi, D., and Stauffer, M. D., page 109). 

There are several screenings available to counselors working with addiction. The SASSI-3 is one popular true-false questionnaire that focuses on substance dependency (Blackwell, T. L., & Toriello, P. J., 2005). The screening is designed to appear unrelated to addiction, yet uses psychology to uncover any addictive tendencies. The SASSI-3 is generally trusted as highly reliable, though requires further research for long-term stability (Blackwell, T. L., & Toriello, P. J., 2005). An alternative assessment frequently given is the ASI, or the addiction severity index. This measures substance dependency, similar to the SASSI-3. However, this screening asks more open-ended questions, allowing the individual to answer more freely. This type of questionnaire may be more beneficial when making a treatment plan, according to American Addiction Centers (Moore, 2022). 

Blackwell, T. L., & Toriello, P. J. (2005). Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 48(4), 248-250. https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fsubstance-abuse-subtle-screening-inventory-3%2Fdocview%2F213913336%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D3783

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2019). Foundations of Addictions Counseling (4th ed, pages 107-). Pearson Education (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780135169858

Moore, S. (2022, September 9). Addiction severity index (ASI): Using the ASI assessment. American Addiction Centers. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/asi-addiction-severity-index-assessment

Nature VS Nurture: Intelligence & Intelligence Testing

Intelligence testing has been around for ages, and is notorious for focusing on academic intelligence such as mathematical skills or logic. Comprehension in reading and verbal information, emotional intelligence and empathy, and even musical intelligence has since been analyzed. Still, we have a long way to go in measuring intelligence. First, we must define what intelligence is and where it comes from- skill, effort, or is it pre-determined by genetics? 

The natural argument states that intelligence is biologically fixed, and not much can be done to change or improve it. Nurture, however, suggests that intelligence can be altered by our environment. As a nanny to a toddler, I see very often the small improvements in intelligence as a child grows. Little statements and questions that challenge thought make a large difference. Saying, "Do you feel stable on that?" and "Notice how that rock is hard..." fosters awareness. "I wonder what dogs dream about," and similar statements could encourage imagination and deeper thinking skills. Of course, toddlerhood is likely the best time to do this. The thoughts and skills learned at this stage become instinctual and more difficult to manipulate as a child ages. By adulthood, these are nearly fixed. Even then, however, the challenges we face- and how frequently we face them- act as opportunities for improvement in intelligence. My theory, then, is that nurture is the main determinant of intelligence. 

There is the exception, of course, for disorders and other genetic factors. Even then, however, I believe that challenging a child's intelligence and giving the necessary support makes a large difference in their development. I also wonder how visual, verbal, and touch intelligence factor in. Are some people just more visual, thus better with imagery and visual learning, and so on? Or does it have to do with the pictures, shows, art, etc that we primarily learn with as children? 

In grade school, I performed as an average student and always felt "stuck" in math and sciences. Even now, I feel mathematically incompetent. My interpersonal skills, empathy, imagination, and writing skills I have always felt that I thrive in. There are many types of intelligence, which also begs the question, do intelligence and passion go hand-in-hand? Am I becoming a therapist simply because I feel I will be good at it, or does my interest stem from another factor? 

If intelligence is mostly genetically determined, then testing could help pinpoint a person's strengths and weaknesses to "categorize" them- similar to how there are gifted child programs in schools. Being fresh out of that, though, I remember how counterproductive it was. Students with better understandings of science than me were in "lower" science classes because of an average score on a test I took an entire grade previously. The gifted kids also almost always "burned out". If intelligence is environmentally determined, then it means those test scores can be improved. Education can then focus on, well, education rather than putting people into groups and discouraging them. 

Many of these "fixed" intelligence measurements are outdated. Per the APA Code of Ethics, obsolete tests and outdated test results should not be used. 

American Psychological Association (2017). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code

Mini Case Study: Treatment Plans for Autism and Bipolar I 

(Jayden, a 5-year-old boy, is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His treatment provider is trying to help him increase eye contact with others; Trina, a 50-year-old woman, is diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. Her treatment provider is trying to help stabilize her mood; Desmond, a 22-year-old college student, is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The treatment provider is trying to help decrease Desmond's overall level of worry.)

Jayden's ASD makes it difficult to make and maintain eye contact. However, he could benefit from behavioral therapy such as operant conditioning. Because he is still only a toddler, more complex therapy techniques may be unrealistic for him to understand. Something as simple as reward and punishment, however, would be easy enough for a five-year-old to comprehend. This approach may also work best since the ideal behavior is as simple as making eye contact. Desensitizing may also be effective, however it is risky as toddlers with autism will likely get frustrated by the same constant exercise.

Bipolar I makes mood regulation far more difficult than necessary. Trina's provider should consider humanistic forms of therapy, especially Gestalt therapy. Organismic holism is a form of mindfulness, which has been proved to be very helpful for those with mood disorders- especially Bipolar disorders. By focusing on her power and responsibility over her emotions, Trina may be able to take control over them. 

Generalized Anxiety is a frustrating inner critic to live with, especially as a student. Desmond would greatly benefit from integrative cognitive and psychoanalytic therapy. With anxiety, the thoughts and worries are the main problem and thus should be addressed directly. Cognitive therapy focuses on those thoughts and how to transform them. Psychoanalytic therapy aims to uncover what's causing those thoughts. By understanding the feelings associated with the anxious thoughts, Desmond could decrease his worries. 

Determining which technique to utilize in therapy requires emotional intelligence. A professional should be able to empathize with their client and create a treatment plan that best caters to their needs and abilities. For example, Jayden's autism likely also effects his ability to understand social cues. Because of this, his therapist shouldn't expect him to converse easily and comprehend complex ideas yet. Therapists should be able to listen to, critically consider, and understand a client's dilemmas. 

American Psychological Association. (2009). Different approaches to psychotherapy. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/approaches

Mini Case Study: Gambling Addict Treatment Plan

Preface: Tom, 45, occasionally went to the casino with some friends as a fun night out, but lately he noticed himself returning there on his own, spending hours at a time at a single blackjack table. His friends asked him about it, but he brushed off their concerns. As time passed, he spent more time at the casino and often lied to his wife about it. 

Addiction counseling can be carried out in many formats. Motivational interviewing is a technique aimed at inducing change, or, in other words, encouraging positive alternatives. Therapists may engage in an interview-style conversation with their client in order to connect more meaningfully with them and thus encourage change. Cognitive-behavioral restructuring focuses on targeting the client's current coping skills (substance abuse) and rebuilding them. Solution-focused therapy is a shorter-term form of psychotherapy that focuses solely on the client's strengths and abilities. The idea is that by encouraging the client and assuring them of their success, they will be more capable of positive change. (Capuzzi & Stauffer, pages 137-169).

What Tom has recognized in himself is a gambling addiction, and he would benefit from all three counseling styles. He should foremost implement Notice the Difference, a solution-focused therapy technique (Capuzzi & Stauffer, page 175). This would help him recognize when his gambling is problematic versus social, which he seems to have struggled with. Also from solution-focused therapy, his counselor should consider Language of Hope. If Tom's friends and wife are noticing his problems but he hasn't yet, then his counselor should be gentle with the labels they give him as to not cause anger or dismissal (Capuzzi & Stauffer, page 172). Tom's loved ones should also stage a Social Intervention, a cognitive-behavioral intervention, in order to help him understand the weight of his problem (Capuzzi & Stauffer, page 163). He is in denial, but seeing his wife and friends concern may encourage him to seek further treatment. Similar to Notice the Difference, Tom needs to implement Mindfulness techniques into his therapy. Centering himself during impulsive episodes could help Tom redirect his addiction towards something more positive (Capuzzi & Stauffer, page 167). As far as motivational interviewing, Tom should be offered Reflective Listening. By having his feelings and following actions pointed out to him by someone else, he may learn to do it for himself. This will teach him empathy towards himself and, in turn, help adjust his behaviors when in the action (Capuzzi & Stauffer, page 147). The last technique, also motivational, should be Strengthening Commitment. If Tom is initially in denial of his addiction, he'll likely need encouragement throughout his treatment (Capuzzi & Stauffer, page 154). The counselor should incorporate a change plan and remind Tom of his successes thus far.

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2019). Foundations of Addictions Counseling (4th ed., pages 137-). Pearson Education (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780135169858

Glenda's Case: Existential VS Person-Centered 

{Glenda becomes painfully aware that she has perfected the art of manipulating men with her physical appearance. She says the appropriate things, she has an abundance of men in her life, all of her contacts with people are superficial, and she accepts in herself that she has not pursued any depth because she has apparently gotten what she wanted with such little effort. But now she suffers as she comes to grips with her own vacancy and superficiality.

 The issues of freedom with which she might well wrestle as a result of her dawning awareness could be reflected in questions such as these:

Am I tired enough of being plastic that I will risk finding out whether I’m real or not? Since my style has worked so well in the past, will I really change now? What if I pursue depth in a relationship only to find emptiness? What if I am really empty inside? What if all I am is a pretty exterior? Will I be better off deluding myself that a fine exterior is better than the experience of nothingness? How do I begin to change? Can I allow myself to hurt, or will I retreat into old ways to repress my pain?}

According to her provided information, Glenda seems to have recognized feelings of emptiness within herself. She thinks she is manipulative- even if this is untrue realistically, she needs support while dealing with this guilt. The repeated statements, "What if I'm empty on the inside" clearly portray a mental breakdown. 

With this newfound self-awareness, Glenda lacks a sense of purpose or meaning. Existential therapy directly addresses this topic. Person-centered therapy could allow Glenda to work through some of her new feelings out loud. However, the support and encouragement a person-centered therapy plan could provide would not be enough to combat her intense worries. She likely needs a more engaging approach. Existential therapists encourage their clients to come to their own conclusions by trusting them to make constructive, conscious choices (Corey 2017). This type of therapy also focuses heavily on meaninglessness, life, death, and isolation- all of which Glenda appears to struggle with. 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 1999. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 34.) Chapter 6 --Brief Humanistic and Existential Therapies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64939/

Corey, Gerald. (2017). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Cengage Learning (10th Edition, Chapter 7). 

Linda's Case in Gestalt Therapy

{Assume that you are a counselor in a community mental health clinic, that you have a Gestalt orientation, and that the counselor at the local high school tells you about Linda, a 15-year-old client he has seen several times. 

Linda comes from a close-knit family, and in general she feels that she can seek her parents out when she has problems. But now she says that she just cannot turn to them in this time of crisis. Even though she and her boyfriend had been engaging in sexual intercourse for a year without using birth-control measures, she was convinced that she would not get pregnant. When she did learn that she was pregnant, she expected that her 16-year-old boyfriend would agree to get married. He did not agree, and he even questioned whether he was the father. She felt deeply hurt and angry about this. On the advice of a girlfriend, she considered an abortion for a time. But she decided against it because she felt she could not deal with the guilt of terminating a life within her. The possibility of putting her child up for adoption was suggested to her. But she felt this to be totally unacceptable because she was sure she could not live knowing that she had created a life and then “abandoned” the child. She considered having her baby and becoming a single parent. Yet when the counselor pointed out all the realities involved in this choice, she could see that this option would not work—unless she told her parents and lived with them, which she was sure she could not do. Now her pregnancy is moving toward the advanced stages, and her panic is mounting.}

Upon reading Linda's story, the severity of her situation is immediately obvious. She is still a child, and to make decisions so critical seems to be incredibly overwhelming for her. 

In gestalt therapy, the client is encouraged to make their own mature decisions solely on their own. The therapist encourages existential and internal questioning, self-awareness, and "reowning" the disowned parts of oneself. Thoughts, dreams, feelings, behaviors, and more are all analyzed simultaneously in order to embrace the entirety of the individual (Corey, chapter 8). In Linda's case, these themes will come together to support her goal to decide how to proceed with her pregnancy, if at all. 

The empty chair technique would allow Linda to imagine conversing with her boyfriend, her parents, and perhaps her different options for her pregnancy. According to MentalHelp, the empty chair technique is an exercise in which the client talks to an empty chair as though someone, or a part of themself, is sitting there (MentalHelp Contributors, 2017). Linda could visualize and debate with herself in the future, whether as a mother or how the decision to abort or have the child be placed in adoption could impact her. Practicing debating with her boyfriend will prepare her for civilly informing him and expressing her complex feelings to him if desired. Her parents will have to know as well due to her age, and preparing herself for the best and worst scenarios will prepare her emotionally for their responses. Confrontation is another key element in Gestalt therapy. 

Gestalt therapists also consider a client's body language. It is believed that they communicate nonverbally, and these (often unconscious) actions contribute to a whole feeling or thought. For example, if Linda is turned away or folding into herself during the empty chair technique she is likely uncomfortable with the practice and/or feeling defensive. This applies even when conversing one-on-one with the therapist. She may say she feels confident in a decision she's made, yet avoid eye contact or fidgeting (more than usual). These would signal to the therapist that she is still unsure or feels vulnerable. In these instances, she should recognize these actions and address any underlying feelings. Ultimately, Gestalt therapy would allow Linda to explore every part of herself in this life-changing decision and therefore make the choice that best suits her. 

Corey, Gerald. (2017). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (10th Edition). Cengage. 

MentalHelp Contributors. (March 2017). Gestalt Therapy: The Empty Chair Technique. MentalHelp. https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/gestalt-therapy-the-empty-chair-technique/

Mini Case Study: Opioid & Heroin

(Julie uses heroin for her reported chronic pain. She states that if she does not take something for her pain, she becomes depressed and suicidal. She has agreed to see a counselor. She has also stated that she does not know anything about her treatment options but is willing to try any method to overcome her addiction and depression.)

Fortunately, Julie has several options for treatment. With the 12-step program, she can move with her addiction at her own pace and convenience. It's readily available to anyone seeking it, as it doesn't require payments. Although many people have found success among a 12-step program, the model's research is limited (Capuzzi & Stauffer, pages 259-260).

Group therapy is incredibly useful in creating a social support system. If Julie has nowhere else to go, she can always turn to the safety of her group. However, the nature of group therapy limits individuality. Many addicts need additional one-on-one therapy in order to have a space focused specifically on them and their potential rather than always having to share the attention. There are also conflicts in confidentiality, participant screening, and consent (Capuzzi & Stauffer, page 216). Another disadvantage from both group therapy and the 12-step program is the lack of training and/or professionalism (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 261).

Behavioral contracting has benefits and drawbacks as well. As we read in the previous case study, it isn't always effective. For individuals who thrive from pressure, accountability, and responsibility, it could be a wise choice. However, many addicts also struggle with keeping their word whether from other behavioral disorders, lifestyle, or from the addiction itself. The nature of addiction, especially from those with opioid addictions such as Julie, causes a person to lose their sense of responsibility. Although, there are cases where behavioral contracting works. Again, those who do well under pressure may prefer this. Realistic, small goals are often a great way to stabilize, especially if rewards are involved (Science Direct Admins, 2023). 

Pharmacotherapy helps an addict recover with limited withdrawal symptoms. Certain medications also aid in blocking the desired effect of the drug of choice (Research Recovery Institute Admins, 2019). This could be helpful to Julie if/once her chronic pain is treated without heroin. It would force her to go to a doctor and seek professional treatment for her pain, which may or may not be an option for her due to limited information. Obviously, heroin is not the ideal treatment for her condition. Assuming she is willing to seek professional treatment for her pain, pharmacotherapy could be incredibly helpful in decreasing her depression. No matter what Julie decides, she definitely has to go to a doctor. 

Relapse prevention is something Julie should look into. If she's so dependent on heroin as to feel suicidal without it, then relapse is likely. It also depends on how long she's been using, her emotional intelligence/positive coping skills, and her own determination. By the information provided, she appears highly motivated which is incredibly helpful in long-term treatment.

Admins. (2023). Behavior Contracting. Behavior Contracting - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/behavior-contracting

Admins. (2019, June 14). Pharmacotherapy – medications. Recovery Research Institute. https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/pharmacotherapy-medication-assisted-treatments/#:~:text=Pharmacotherapy%20(pharmacology)%20is%20the%20treatment,drugs%20by%20blocking%20their%20effect.

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2019). Foundations of Addictions Counseling (4th ed., pages 136-261). Pearson Education (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780135169858

The case of Tim (Cognitive Therapy; video below)

What separates cognitive therapy from other therapies is that it recognizes three kinds of thoughts: automative thoughts, underlying assumptions, and core beliefs. Automative thoughts are instinctual thoughts that occur with emotional responses. These are believed to be the most superficial level of thought. Underlying assumptions occur as secondary thoughts, often following an if/then formula. Lastly, core beliefs are the fundamental beliefs one has regarding oneself and the world. Core beliefs, and understanding them, are the primary goal of cognitive therapy. 

Cognitive therapists fully immerse themselves into their client's thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The main goal of the cognitive therapist is to understand each level of thinking their client experiences. They are invested in the client's schemas, internal dialogue, polarized thinking, reality, and distortion of reality. The more they understand their client, the more they can challenge possibly harmful beliefs and encourage areas of restructuring. 

Some techniques used in cognitive therapy and seen in the video are: sentence-finishing, in which the client finishes a statement that describes their current thoughts, feelings, or desires; problem-listing and problem-prioritizing; specific goal-setting; imagery;, in which the client visualizes a conflict or setting; and challenging the client's assumptions to target their polarized thinking. 

Tim's beliefs regarding work, work ethic, financial class, dating, and socialization seem to have led him to an entrapment between wanting to do/be better and not actually feeling motivated to achieve such. If I were his counselor, I would continue to use the goal-setting strategy. We would work on small, specific goals to keep Tim focused yet not overwhelmed. Challenging his beliefs, such as what makes a person a loser or failure, also would be important to improve his self-image. This process should be a long-term goal, as it appears to greatly impact his life. A smaller goal could be discovering what deserves and does not deserve Tim's motivational energy, as he seems to go back and forth between wanting to do something and feeling as though it is pointless. This is seen in the third session of the video, where he loses interest in applying for a job he previously wanted. By deciding what exactly is and is not important to him, Tim could better direct his ambition. 

SNHU A11y Remediated Videos. ( 6 Oct 2017). PSY-315: The Cognitive Approach - The Case of Tim (CC). Youtube. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcryfuenp2c

Reality Therapy: Todd's Case

Reality therapy emphasizes choice and responsibility, as according to choice theory. Reality therapy follows the ideas that all behaviors are a person's effort to fulfill a need. These therapists follow the WDEP model: Wants are identified as an individual's desires; Doing, where the client is asked what they are doing to obtain their wants; Evaluation, in which the therapist helps the client evaluate what behaviors are helping and harming their needs; and Plan, where the client and therapist develop an appropriate plan to address the change process. 

The role of the reality therapist in a client/therapist relationship is that of a guiding, encouraging influence. The reality therapist keeps the client centered on the plan and the behaviors that could help or harm them. They also maintain support and empathy for the client's unique situation. 

Focusing on behavior rather than thoughts and feelings can offer a client many freedoms. It detaches a person from their emotions, allowing them to begin the change process without harping so heavily on each feeling associated with it. In doing this, Todd can focus more easily on achieving what he wants. 

The techniques seen in the first video focus on the therapist's understanding of Todd's situation. She clarifies what his situation is, his feelings, and where those feelings may be coming from. The two are on the same page by the end of the video in that he is retired from the military, a single parent, and feels lonely, stressed, and lost in himself. The therapist clarifies Todd's "wants": casual adult interaction. The therapist then helps him evaluate what behaviors he is doing to work towards his wants, and he explains that he feels stuck in his home life with his son and school. They pinpoint what he is not doing- meeting people- and focus on new choices he can make to change. 

If I were Todd's therapist, I would want to focus mostly on his socialization. He says he feels trapped at home and does not create opportunities to meet people, so a specific goal could be finding those opportunities. We could plan organic places and ways for him to meet people, and work on his social skills if necessary. Another possible goal could be his self-confidence; perhaps coming up with hobbies or ideas for him to express himself and any passions he may have outside of his son and school.

Making and committing to a plan is highly important in a client's success in reality therapy. In order to obtain a want, a person must do something (behavior). If they continue the behaviors that are not working for them, then they may feel lost or stuck. Reality therapy is about changing behaviors according to a goal, so following a flexible plan would keep a client focused.  

Videos of Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybh6ILx9bjw ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exX-1cI78_s 

Feminist Therapy: Snow White (Video Reference Below)

Feminist therapy takes into consideration the gender differences, as well as other social and cultural differences, a client may have from others. It also differs from other therapies by taking a life-span perspective, in which it is believed a person's personality can change at any time rather than being fixed at childhood (Corey). 

Feminist therapy is a relatively new therapy that recognizes something other therapies usually do not: external problems of oppression, marginalization, and stereotyping, not limited to women but rather acknowledging the greater social issues that affect any client. These therapists are not naive to the patriarchy and openly discuss these topics with a concerned client. As with any effective therapist, they do not impose their own beliefs but rather uplift the voice of the client and emphasize responsibly and ethically. 

The Snow White video I found interesting as I've always felt both ways about Disney that the narrator immediately mentions: loving it for its childhood magic, and simultaneously hating its corporate scheme. I think this was perfect timing for this video to be discussed because Disney is now making a new Snow White that no one asked for, with an actress who does not even respect the original story. The story is to be completely rewritten without a prince- which, I'm derailing, could be a great story but it's not a "live-action remake" at that point. To circle back, Disney as a company is throwing all of these progressive narratives at us which would be great if it was done so in good taste. 

For those who are unaware, Disney is adding same-sex couples and writing feminist stories for what's called an ESG rating score. These scores originally measured the workers' rights, agreeability, and ethics of a company. In 2018, a new part was added to encourage companies to work towards social causes. The company that controls these scores, BlackRock, is a large asset to Disney. They have since heavily tried to add progressive stories, terms, and ideas into their content without the quality or care to back them up. All the while funding anti-LGBT+ issues and omitting these characters from media in other countries. 

This topic in itself relates to feminist therapy because there's no "good side" to it. Disney does not care about LGBT+ people, women, any minority, or its problems. They are a company and therefore care about money. This performative activism has positive effects of inclusivity that just don't reach far enough. It is exhausting being used as a means to make money, and unfortunately a very common issue among people today. This generation is very aware of capitalism, discrimination, and social issues and it is incredibly exhausting to each of us. On the other hand, there is an entire group of people mad at Disney for "going woke", which is another problem. 

Snow White is a timeless tale that, although Disney did not create, their original retelling of the story made it their own. It has since defined Disney's quality and name. And, for many years, we have all argued about whether it is a positive message to young girls or not. It's no new debate that Snow White is helpless, yet iconic, yet a damsel in distress, yet brave and strong-willed. Her age changes, her appearance changes, he story changes- it is an ongoing feminist and anti-feminist symbol discussed everywhere. 

And yet, the argument of Snow White itself is a perfect analogy of what it is like to be a girl in this world. Everything you do is seen in extremes and never is anyone satisfied. Snow White represents the criticisms young girls have always faced despite "progressive" times, and the idea that they will never be good enough.

Feminist therapy is highly important to our age. It is becoming necessary to deal with these self-awarenesses, these realizations, growing up at all but especially as a minority. 

Video Reference Prompt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jls5li_yjVc

Corey, G,. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. (9th ed., Chapter twelve.) Cengage Learning.

GoingRampant. (2015). Disney Feminist Review: Snow White (v2). Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jls5li_yjVc

Jesse Grant. (2023). Snow White Officially Cancelled & Being Remade. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnPJAReEVGg

Miller, Noah. (2023). ESG Score. Corporate Finance Institute. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/esg/esg-score/

ModernGurlz. (2023). Disney's "Adorkable" Problem. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF0A-tP5f-w&t=12s

Moon. (2023). The Incredibly Satisfying Death of Disney. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu7AzvVWYuI

Mini Case Study: Alcoholism in Family

(Dan and Mary have one son, James, who is 15 years old. James has been caught stealing from the local market numerous times, and he took his parents' car out for the evening without their permission. James still experiences neck pain from a car accident that he and his mother were involved in two years prior. You learn that he is taking prescription pain medication that is not prescribed, and you have also noticed that Mary comes to the sessions intoxicated. James states that he does not talk to his parents and that he uses the pain medication to help him cope with his family life.)

James is playing the role of the Scapegoat. Just like mentioned in "The Common Roles Played in Alcoholic Families", James is acting out against his parents and even using his pain medication as a form of escape and defiance. This likely adds to Mary's stress, fueling her drinking. Assuming the father is not the main addict, she is the clear alcoholic. Dan, however, may be the adjuster given such little information. 

Mary's son's defiance and abuse of drugs likely contribute to her drinking. It is not directly mentioned, but I have to wonder how the car accident occurred and whether Mary's drinking contributed. If James only uses his drugs to cope with his family life, then Mary must be the original addict. She could be in an unhappy marriage, it could be work, it could be anything with the information that was provided. 

James's addiction most likely originated from watching his mother's addiction. He sees that it's okay to cope with substances, so he copies the behavior in his own way. When he had the opportunity to access pain medicine and saw how it relieved him, it clicked for him. A suffering social life probably drives him to further abuse as he's lonely and needs a distraction. His home life is clearly no help, either, and pushing him over the edge. James's addiction could escalate badly. At fifteen, right towards the end of puberty, drugs would leave him in an extremely fragile state. Serious consequences including poor grades, isolated social life, and permanent damage to his relationship with his parents are at stake. 

In order to reverse some of the damage done, the parents should address the main problem first and the drugs second (he will keep finding them somehow until he chooses to stop). Family therapy, of course, is a great idea as well as putting James in his own therapy where the focus can be entirely on him. He especially needs an outlet; a positive alternative to drugs. Perhaps creativity or some form of self-expression to, again, allow the focus to be entirely on him. He needs attention. His parents have a huge responsibility here, but it is also a chance to protect their son and their relationships with him. 

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2019). Foundations of Addictions Counseling (4th ed., page 298). Pearson Education (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780135169858

My own theory of personality

I observe personality through the experiences that shape a person's methods of thinking: what is visual for them, physical, auditory? I have always been taught that has little to do with personality, but I see it transfer into the forms of art a person enjoys (music, movies, paintings, etc) and how they solve problems. How they cope with regret, rejection, and high stress are highly relevant as well. The jobs they chose, the people they gravitate to, and the topics they are most and least passionate about tell me what this individual cares about; to me, this is what a personality is shaped around. 

I believe that nurture is the primary shaper of persona. As a nanny, I see the ways that parenting/guardianship impacts a child. The way a caregiver talks about themself and to a toddler will inevitably become that child's inner monologue. As someone with a mental disorder or two, I also see how these impact a personality. I hear from different sources all the time whether this and trauma is our true personalities or not, so this is a topic I hope to understand better from this course. However, to me, a personality is how all of it comes together- passions, trauma, childhood, beliefs, role models, psychological disorders, and neurotypes. With that being said, of course, some of these can be genetic. This, again, fascinates me as I've always wanted to understand how nature and nurture intertwine to a person's development. It seems to be such a complex concept to study because most of the time, naturally, parents raise their biological children. 

Studying personality allows a person to better work and communicate with the people around them. We all know that humans are social creatures. We pride ourselves on our empathy (and our violence); and, by understanding personality better, we can set the foundations for more productive conversations and healthier social environments. I get to take these concepts with me far into my degree and career as a therapist. I aim to work with relationships- couples, families, parent/child- and so seeing different personalities of clients will occur a lot. 

Personality is not entirely adaptive, but it's not entirely stunted either. From what I have seen growing up with friends, family, and myself, it has become clear that one will always revert to their core thinking patterns. Beliefs and schemas can alter and expand through continuous re-learning, but the foundation of a person appears persistent. We are not slaves to our faults nor our passions, but it appears that we must constantly evaluate them. This translates to extroversion/introversion and locus of control, as well. Being raised in a certain environment and exposed to certain norms (seeing family often or not at all, meeting new people frequently or keeping to oneself, spiritual and religious teachings) for the majority of one's childhood cannot simply go away. As I shared before, the way a toddler is talked to becomes their internal monologue (from my own experiences and observations). So, what a person is raised on will ultimately stick with them into adulthood. 

I believe that a large part of the question, "Is personality changeable?" depends on how the person was raised. Those trapped in strict environments and mindsets do not change much after the brain's development finishes. Some people seem to think and behave the same for the entirety of their lives.

Erikson's Psychosocial Theory

Erikson's psychosocial theory follows six stages throughout an individual's life. These boost a person's ego similarly to the self-actualization theories. Stage one occurs in the first year of life, and teaches basic trust or mistrust. Stage two teaches autonomy, shame, doubt, and will. Stage three is initiative, guilt, and purpose, and this is finished by the end of toddlerhood. The fourth stage takes place over the rest of childhood and teaches industry, inferiority, and competence. Ego identity, role confusion, and fidelity comes through adolescence in stage five. Stage six is intimacy, isolation, and love and occurs in young adulthood. Generativity, stagnation, and care come in the seventh stage throughout adulthood. The final stage, which completes the maturity process, is ego integrity, despair, and wisdom. 

As a person ages and matures, they move through each stage. This follows a chronological order- which is the main flaw when using it to analyze other cultures. Not all people learn purpose before fidelity, care later into adulthood, or industry late into childhood. Any of these stages could be interchangeable at different times of life- although, I agree that some of them become more difficult to achieve then older an individual is.

Many collectivist societies teach competence and fidelity from a very young age. The implication that these people did not adequately recieve each social or psychological need growing up is counterproductive. Additionally, the theory focuses on the "achievement of happiness." And, like nearly everything else we've learned in psychology so far, that term is highly subjective. 

Shiraev, E. B., & Levy, D. A. (2020). Cross-Cultural Psychology (7th ed., page 314). Taylor & Francis. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780429534478

Analyzing a character with personality theory

The character I am choosing for analysis is Mulan. The legend of Mulan dates back centuries (and from various unclear, possibly overlapping sources), but I will focus specifically on Fa Mulan from Disney's 1988 version, "Mulan". This character has been a favorite of mine since I was a preteen, so I'm excited to describe her through a psychological lens! 

For those unaware of the legends or have not seen the movie, Mulan was a Chinese woman who impersonated a male soldier to take her injured father's place in a draft. She went on to save her unit from an attack (by initiating an avalanche, I should add), but was then discovered to be female and thus abandoned by her fellow soldiers and commanding officer. When she saw that the opposing army was still alive, she rushed to the city in order to warn her everyone. Of course, no one listened, and the emperor got kidnapped. She broke into the building, rescued the emperor, and was offered a place in the royal council. Oh and all of China, including the emperor and the remainder of her army, bowed down to her. She gracefully declined the offer and asked to return home to her father. Can you tell I love this movie?

Although there are goofy one-liners, a pocket-sized dragon, and an arguably bisexual romance between Mulan and the commanding officer both before and after her sex is discovered, Mulan stayed focused on protecting her family and her home. Her conscious led her through quick-thinking decisions that few people believed she could pull off. 

Mulan's Eros appears to be her driving force, with others such as her libido repressed. As a children's movie, of course sexuality is discussed little, but even romance and desire are repressed within Mulan's conscious. She prioritizes her main goal and, even when everyone is safe, she walks away from her love interest in order to reflect on her other decisions. She admits at the end, "Maybe I wasn't doing it to save my father. Maybe I was doing it to prove myself." This line, although seemingly contradictive to what I have just stated, goes hand-in-hand with her character. Although she fears for her own well-being and purpose, she does so carefully and never at the sacrifice of others. 

Although meek and charmingly awkward at many points, Mulan is unafraid of standing up for herself amongst a group of men (pre-feminism age). Before her identity is revealed, she begins to bond with her fellow soldiers. As they pass a field of working women, the men sing of the traits they wish for in a wife: a good cook, beautiful, pampering, and in awe of them. Mulan sheepishly suggests "what about a girl who's got a brain, who always speaks her mind?" She continues to bring up these ideas throughout the movie, ultimately getting the three men who led the previous song to dress up as concubines during the climax of the movie. 

Mulan's awkwardness can be attributed to mild neurotic behavior. She is shown to overthink her decisions in various parts of the movie. Some could argue this is self-awareness, others could blame anxiety, but I think the truth encompasses both. Her character perfectly portrays the age-old archetype of a woman who "looks like a bride but will never bring (her) family honor" (quoted by the matchmaker). Naturally, someone who has been criticized her entire life is going to second-guess herself constantly. Possible disorder aside, Mulan is incredibly self-aware and emotionally intelligent. She is constantly minding the people and circumstances around her. When the commanding officer's father and a large part of the army are discovered dead, she immediately tries to comfort the son. She hugs the emperor when he thanks her for her service. Finally, she apologizes for the distress she has caused her father and tries to please him with the emperor's gifts. 

A large theme of the movie is the cultural belief of ancestral guidance. In fact, the comedic-relief character, Mushu, is a problematic ancestor who believes leading Mulan through the war would fix his status with the other ancestors. The idea of pleasing the ancestors and therefore the family is another driving force for Mulan's decisions and anxiety.

In conclusion, Mulan is an iconic character and we can all learn from her empathy, self-awareness, and drive. Personality theories would find her to be anxious, self-aware, determined, and focused. 

Shiraev, E. (2016). Personality Theories. SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781506300795

A piece of culturally expressive media that I believe relates to wellness is the film Jennifer’s Body. The horror genre has always challenged social norms and criticized socially accepted concepts. We can see this in The Shining, Get Out, Carrie, and other popular works.

Jennifer’s Body has an overwhelming theme of sexual violence, violence towards women, the normalization of such, and embodies the “monstrous female seeking revenge” cliché. One teenage character, Jennifer, represents the hypersexualized girl. Her best friend is the unattractive nerd cliche. On a night out with a group of boys, Jennifer is “attacked” in the woods in a ritual. She becomes possessed by a demon and takes violent revenge on the male student population, and it is ultimately her best friend who stops her by unfortunately killing her.  

This movie has had a significant social impression. For years after its release, it was viewed by the wrong audience and thus its message completely overseen. Jennifer’s character was used as a sex symbol by fans of the movie and of the actress. In recent years, however, women, girls, and victims of violence and sexual violence have recognized the film’s heavy messages.  

Sexual violence affects every area of a person’s life (if the victim is not k*lled by their attacker after, as is the frequent case). The individual is left in an overwhelming state of trauma carried through both their body and their brain. Physical, sexual, and reproductive health are harmed. Mental/emotional/psychological health is immensely impacted, furthering affecting relationships, occupations, and finances.

Sexual violence has been a wellness issue as far back as we can track it. By continuing to talk about these tragedies (no matter how old it gets), we can continue to build a safer, educated, and accountable society.