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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Therapy and Counseling - Five Basic Things You Should and Should Not Get

These are just the very basics--this does not get into any given therapist's methods or theory. We are talking straightforward therapeutic courtesy and bare-bones requirements. If your therapist or counselor is not offering you the basics or is offering things that should not be happening, then they might think a new profession and indeed you might think a new therapist or counselor. They whether have not themselves been on the client end of the therapy interaction, have not been with a respectful therapist, or did not learn despite training and example, which would be the worst possibility.

I wrote this report after having heard one of the most pathetic stories about a doctoral-level therapy / counseling practitioner I have ever heard--short of actual abuse or other illegal behavior. I am not along with most things that should be in the practitioner's code of ethics or the law. Those things, however, are sometimes violated too.

In therapy or counseling you should get:

1. The absolute, undivided attention of the therapist or counselor on You (with some occasional and minor lapses being standard and probably expected...). Furthermore, you should be unconditionally prized and supported (within reason) and the therapist or counselor--again, within reason--should not 'judge' you or your behavior so much as he or she should search for and call your attention to things he or she notices.

2. A relatively quiet and private climate that remains consistent in terms of location is commonly very important. Some therapists may take you to locations definite to your problems in order to work on them, but the majority of taste should be private and consistent. For example, a therapist or counselor might occasionally take you onto a bridge in order to address your bridge phobia or fear of heights.

3. Informed consent to therapy so that you know what therapy involves and does not involve and are still willing to participate. The therapist or counselor's office policies and usual procedures should be outlined, as well as the times that he or she can or must break confidentiality. Informed consent can, to some degree, also help you to know when the therapist has truly violated a boundary.

4. Clear discussion of fees and fee arrangements, along with what happens when sessions are missed, any insurance arrangements, and so on.

5. Although depending upon the type of qoute being treated this may indeed become a repeating and important part of the therapy, in nearly all cases the therapist should apologize or otherwise make things right--or at least productively search for what happened--if something has led to negative feelings.

Things you should not get--please note that even astounding therapists and counselors occasionally slip up on these, but if it occurs too often there are problems that need to be dealt with--perhaps starting with your departure...:

1. A therapist or counselor whose main focus in the session is his or her self. There are many therapists out there who talk amazingly often and enduringly about themselves! If there is a lot of this, it is Not normal. Run away. Unless there is some therapeutic reason, more than brief and collective personal sharing about the counselor or counselor's acquaintances, friends, or family should be a red flag about a perhaps self-centered or temporarily stressed practitioner who uses paying clients as collective time-fillers, friends, or ego-supports. Even 'gossiping' and getting the client's 'oh my' reaction is a sign of this if there is no good clinical hypothesize for the disclosure. Finally, such persons may basically use paying clients as therapists / counselors!

One good hypothesize for therapist self-sharing might be to give slight and standard data about how someone else--including the therapist--learned from and coped with something very similar to what the client is going through. Also, late in a long-term treatment a bit more revealing from the therapist is perhaps more acceptable, but not a constant focus. Another standard time for a therapist or counselor to share about him or herself is when they use their own inner feelings about you or your situation to help you learn something about yourself or your situation. However, a good counselor will be cautious and sensitive in how they use such information.

2. Changes in the conditions or fees unless discussed with and agreed to by you. I have seen it done by excellent therapists in terms of raising fees or changing the financial rules in the middle of a procedure of therapy or training, but I do not agree with the practice. Especially if work has been going on for some time, the client is now more likely to agree to the turn even if he or she does not indeed want to--because an intimate and valued process has started. Therapists who need to raise fees should do so with new clients. Fees and other financially associated rules are a surprisingly sensitive area for both therapists and clients, and once set should commonly be left alone. If you are having serious financial trouble, however, the therapist should offer a lower fee or other temporary arrangement rather than simply terminating therapy or counseling only because of the financial issue.

3. Therapists who rejoinder the phone, text, email, etc. While a session--unless it is for a purpose that will immediately help the client, or unless the therapist or counselor is indeed 'on call' for a birth or a death. I cannot even come up with the words for this one. Rude does not suffice. It is enough that we have to endure loud (and personal!) conversations in gorgeous surroundings, movie theatres, and fancy restaurants, but in a process in which the client pays for calm, undivided, intimate attention to his or her deepest concerns? My jaw hurts from dropping open whenever I hear this one.

4. Therapists who take care of delay-able personal needs While the session. Filing nails, seeing in a contract or mirror, enduringly fixing his or her hair, checking their schedule, eating, using the restroom (like a 5-year-old on a car trip...he / she should have done that beforehand--unless the therapist is so sick that he/she probably should not be at work anyway), and on and on. Drinking water or drinks is commonly less disruptive, but if done it is nice of the therapist or counselor to ask you if you would like something.

5. Therapists who are often quite late and do not make up the time, or who otherwise do not respect the therapy hour and comprehensive process of the therapy as a whole. Your therapist or counselor should be taking quarterly vacations or he or she will not be as effective. However, that does not mean that he or she should be vacationing every two months for 2 weeks at a time if you are having serious problems at that time.

Hopefully, you do not run into these last 5 'should nots' on your journey, but if you do I wish for you the impel and savvy to find yourself a great treatment situation. The first 5 'shoulds' are moderately coarse to find in most therapists, which is the good news. However, given the outrageousness of some of them, the last 5 'shouldn'ts' are surprisingly common! Here's to avoiding them if possible.

positive science of mind and Counselling

Positive science of mind is an ever growing field of science of mind and since its ethos is about getting the most out of life, I believe it can be effortlessly used in counselling.

For many years science of mind has focused on looking at problems and looking if whatever can be done about them. As a result so much focus seems to have been on what's wrong rather than what's right with people. Somehow people have come to be victims of their genes and environment and the best they can hope for is to learn how to tread water. inescapable science of mind offers more than this. It teaches people how to swim and to swim well. We don't just have to 'make do'. It recognises that people are capable of real growth and change.

There are many ways inescapable science of mind can be used in counselling and in fact it often flows quite well into widely standard techniques such as explication Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. For instance explication Focused Therapy works to help the client recognise what they are already doing in their life, noting what's best for them and what worked well in the past. Focus is on the explication rather than the problem. Whereas Seligman's work on studying optimism is about recognising unhelpful conception patterns and studying to dispute and replace them. This is a basic aspect of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Beyond this, inescapable science of mind provides us with an occasion to take care of what is already within the individual, but years of unhappiness and struggle mean the man is no longer able to recognise it. I see inescapable science of mind gift a series of techniques (which have ever growing scientific reserve for) which can help people cope when things go wrong. The ideal would be to learn these techniques whilst things are good, enabling us to effortlessly draw upon them during times of difficulty. This is the ideal. However, by integrating them into therapy an occasion is given to introduce ideas and techniques the client can take with them. That being said, seeking out reserve during difficult times is a basic facet of inescapable Psychology, whether this is through a friend or the aid of a thinking health professional.

Some of the ideas stemming from inescapable science of mind that I think are particular prevalent to counselling include eliciting personal strengths, studying optimism as well as comprehension the conception of operate (i.e. The things we can and cannot operate and what we can do about both). Work on gratitude and forgiveness will both have their place in a counselling environment. However, possibly the most leading conception so vital to inescapable science of mind is the one of hope: the trust that things will get better. If a counsellor has no hope for their client, then what is the point?

Friday, December 30, 2011

Chinese Cultural Lack of Empathy in development - Counselling custom

Abstract

In this paper I intend to survey the phenomenon of empathy or the lack there-of surrounded by the Chinese population. The evidence is mostly through observational techniques and interviews with Chinese commentaries about the findings. Empathy is the capability to understand the feelings of others by recognising their emotions, behavioural performance and situation. This method of cognitive capability is lacking in Chinese reasoning styles and causes public impairment and behavioural problems in not recognising or comprehension other person's perspective when they interact socially. The findings show two possible conclusions, the first, the one-child policy of China causing interference with general sibling studying experience and secondly, over-population, parenting advice and public studying situations.

Introduction

Empathy is the capability to understand the feelings of others through observation of their actions, behaviour and situations. For example finding person fall off a bicycle causes the observer to wince at the notion of the person's pain or discomfort. It is as if we fell off the bicycle instead. However we cannot fully understand or feel the person's indignities or pain at that moment but can clearly try to fantasize those feelings and thoughts of the other. In counselling empathy is an important component of the therapist's armoury. Without this capability the counsellor would be ineffective in trying to understand his client's situation. While the counsellor may not have personally experienced the same behaviour they can at least understand the client's discomfiture, pain, thinking, feelings and cognitive reasoning. This capability to empathise enables the counsellor to enact transference with the client in a inevitable manner.

Research into public situations can divulge some aspects of empathy or at least its component of the promulgation to act in public situations where altruism is a required performance to a situation. Coke et el (1978) showed that the growth in emotional empathy helps to change behaviour of the observer to help or aid other person. He believed this was because of the natural reaction cognitively of the observer, "What if that happened to me" thinking. This he reported showed that even empathy with good intentions can be selfish in motivation. Cialdini et al (1987) alternatively felt that people may feel saddened by the plight of others and in turn changed their mood to a more altruistic stance. Batson et el (1981) suggests empathy is a genuine desire to cut other peoples distress rather than your own. Batson tested this by allowing observers to change places with victims who received electric shocks. He found that the observer's distress was reduced by taking the victims place.

Social impact system clearly shows empathy can be situational in that people are influenced by those nearby them in response to a distressing situation. On the Metro system if many people turn away from a beggar then you are more likely to conform to that behaviour rather than break the pattern and give money. In other words we corollary the lead given by others when we are not sure ourselves how to act. Latane and Rodin (1969) and Latane and Darley (1968) in two experiments showed clearly that in a crowd situation people tend to survey others first then conclude on an action. people more often when alone will act on their own violation rather than what others are demonstrating. Latane called this a diffusion of responsibility that occurs when many people are together witnessing a victim's plight, in fact most research found that the more people are together the less helping behaviour happens and a sense of pluralistic ignorance abounds by people behaving badly together.

In China there seems to clearly be a lack of empathy understood between people and therefore their everyday actions cause distress to others not directly related with kinship or public circle. For example queuing is a tasteless performance in most societies and politeness tells us that we should wait, take our turn and be patient. Where do we learn such behaviour? As children we survey through public studying that our parents wait in line at the supermarket, give up their seat to the elderly or pregnant women that they do not push-in or complain impatiently while waiting for person else to discontinue ahead of them. This starts the process of cognitive reasoning in that when these public rules are broken they see people getting up-set, shouting, complaining and punishing the wrong-doer. In time they take on the cognitive public rules internally and apply them in their own situations through behaviour, this is the beginning of an comprehension of empathy. So why then in China do people push-in, ignore others when entering buses, trains, the metro excreta? Why do they read a newspaper in a crowded trains causing others to be uncomfortable, inconvenienced or pushed aside? Why do they shrug their shoulders at others distress or misfortune?

There are two aspects of Chinese community that may indirectly attribute to the lack of empathy for others in their character. The first is the one-child policy introduced by the Chinese government to control the people rise and avoid starvation and poverty surrounded by its people. The second is over-population itself in which too many people are vying for too slight recourses such as, food, seats on a bus, room on a train, and long queues at the supermarket.

Methodology

In order to research this hypothesis the researchers interviewed subjects about up-to-date tragedies, incidents such as accidents, fires, deaths and general day to day activities in which comprehension another's feelings was primary to good citizenship. Examples were the Sichuan earthquake, the frequent death of miners, minor bicycle accidents and road death.

Results

In roughly all the interviews the majority of Chinese respondents conferred a lack of empathy towards others and an inability to understand distress in other people accept in a very artificial way. For example when asked about a up-to-date road death in which a taxi passenger opened a door to exit and killed a bicyclist who was trying to pass on the inside of the traffic. Most replied the cyclist should have been more careful. When asked how the passenger felt do you think at killing the cyclist - most replied I have no idea. When Westerners were asked the same interrogate roughly all replied the passenger would feel, scared, guilty, fearful of consequences and sorry about the victim. When this was pointed out to the Chinese respondent - they often shrugged their shoulders and replied how would you know this? In China many State owned mines and illegal mines control on safety standards that would make a Western miner shudder with apprehension. Every week a narrative of miner's deaths appears in the press, sometimes hundreds die in one incident. When asked how the miners families would feel at a time like this, the Chinese respondents replied mostly that the families would seek money for the death and worry about compensation. This matter of money was also mentioned in the bicycle incident. When added questioned as the feelings of the family most Chinese said something wonderful to most Western ears, and I quote, "What does it matter we have too many people in China". It is as if the death of person is indubitably a advantage to the whole society. When interrogate about this callous view most Chinese felt that Westerners did not understand the culture and the need for the survival of the majority over the minority (those killed). This was However demonstrated by the Government here, when the need for land to accomplish major civil construction, that those people who lost their homes and land where doing so for the greater good of the country and it is their loyal duty to suffer so that many can advantage from their sacrifice. (The compensation for loss of farms, homes etc. Were minimal and no public keep was considered such as farmers relocated to modern apartments with no work and a lifestyle they did not understand). Ultimately most were questioned on the up-to-date earthquake in China that killed over 80,000 people. Again most of the interviewees, felt that this was a major tragedy. When asked about how they felt about the people's plight, most gave stereotypical answers that they recited from Government state issued sentiments and media sound bites. In other words - they were not feeling but plainly reciting the sentiments they had been hearing from the media. When asked how they would feel in the same situation they found it very difficult to understand the interrogate and its meaning. There were some comments that coincided with kinship, such as losing their own family members. In a group conference with Shanghai students about the earthquake most also gave sound-bite replies However when asked if they had any feeling about the people who survived they felt they did not know these people so how could they feel anything for them? This did remind the interviewers about Princess Diana's death in France, despite the public out-pouring of grief shown in the media; many British admitted in inexpressive they indubitably did not like her at all. So showing a mass hysteria coming to a tragedy, as a false type of empathy, rather than a personally felt empathy.

Discussion

In conclusion it can be seen that the hypothesis can be supported in that Chinese people seem to lack basic empathy toward other person's position. In trying to understand this disagreement in public studying the author looks at two phenomenons that exist in China and not in other countries. The first is the psychological and public problems with the one-child-policy, introduced to cut the people strain on recourses in China and the second over-population itself as a source of attitude towards others on a daily basis. The one child policy has many public problems but in the case of empathy the author points out why a lone child growing up in a home with adults only can lack the public skill of empathy when dealing with adult situations later in life. In the West where two of more children grow up together as siblings, many public lessons are learned through observation. When a father is shouting at your brother/sister the observing child can understand the fear response from the other sibling by knowing what it is like to be the recipient of the same punishment. The child might be thinking, "I am glad that is her and not me" in other words the child is identifying the emotional feelings of the other sibling. These types of episodes happen daily as we are growing up from casual incidents to the more serious ones. To a child any incident can be serious even if we as adults would not class it as such. This observational studying is the founding of empathy in the child that when growing to adult uses this childhood emotional studying to exercise empathy when observing others who are in trouble or plight. Under China's one-child policy the child often has no-one to survey and therefore can only internalise their own feelings about their experience without finding that others might have the same feelings. With out this observational public studying the Chinese child becomes more selfish in it orientation - ego-centred for life - and so as an adult merely observes without a feeling of empathy to help understand another's point of view or plight. The second area is over-population itself, here you can see daily in the cities particularly, that people do not wait patiently in line, are enduringly complaining about others, push and shove when buying train or bus tickets that maybe in slight furnish not just at holiday time but anytime (even when furnish exceeds demand) and the scurry for seats on crowded trains and buses. Even in the customary reasoning of many countries, that while on a bus you should stand for women, babies, the elderly, the infirm here is Chine the government had to advertise gentle behaviour prior to the 2008 Olympics to tell Chinese how to behave in public places such as not spitting, emptying their nose in public and standing up for other people on buses and trains. These advertisements had to show people indubitably smiling while giving way to others. However this is not the real situation in China, as the cites are so crowded, that people push and pull others in the endeavor to gain seat (even when travelling a short distance). Often healthy young men sit while old women stand next to them. They do not give up their seats for anything as this is their privilege. When challenged by researchers on buses many would indubitably get up but this was merely public conditioning to corollary authority figures demands. When asked why they should give up the seat again they often repeated government slogans from the media but rarely showed any actual comprehension into the person's plight at standing when old or pregnant. Again the lack of real empathy is wonderful but once again people responded with a frequent reply. "There are just too many people to care about so you must look after yourself and your family first". This reference to over-population is often quoted as an excuse for selfish behaviour and a lack of empathy to other people. Many said, "They do not care about me why should I care about them?"

Summary

The lack of empathy then in China can be seen from two public aspects, the first is the one-child-policy in which psychological public studying cannot take place within sibling observation important to adult comprehension of others feelings and the second, over-population itself in a community where a perceived shortage of recourses leads to selfish behaviour that prevents the showing of real empathy. It should be pointed out that this research was not exhaustive in that interviews were conducted often informally and at times of chance sampling as apposed to more rigorous techniques, However most Chinese who proof read the main article agreed with the findings from their own personal experience of growing up and living in China. So the author feels that although added research is desirable to confirm these findings the over-all lack of empathy is so inevitable in everyday activities here that it leaves slight room for doubt.

References

Graham Hill (1998) industrialized psychology - Oxford Guides Pgs. 116 - 118.
Richard Gross (2001) psychology of Mind & Behaviour, 4th Ed. Hodder & Stoughton Pgs. 440 - 444

Thursday, December 29, 2011

What Is the incompatibility between Psychiatry and Psychology?

Unless you have former contact in the field of reasoning health, you may not understand the incompatibility in the middle of psychiatry and psychology. Both professions seek to help citizen with psychological issues. However, if you are seeking rehabilitation it is leading to understand what separates a psychiatrist from a psychologist.

Psychiatry vs. Psychology

The instruction required to come to be a psychiatrist or a psychologist is separate and dictates what types of services they can provide.

A psychiatrist must derive a bachelors degree, then unblemished four years of curative school to attain a M.D. Or D.O. Degree. curative school is followed by four years of residency training in psychiatry, most often in a hospital's psychiatric unit. Just as a neurologist has specialized training in order to diagnose neurological problems, so does a psychiatrist have specialized training in order to diagnose reasoning disorders.

A psychologist, on the other hand, may pursue separate degrees. Required instruction ranges from five to seven years. There are those psychologists that focus strictly on scientific study and there are those that focus on working with individuals, families and groups, providing counseling services. Some psychologists administer and illustrate psychological tests to rule what type of rehabilitation a someone will require. Although not permitted to prescription medications, the psychologist works with a psychiatrist if it is believed medication is necessary.

Psychiatrists and Psychologists Work Together

Although the professions are different, psychiatrists and psychologist often work together. For the well-being of the patient, both professions often want the services of the other. For example, a psychologist is not permitted to prescription medications. If the psychologist believes medication is warranted he or she will consult with a psychiatrist. Conversely, if a psychiatrist has prescribed medication but feels the patient could advantage from counseling, he or she will refer the patient to a psychologist.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Here's What You Need To Know About Pre-Marriage Counseling

If you want to learn more about pre marriage counseling, then you've come to the right place. This article was written as a resource for those who are about to be married and want to ensure a lifetime of Christian-based happiness. Specifically we'll discuss the issues that lead towards the necessity of pre marriage counseling, the faith-based assistance alternative, as well as the secular assistance alternatives. After reading this article, the reader should be good ready for a possible pre marriage counseling session.

Pre Marriage Counseling: The Dilemma

It is a sad fact that over half of the marriages in America end in divorce. It has been proven that an productive Christian pre marriage counseling program can help the combine in beating the odds and well maintaining a healthy and spiritually-alive relationship. Prior to the wedding ceremony, taking part in a capability Christian pre marriage counseling session has meant the inequity in the middle of success and disunion for many couples. Clearly the households who base their lifestyles on Biblical truths and priorities have a good opportunity to corollary than those that do not. However, there can still be many issues that arise in the most-Christian of families. Issues such as money management, parenting, disagreement resolution, and communication can all lead to serious disagreement in any marriage. These topics are typical of the kinds that are introduced and discussed in a typical pre marriage counseling session.

Pre Marriage Counseling: Faith Based Assistance

Even though it is called faith-based assistance, that doesn't necessarily mean that the administrator is a pastor or other religious leader. In the last 20 to 30 years, there has been a huge growth in the whole of very fine Christian counselors that offer their services to the faith-based community. These counselors are well-trained and administer productive procedures that are designed to stir communication and effectively eliminate major conflicts before they happen. These counselors are trained in science of mind and behavioral science, which plays an foremost role in any pre marriage counseling endeavor. Of course, the Christian counselor will add Biblical wisdom on top of their human understanding. It goes without saying that the Bible itself is the final authority as a resource for these Christian counselors.

Pre Marriage Counseling: Secular Assistance

In this day and age, it is foremost to select a counselor that is well-trained in both faith and secular principles. A solid background in clinical science of mind is very foremost for any health care expert to have. But, as stated above, if there is a disagreement in the middle of the Bible and secular theory, it is the Bible that will have the final say. Having said that, secular methods are very productive in dealing with such problems as feelings of length from their mate, lack of communication, intimacy issues, anger, and many other difficulties. In order to get the most productive treatment, a blending of faith and secular strategies will prove to be the most effective.

Conclusion:

The bonds of holy matrimony, although considered a gift from the Almighty, can become a living hell for the individuals who are struggling with association problems. The good news is that, although we all struggle in one form or another throughout our lives, some of the struggles can be minimized. It is our recommendation that whatever who is considering an upcoming marriage should spend the time and endeavor to seek out quality, Christian pre marriage counseling.

Psychological Testing: What It Is, How It Works

Psychological testing is a estimation course used to relate or predict behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or symptomatic characteristics of the man taking the tests, or the man to which the tests refer (some tests are given to people who know the man of interest, but most are taken by the man of interest).

To stay within the area of clinical psychology (mental health psychology), there are some kinds of tests often used. According to my uncomplicated classification scheme industrialized for educating the public, there are personality, cognitive, behavioral, diagnostic, and achievement tests. Sub-specialty tests, like forensic psychology or neuropsychology tests would undoubtedly fall under one or more of these broad categories but with a more specialized focus. Also, some tests incorporate elements of more than one classification.

Please note that my scheme is simply convenient; there are research-based classifications of tests based upon what they do and how they do it. My argument of other test aspects is also based upon investigate but does not always use the 'official' terms or terms typical in my field, as I wanted to write a simpler overview. Note also that in counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and other fields there are other kinds of tests, such as 'interest' tests designed to detect interests in distinct professions, or even in-vivo (live) behavioral tests such as sessions designed to replicate a 'rough day at the office' for important, stressful, and high-priced executive positions.

I am not going to give away any test secrets, but what I will present is a brief summary of each class of test, some examples by title only, and some basic data on how tests are commonly interpreted. You will not learn from this post any useful secrets of the tests themselves. This is intended only to advise the collective of the value of psychological testing.

'Types' of Tests

Personality tests can sometimes overlap with diagnostic or symptom-related tests. Broadly, a personality test is designed to relate or predict usual attitudes, behaviors, or traits connected to the examinee's interpersonal perception (how they see others) and intra-personal perception (how they see themselves). Famous examples include the Mmpi-2 (which is structured and taken with paper and pencil) and the Rorschach (which is less structured and involves interviewing the examinee about their perceptions of inkblots).

Cognitive tests are used to relate or predict a person's mental abilities. For instance, two persons may each have reasonable potential to creatively solve problems, but which one can do so more speedily or more flexibly? How strong is a person's attentiveness and memory? Is the man better at solving problems verbally, structurally, nonverbally, holistically? The list of cognitive ('thinking') abilities that can be tested is very long and detailed. Cognitive tests include Iq tests, neuropsychological tests, and specialized instruments used in research, to name only three types. Famous examples include the Wais-Iv, Wms-Iv, Stanford-Binet V, Bender-Gestalt-Ii, and many, many individual neuropsychological tests and test batteries.

Behavioral inventories are based upon the description of people who know the man in question, or upon direct analyst notice of the man in question. One good example of when these measures are used is in cases of Adhd prognosis or estimation of a given person's potential to function in their day (for example, used together with an Iq test to decree the possibility of mental retardation or developmental disability). Examples include behavior checklists or the Vineland-Ii Adaptive Behavior Scales. Behavioral estimation is also tasteless among practitioners of applied behavioral analysis, which is used for treating very serious behavior problems in the developmentally disabled or with the highly severely mentally ill.

Diagnostic tests oftentimes use an interview format, though some of them are given with paper and pencil like a personality test. Some interviews are highly structured (and are thus more reliable), but they tend to be less flexible, may alienate or bore the examinee, and may not be as adaptable to a given case. Some interviews are not very structured (and are thus less reliable), but are more flexible and interactive. Commonly a good estimation will somehow administrate to include parts of both types of interview style. An example would be the Structured Clinical Interview for Dsm-Iv (Scid, a allembracing structured interview) or the Beck Depression catalogue (paper and pencil, but focused only on depression).

Achievement tests portion how well the examinee does on scholastic measures of reading, writing, and mathematics (to name three broad categories). Other measures that test generally knowledge could probably be categorized as achievement tests as well. It is leading to understand that the results of these tests will be partly connected with the person's cognitive abilities, for example because knowledge tests Commonly involve some mental potential and some notice of speed, exactitude, or both. Examples include the Wide Range Achievement Test - 4 or the high school Sat.

Interpretation of Tests

Tests are often interpreted According to either they use or do not use some 'standard' or 'reference point,' and According to what that reference point (if any) is.

Rater-based reference point--in this interpretation, the test being used Commonly only refers to categories--diagnosis, for example. Structured interviews often fall in this category, and the only purpose of the test is to tell either the man has a prognosis or not. Comparison along a continuous line of percentiles or scores is not a part of this referencing. Here, the main concern is the reliability of the business agreement between two or more examiners and the validity of the categories between which they choose.

No reference point (other than the examinee)--this can tell us a lot about the qualities of an examinee, but there is no way to portion those qualities against the same qualities of other persons. However, some tests that can portion against other people also include elements of this 'qualitative' description. This type of interpretation simply interprets 'type' of article and 'amount of X relative to Y for this examinee,' but not 'amount of X or Y relative to others.'

For example, one could note that the examinee did better on measures of attentiveness than on measures of reasoning, but could not collate these statements to the carrying out of other persons. Of course, here we are assuming that the whole of questions or items for mental and for attentiveness are equal and that each mental item is of the same difficulty ('hardness') as each corresponding attentiveness item. Being able to value difficulty is difficult without some outside reference point, and this brings us to norms...

Norm-based reference point--in this interpretation used by many psychological tests, the score of the examinee is compared to the scores of other test-takers (usually hundreds to thousands of other examinees). This allows the scores to be interpreted in terms of their length from the mean (usually the 'mean') and in terms of percentiles. For example, a man whose score on a portion of extraversion (outgoingness) is 'one acceptable deviation above the mean' is at almost the 84th percentile relative to his or her peers in regard to that one characteristic.

Criterion-based reference--in this interpretation, also used in many tests and often used in conjunction with norm-referencing, clear score levels on the test are known to be highly connected with clear behaviors or outcomes (criteria) with some degree of probability. Commonly this knowledge is acquired straight through investigate done in developing or confirming the results of the test. For example, a test could help one decree which man to hire for a job; a single score on a test designed to portion organizational potential (the potential to prioritize and sort) might be highly correlated with success in a single executive position. Other test results might be highly predictive of suicide or another more clinical concern.

Often norm-referencing is used to give some idea of how an examinee compares to peers, while at the same time criterion-referencing investigate is used to tell the analyst of the test what the score means in terms of imporant connected outcomes. For example, a high Iq score is not just 'higher cognitive potential than most of her peers,' it is also Commonly predictive of high scholastic achievement and high-level professional employment. Of course, these predictions are not perfect, and neither are norm-based interpretations (or any interpretation for that matter).

For this reason, all good tests have data about their 'reliability.' Reliability gives knowledge about:
The usual error rates of a test
The whole of foreseen, error in any score
The degree to which portions of the test agree with or are sensibly connected to other portions
The degree to which separate raters agree, and/or
The degree to which one examinee's scores on a test at one time agree with their scores at another time).

Good tests also should have data available about their 'validity':
The extent to which the test undoubtedly measures what it is supposed to
The degree to which the test adequately measures a specific type of content
The degree to which the test is sensibly connected or non-associated with other similar and distinct tests and/or
The degree to which the test undoubtedly has a dependable connection with leading outcomes

Hopefully this summary will be helpful for anyone thoughprovoking about psychological tests!

The God complex in Therapy-Counselling

Abstract:

What does your patient (client) expect from you? Their life is in turmoil, problems ascend from the sky and land squarely at their feet and they need answers. The danger here for therapists is to become everything for that person, father figure, sexual object, confessor, adviser and most of all the only person who has ever indubitably listened to them and understood! In this paper we will recognize the dangers to both therapists and to clients when both parties start to see the therapist as a God - the know all - see all - understand all, a being who will magically whisk away all those terrible feelings and leave a well-adjusted happy person behind.

Introduction:

From the time therapists began in the early 19th century patients have idolised their doctors as person special amongst all the habitancy they know, whether that be male or female it does not matter but the association structure of the powerless under the spell of the powerful. Freud and others recognised that patients often transfer their needy emotions to the therapist (counsellor) in the form of a love object. Most after some duration of therapy indubitably find their feelings for the therapist indubitably diminish to one of respect or care but not as intensive as the early sessions. This bell-shaped graph of emotion shows the early mistrust to dependency to eventual co-dependence and ultimately disengagement from the carer to an independent self supportive state of mind. Of procedure these same therapists realised that dependency works the other way in counter-transference where the therapist becomes dependent on the patient (client) and finds disengagement fearful and experienced as a loss.

In order for therapists to deal with the qoute account for rules were devised over the years by societies and expressed as boundaries of behaviour (ethics). In these rules the therapist should be aware of transference in both directions and deal with the situation by gentle rejection and insurance to the client that these feelings are normal and will pass. However for many therapists and clients these intense emotional feelings do not always go away and ethical lines become crossed by the therapist who allows their need for worship and to be treated in a God like manner to blur their judgement for the patient's well-being and on-going treatment.

God Like Worship

What entices the therapist to slip so indubitably into the God complex? One definition is that the therapist themselves have a needy personality from childhood. Where maybe from a large family of siblings where parents have to share out the love available - where competing for concentration often results in disappointment and feelings of being alone even in a house surrounded by others. As adults they often hunt for habitancy who are giving in nature to satisfy their need for concentration that was sadly lacking in childhood. So when confronted with an attentive client the therapist can find themselves feeding off their loving worship, enjoying the attention, the worshipfulness of the client that allows the therapist to feel powerful, loved and above all needed.

A second area is that of the therapists self -esteem. The therapist may have feelings that they are not fulfilling there own expert standards, that they are failing their clients straight through lack of knowledge, professionalism and so constantly look for clients to assure them straight through their God-like worship that they are doing a good job, that they are succeeding in helping them feel better. The therapist is constantly asking the client questions such as, "are you feeling better?", "have things improved?", and "are these sessions helping you?" All are genuine questions for any therapist to ask from time to time to check or measure strengthen but when asked to often can indicate that the therapist is finding for approval or commendation for the work so far. In other words they want to hear they are doing a good job for the client. Here the therapists self-esteem can be boosted and help them to continue to treat clients with a new-found confidence. However this confidence is only temporary as the self-doubts creep back in over time and additional reassurance is needed from the client to boost the ego once more to its God-like heights. When one particular client is constantly praising the therapist then in turn the therapist creates a need for that client that makes it imperative they continue in treatment. To accomplish this the therapist is constantly searching for new reasons to continue the sessions not for the sake of the client but in fact for their own needs.

A third area is expert snobbery, here the therapist has a credit to keep, a need for recognition both by the client as an devotee but also the adoring public for their superior work or achievements. Here the therapist becomes the centre of the counselling process in which they are magnanimous in their Godly status amongst fellow colleagues and the public arena. This dangerous self-importance can lead to recklessness on behalf of patients who believe this person to be that all-knowing God who will retort their need to be treated by the best - the one with the superior credit amongst his peers - that therapist who is hard to see (get an appointment with) as they are so busy and in demand. Of procedure this same therapist has the largest fees to pay and so the client perceives they are getting the best as they are paying the most.

The urgency Trap

Every therapist is aware of the trap of transference and counter-transference and despite this knowledge can find themselves sucked into an unhealthy situation even without realising what is happening until a urgency emerges where the patient and therapist meet at the junction of an emotional precipice where decisions have to be carefully about the continuance of therapy itself and the disengagement from those emotions that have crept up so silently. Once in this situation the therapist has the difficult task of repairing the association whether by toning down their own responses to the client or recommending the client see a new therapist. However for the therapist who is addicted to the concentration of the client this is a hard decision - to send away the very person who is giving them the need they have become drawn too. For some therapists there are other concerns such as being found out, a expert complaint, an incidental family interference or urgency of confidence about their own skills in counselling. This can lead to a fear response effecting other client's sessions and outcomes. A therapist in emotional urgency cannot be effective in helping clients when they are more implicated with their own welfare than that of the patient.

Outcomes

Is it so surprising that as therapists we are any less than anyone else in need of love, attention, to have needs met, to feel wanted and appreciated by others. So it is not surprising that given the occasion to feel worshiped in a God like manner that so many therapists fall from grace and into the trap of hero-worship by the very clients whom they should be finding after for their emotional needs and helping them to grow so as to deal with their own (the clients) real life problems and to move transmit being able to cope with life.

There is no easy explication to this phenomenon of transference and to offer a simple guide to avoiding the situation would be futile as every situation brings differing dynamics that each therapist has to confront and deal with as professionally as possible. However it would be unfair not to point out some distinct rules of thumb for therapists who succumb to God Worship, at least to think about.

First once you realise as a therapist that boundaries have been crossed a normal discussion with a peer expert may help to reassert their personal perspective about themselves and the client involved. Secondly the therapist should reconsider breaking with the client and so end the unhealthy situation by recommending another therapist (usually of the same sex as the client). Third if the transference is one-way (from the client only) then to account for to the client the reasons for their feelings towards the therapist and how in counselling a inverted bell like pattern of emotions can be seen as a healthy progression straight through stages of the sessions towards a healing process in the end. That mutual respect is a far healthy outcome than God-like worship that in fact may colour the outcome of the treatment. To take the I'm Ok - Your Ok position in that both parties to the transference have needs to be met and retort those needs but within the boundaries of good ethical practice. Fourth is to realise that to be appreciated by the client for doing your job is a worthwhile bonus but that there are limits to that praise that have to be tinged with realism about the therapist's role in counselling as a guide and not a God-head for the client to worship at.

Conclusion:

I started out in this paper warning therapists about the trap of transference and how it can become addictive to have clients worship you and hold you in unnatural high esteem. That it is natural for all humans and not just therapists to seek love have needs met and feel wanted. However therapists are unique to our community in that they must be trusted to keep boundaries and expert standards when gift rehabilitation to vulnerable clients who often desperately need to have answers to their problematic lives with an climate of trust, respect and humanitarianism Magic may be staggering from the client but realism and genuine hold and understanding is the real magic offered by therapy to the client.

End...

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

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Michael Bustamante, in relationship with Media definite Communications, Inc. For SchoolsGalore.com

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Trauma Counseling Degrees - Spotlight on a science of mind work

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