2. Personal Statement In August of 2009, I decided to go to Argosy University to finish my degree. I went to Bennett College for Women for all 4 years without receiving my degree. I majored in Biology. Education is very important to me and my wellbeing; and after take a year hiatus to figure out what I wanted to do I decided that while I have a few credits to finish with Bennett, I wanted to keep my mind fresh and continues my education. Being at Argosy has further cultivated me as well as helping me to understand that I’m destined to be a great person and success story but furthermore that I can venture into other fields in academia and make my impact on the world. While the online format what a little adjustment from college life at Bennett, I kept and continue my experiences because they go hand in hand. When a person needs help they should ask for it; I had a great support at Bennett as well as Argosy. My experience has been full of events and a personal tragedy. While my Bennett Sister was attending Argosy for the Masters in Family Counseling programs along with my sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, I had a family of people who understood that in life one’s journey may take a detour. Finishing my degree to move on to graduate school has presented it challenges but one always has to stay persistent. When I first went to college I wanted to be in the health care field because I want to help people. I actually wanted to be a Nurse Practitioner with the specialization in Women’s Health and Pediatrics. When I soul search to redefine my why and my purpose, I discovered that they were many things that I wanted to do and could do; you have to know and understand the versatility of your degree(s). Once I finish the Bachelors up at Argosy and finish my last few credits at Bennett, hopefully I become a candidate for the Masters of Clinical Psychology Program at Argosy. Then I will proceed in to going in a Doctoral program focusing in Public Health and/ or Health Law Administration. My mission is to be in service to others but also create opportunities for others to succeed as well. I want to go into Health Law Administration to be an advocate for the health care field and sometimes I want to going into Sex and Relationship Therapy. Maybe I can do both. In high school, my drama teacher would always tell me that everything you do in life is a learning lesson but also a learning experience. My life is a continuous learning experience and that is how it should be. This path may seem difficult at times but I have to be persistent in my endeavors to get to the yellow brick road of my future career(s).
3. resume Brittany Clark Argosy University Student PERMANENT ADDRESS 5422 8th Street NW Washington, DC 20011 LOCAL ADDRESS 1293 Creekside Court SE Smyrna, Georgia 30080 USA HOME PHONE 202-270-8201 CELL PHONE 202-290-6979 brittanynclark@stu.argosy.edu Objective To obtain an entry-level position utilizing education and training in Psychology. Education Argosy University, Atlanta, Georgia Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2011 Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, North Carolina Major: Biology Dates Attended: June 2004-May 2008
4. Employment History General Services Administration Washington, D.C. May 2004- August 2004 www.gsa.gov Summer Internship Member of a Management Team in Public Building Services Learned about a bidding software named Comprizon Reviewed security reports and assembled training packages for workshops Attended meetings and teleconferences Assembled travel packages for the supervisor and other members of the Management Team The Hecht Company Washington, D.C. May 2005-August 2006 www.hechts.com Reserve Sales Associate Assisted customers in various departments Merchandised items when needed Assisted other employees in various departments when needed Bennett College for Women Residence Life www.bennett.edu Federal Work Study Greensboro, N.C. August 2005-May 2006 Desk Worker in Jones Hall Dormitory Filed paperwork and various documents for the dorm Assisted the Resident Director and Resident Advisors in maintaining proper behavior and decorum in the dorm
5. Federal Work Study Greensboro, N.C. September 2007-April 2008 Desk Worker in Cone Hall Dormitory Filed paperwork and various documents for the dorm Assisted the Resident Director and Resident Advisors in maintaining proper behavior and decorum in the dorm Macy's East Washington, D.C. December 2006-August 2007 www.macys.com Flyers/ Contingents Associate Assisted customers in various departments Merchandised items when needed Assisted other employees in various departments when needed Affiliations / Memberships Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated April 2007-Present Initiated through the Zeta Xi Chapter, Bennett College for Women Since 1908, the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha has responded to the world’s increasing complexity. It continues to empower communities through exemplary service initiatives and progressive programs.
6. The 1926 Society April 2008- Present An Alumnae initiative for Bennett College for Women Becoming a proactive alumnae in helping to assure the endowment and legacy of the college Extracurricular Activities Ecentrique Modeling Troupe September 2005- April 2006 Served as the Secretary Served as the Head Makeup Artist and Assistant Creative Director Pre-Alumnae Council June 2004-May 2008 Served in the capacity as a General Member Served as the Historian and Publicist Served as a representative for the United Negro College Fund
7. United Methodist Student Movement September 2006-May 2008 Served in the capacity as a General Member Served as the Vice President Served as a representative in the United Methodist Church to promote awareness of Higher Education in United Methodist Affiliated Institutions Community Service / Volunteer Gateway Educational Center October 2005 Assisted with children who are autistic along with their teachers for the Special Olympics Qualifiers The John Spruill Singers September 2006-April 2007 A chorale group that sang and participated at various churches in Greensboro, N.C. and COGIC conferences Greensboro Urban Ministry October 2006 Volunteered at the soup kitchen by serving meals to the less fortunate Assisted patrons to various offices in the facility The Walk for Juvenile Diabetes March 2006 Participated as a greeter and cheerer for the participants who walked or ran to help raise money for research for juvenile diabetes Sisters Together Move Better September 2004 An initiative with the YWCA and NIH ( National Institutes of Health) Teaching women how to be healthy and the importance of exercise Preparation for the Sisters Walk for Life Project, where women walk together to promote awareness about better health in the community
8. Reflection Though my tenure has been short at Argosy so far, I would say that I have further expanded my mind with what I can do with my experience and degrees. While this tenure has been filled with challenges personally and education wise I still have managed to become even more cultivated in how I could help others while learning about myself.
9. Table of Contents Cognitive Skills Research Skills Communication Skills Ethics and Diversity Awareness Foundations of Psychology Applied Psychology Interpersonal Effectiveness
10. Cognitive Skills Physiological Psychology Course Code: PSY350 Submitted by: Brittany Nicole Clark Date: January 28, 2010 Robert Lowe, a 42-year-old African-American, experiences back pain and spells of dizziness and consults a neurologist at your facility. The neurologist suspects a bulging disc and tells Robert to get an MRI. Robert calls you on the telephone for answers to specific questions related to his condition. He wants to know the following: How does an MRI work? Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique whereby the interior of the body can be accurately imaged; involves the interaction between radio waves and a strong magnetic field. (Carlson, 2010). An even more detailed, high-resolution picture of what is inside a person’s head is provided by a process called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI scanner resembles a CT scanner, but it does not use X-rays. Instead, it passes an extremely strong magnetic field through the patient’s head. When a person’s body is placed in a strong magnetic field, the nuclei of some atoms in molecules in the body spin with a particular orientation. If a radio frequency wave is then passed through the body, these nuclei emit radio waves of their own. Different molecules emit energy at different frequencies. The MRI scanner is tuned to detect the radiation from hydrogen atoms. Because these atoms are present in different concentrations in different tissues, the scanner can use the information to prepare pictures of slices of the brain. Unlike CT scans, which are generally limited to the horizontal plane, MRI scans can be taken in the sagittal or frontal planes as well. (Carlson, 2010). The brain imaging method with the best spatial and temporal resolution is known as functional MRI (fMRI). Engineers have devised modifications to existing MRI scanners and their software that permit the devices
11. to acquire images that indicate regional metabolism. Brain activity is measured indirectly, by detecting levels of oxygen in the brain’s blood vessels. Increased activity of brain regions stimulates blood flow to that region, which increases the local blood oxygen level. The formal name of this type of imaging is BOLD: blood oxygen level–dependent signal. How will it help diagnose his condition? The MRI will help the patient and the medical staff to determine if there are any potential and or harmful problems present, where a treatment plan can be put in place if necessary. Does it have any potential harmful effects? PET scans and CT scans can be very harmful to a patient because it exposes one to high levels of radiation. Can he go for an X-ray or a PET instead of an MRI? The patient could go for an X-ray or CT scan or PET scan if that is his choice but mostly that decision in some jurisdictions may be solely the choice of the medical personnel. Though a CT scan and PET scan may not give the best results as far a diagnosis is concerned, the MRI offers more options for many different kinds of patients. What are the relative benefits of an X-ray or a PET scan as alternatives to an MRI? Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging method that reveals the localization of a radioactive tracer in a living brain. (Carlson, 2010). One of the disadvantages of PET scanners is their operating cost.
12. For reasons of safety the radioactive chemicals that are administered have very short half-lives; that is, they decay and lose their radioactivity very quickly. For example, the half-life of radioactive 2-DG is 110 minutes; the half-life of radioactive water (also used for PET scans) is only 2 minutes. Because these chemicals decay so quickly, they must be produced on site, in an atomic particle accelerator called a cyclotron. Therefore, to the cost of the PET scanner must be added the cost of the cyclotron and the salaries of the personnel who operate it. (Carlson, 2010). Another disadvantage of PET scans is the relatively poor spatial resolution (the blurriness) of the images. The temporal resolution is also relatively poor. The positrons being emitted from the brain must be sampled for a fairly long time, which means that rapid, short-lived events within the brain are likely to be missed. These disadvantages are not seen in functional MRI, described in the next paragraph. However, PET scanners can do something that functional MRI scanners cannot do: measure the concentration of particular chemicals in various parts of the brain. (Carlson, 2010).
13. Functional MRI scans have a higher resolution than PET scans do, and they can be acquired much faster. Thus, they reveal more detailed information about the activity of particular brain regions. (Carlson, 2010). A functional imaging method; a modification of the MRI procedure that permits the measurement of regional metabolism in the brain, usually by detecting changes in blood oxygen level. (Carlson, 2010). Recent advances in X-ray techniques and computers have led to the development of several methods for studying the anatomy of the living brain. These advances permit researchers to study the location and extent of brain damage while the patient is still living. The first method that was developed is called computerized tomography (CT). This procedure usually referred to as a CT scan, works as follows: The patient’s head is placed in a large doughnut-shaped ring. The ring contains an X-ray tube and, directly opposite it (on the other side of the patient’s head), an X-ray detector. The X-ray beam passes through the patient’s head, and the detector measures the amount of radioactivity that gets through it. The beam scans the head from all angles, and a computer translates the numbers it receives from the detector into pictures of the skull and its contents. (Carlson, 2010). Christen, a 23-year-old European-American woman, has a daughter who is diagnosed with autism probably caused by neurodevelopmental factors. Christen approaches you in tears because she thinks that her daughter has a psychiatric disorder. Christen feels guilty, wondering if her parenting or parenting style might have caused the disorder. Answer the following: What clarification would you provide Christen regarding the diagnosis?
14. Neurodevelopment is one aspect of the organism’s general biological development that can be divided into prenatal and postnatal phases. (Argosy University, 2010). Autistic disorder is one of several pervasive developmental disorders that have similar symptoms. Asperger’s disorder is generally less severe, and its symptoms do not include a delay in language development or the presence of important cognitive deficits. The primary symptoms are deficient or absent social interactions and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors along with obsessional interest in narrow subjects. Rett’s disorder is a genetic neurological syndrome seen in girls that accompanies an arrest of normal brain development that occurs during infancy. Children with childhood disintegrative disorder show normal intellectual and social development and then, sometime between the ages of two and ten years, show a severe regression into autism. (Carlson, 2010). What are some of the characteristic symptoms or behaviors that are associated with autism? Autistic disorder is a chronic disorder whose symptoms include failure to develop normal social relations with other people, impaired development of communicative ability, lack of imaginative ability, and repetitive, stereotyped movements. (Carlson, 2010). When a baby is born, the parents normally expect to love and cherish the child and to be loved and cherished in return. Unfortunately, some infants are born with a disorder that impairs their ability to return their parents’ affection. The symptoms of autistic disorder (often simply referred to as autism) include a failure to develop normal social relations with other people, impaired development of communicative ability, and the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behavior. Most people with autistic disorder display cognitive impairments. (Carlson, 2010).
15. What suggestions would you provide Christen about her daughter’s possible limitations and the special care needed? According to the DSM-IV, a diagnosis of autistic Many organisms grow and develop over time. Neurodevelopment is the process of development of complex nervous systems that emerge during embryonic period and grow throughout life. disorder requires the presence of three categories of symptoms: impaired social interactions, absent or deficient communicative abilities, and the presence of stereotyped behaviors. Social impairments are the first symptoms to emerge. Infants with autistic disorder do not seem to care whether they are held, or they may arch their backs when picked up, as if they do not want to be held. They do not look or smile at their caregivers. If they are ill, hurt, or tired, they will not look to someone else for comfort. (Carlson, 2010). As they get older, they do not enter into social relationships with other children and avoid eye contact with them. In severe cases, autistic people do not even seem to recognize the existence of other people. (Carlson, 2010).
16. Argosy University. (2011). PSY 350: Physiological Psychology. Module 3. Neurodevelopment. http://www.myeclassonline.com Carlson, Neil R. (2010). Physiology of Behavior. Chapter 5. Methods and Strategies of Research. NJ: Pearson. Carlson, Neil R. (2010). Physiology of Behavior. Chapter 17. Anxiety Disorders, Autistic Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Stress Disorders. NJ: Pearson. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual or Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
17. Research Skills Industrial/ Organizational Psychology Course Code: PSY320 Submitted by: Brittany Nicole Clark Date: January 20, 2010 Given the hypothesis high employee satisfaction is correlated with low employee absenteeism; address the following in your paper this week: Identify the variables in this study. What are some extraneous variables that might impact your research? How would you control for extraneous variables? What research design would you use to study this hypothesis and why? What data collection techniques would you use to study this hypothesis and why? Assuming that you get a correlation of r = -.70, what does this tell you about the strength and direction of the correlation between satisfaction and absenteeism? What are some potential problems you might encounter, and what strategies would you use to minimize these problems?
18. The variables in this study would be employee satisfaction (dependent variable) and employee absenteeism (independent variable). The variants that may be used in this research could be how many people come to work because they enjoy or love their job versus people who do not enjoy their job or atmosphere at the workplace. The interrelationships between job satisfaction, absenteeism, and turnover are important. If negative relationships do indeed exist between employee satisfaction and rates of absenteeism and turnover (they are negative relationships because higher satisfaction would be associated with lower absenteeism and lower turnover), it is important that companies strive to keep workers satisfied. Happy workers may be less likely to be absent from their jobs voluntarily or to look for work elsewhere. Reduced rates of absenteeism and turnover can translate into tremendous savings for the company. (Riggio, 2008). Turnover and absenteeism can be measured fairly easily, but the assessment of worker satisfaction is much less precise, because attitudes about a wide range of elements in the work environment must be considered. (Riggio, 2008).
19. The data collection techniques that I would use would be the case study method and archival research to see if there is a history or current trend of high satisfaction versus low absenteeism. Case Study Method:This method is great for describing a typical phenomenon or also an exceptional one that individuals and organizations can strive to emulate. The case study method is helpful for teaching or demonstrating a theory. However, it is limited in its usefulness in terms of testing hypotheses. Biographies of powerful executives are examples of case studies. For example, Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, wrote an autobiography of his life and career that aspiring executives may use to try to model his behavior. (Argosy University, 2011). Archival Research: This method uses data that already exists and can, therefore, save time and money. Researchers are limited in terms of how the data is measured or what data exists. Organizations have a lot of archival data. There are records of attendance, salaries, promotions, sales, performance appraisals, accidents, and other information. If the researchers are interested in such data, they would use existing data rather than go through the time and expense of collecting new data. (Argosy University, 2011). The research design I would use would be the correlational method. The second major method for data collection, the correlational method (also referred to as the observational method), looks at the relationships between or among variables as they occur naturally. When the correlational method is used, in contrast to the experimental method, there is no manipulation of variables by the experimenter. A researcher simply measures two or more variables and then examines their statistical relationship to one another. Because the correlational method does not involve the manipulation of independent variables, distinctions between independent and dependent variables are not nearly as important as they are in the experimental method. Because the correlational method does not require the rigid control over variables associated with the experimental method, it is easy to use in actual work settings.
20. In addition, correlational research can be conducted with archival data—data that an organization has already collected. For example, an organization might use data on employee absenteeism and look at the relationship between number of sick days and ratings on a job satisfaction survey that was administered to employees. Because of its ease of use, a great deal of the research on work behavior thus uses the correlational method. The major drawback of this method is that we cannot determine cause-and-effect relationships. A very common problem is the tendency of people to try to make causal statements from correlations, which leads to many misconceptions and faulty interpretations of data. Many students of statistics quickly learn that correlation does not necessarily imply causality. (Riggio, 2008). I/O psychologists have examined how characteristics of workers such as personality, attitudes, and education affect work behavior. Factors in the physical and social work environment can be manipulated to see how they affect worker performance and satisfaction. Other variables, such as the amount and frequency of compensation, styles of supervision, work schedules, and incentive programs, also serve as independent variables in research on work behavior. (Riggio, 2008). Many dependent variables are also studied in I/O research. However, a great deal of research in I/O psychology focuses on dependent variables such as productivity, work quality, employee turnover, employee absenteeism, and employee satisfaction. These key dependent variables represent work outcomes—what often translates to the “bottom line” in work organizations. Most commonly, changes in these important variables result in financial losses or gains for businesses. (Riggio, 2008).
21. Of these important dependent variables, the first two, work productivity and quality, are usually theoretically linked, because a company’s goals should be to produce as much as possible while ensuring that the output is of high quality. However, although these variables are linked, they are typically considered separately by many businesses. (Riggio, 2008). Although they are distinct variables, employee absenteeism, turnover, and satisfaction are also theoretically tied to one another (Vroom, 1964). We saw that Mayo believed that there was a strong relationship between employee satisfaction and productivity. However, this is not always the case; the happy worker is not necessarily the productive worker. There may, however, be a relationship between employee satisfaction and a tendency to show up for work and stay with the job. Specifically, it is thought that higher satisfaction leads to lower absenteeism and turnover. However, these long-standing notions about the interrelated-ness of job satisfaction, absenteeism, and turnover have come under question, primarily because of problems in the accurate measurement of absenteeism and turnover (Hollenbeck & Williams, 1986; Porter & Steers, 1973; Tharenou, 1993). Some forms of absenteeism and turnover are inevitable, due to circumstances beyond the employees’ control, such as severe illness or a move dictated by a spouse’s job transfer. These types of absenteeism and turnover are not likely to be affected by job satisfaction, whereas voluntary absenteeism—playing “hooky” from work—may be caused by low levels of job satisfaction. (Riggio, 2008).
22. Hollenbeck, J. R., & Williams, C. R. (1986). Turnover functionality versus turnover frequency: A note on work attitudes and organizational effectiveness. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71, 606–611. Porter, L. W., & Steers, R. M. (1973). Organizational, work, and personal factors in employee turnover and absenteeism. Psychological Bulletin, 80, 151–176. Tharenou, P. (1993). A test of reciprocal causality for absenteeism. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 14, 269–290. Vroom, V. H. (1964). Work and motivation. New York: Wiley Argosy University. (2011). PSY 320: Industrial/ Organizational Psychology. Module 2. Data Collection. http://www.myeclassonline.com Riggio, R. E. (2008). Introduction to Industrial/ Organizational Psychology. 5th Edition. Pearson: NJ.
23. Communication Skills Counseling Theories Personal Life of a Counselor Course Code: PSY400 Submitted by: Brittany Nicole Clark Date: August 1, 2010 Donna is a 35-year-old marriage counselor. For years, she dreamed of owning a clinic where she could use her skills as a counselor to help married couples resolve their issues. She enjoyed an excellent reputation in the city where she lived. She helped couples with communication problems. She also helped women who experienced spousal abuse, marital rape, and infidelity. She never allowed her personal beliefs about marriage to affect her interaction with her clients. Over the past year, however, Donna was having trouble with her own marriage. She had been married for 12 years. Recently, she found that her husband was having an affair with a woman at his workplace. Donna could not believe this and was devastated. She was forced to question all her faith and beliefs about marriage. How do you think Donna’s personal life would affect her counseling from this point? According to you, what does Donna need to do to ensure that her personal life does not interfere with her profession? What ethical obligations does Donna have in addressing this situation? Refer to the APA/ACA/AAMFT Ethical Codes of Conduct when responding to this question. How might Donna’s values & beliefs regarding marriage as a result of this situation impact the way in which she relates to her clients and seeks reinforcement from them to uphold her changed beliefs?
24. Donna’s personal life will be affected because not only does she counsel others with similar issues but she must now deal with her own. At the same time her personal life can cause her to become more empathetic or sympathetic to the victim but more apathetic to whomever engaged in infidelity during her sessions with her clients. Donna should leave her personal life and problems at the door when she is at the workplace. At the same time, when Donna has some free time available she should think about going to counseling as well with her husband to confront the issues in their marriage. Psychologists are committed to increasing scientific and professional knowledge of behavior and people's understanding of themselves and others and to the use of such knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and society. Psychologists respect and protect civil and human rights and the central importance of freedom of inquiry and expression in research, teaching, and publication. They strive to help the public in developing informed judgments and choices concerning human behavior. In doing so, they perform many roles, such as researcher, educator, diagnostician, therapist, supervisor, consultant, administrator, social interventionist, and expert witness. (APA, 2010).
25. 1.8 Marriage and family therapists respect the rights of clients to make decisions and help them to understand the consequences of these decisions. Therapists clearly advise the clients that they have the responsibility to make decisions regarding relationships such as cohabitation, marriage, divorce, separation, reconciliation, custody, and visitation. (AAMFT, 2002). 6.1 Marriage and family therapists remain accountable to the standards of the profession when acting as members or employees of organizations. If the mandates of an organization with which a marriage and family therapist is affiliated, through employment, contract or otherwise, conflict with the AAMFT Code of Ethics, marriage and family therapists make known to the organization their commitment to the AAMFT Code of Ethics and attempt to resolve the conflict in a way that allows the fullest adherence to the Code of Ethics. (AAMFT, 2002).
26. Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm. In their professional actions, psychologists seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom they interact professionally and other affected persons, and the welfare of animal subjects of research. When conflicts occur among psychologists' obligations or concerns, they attempt to resolve these conflicts in a responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes harm. Because psychologists' scientific and professional judgments and actions may affect the lives of others, they are alert to and guard against personal, financial, social, organizational, or political factors that might lead to misuse of their influence. Psychologists strive to be aware of the possible effect of their own physical and mental health on their ability to help those with whom they work. (APA, 2010). (a) Psychologists refrain from initiating an activity when they know or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their personal problems will prevent them from performing their work-related activities in a competent manner. (APA, 2010).
27. (b) When psychologists become aware of personal problems that may interfere with their performing work-related duties adequately, they take appropriate measures, such as obtaining professional consultation or assistance, and determine whether they should limit, suspend, or terminate their work-related duties. (APA, 2010). As Donna moves forward in her personal life, she will also have a better understanding to her clients, when they discuss issues of infidelity and other factors that strain a marriage. Also while she is counseling her clients, she may grasp a better understanding as to her own personal relationship and what she could have done better as a wife, and what went wrong that led her husband to cheat. While her values and beliefs may be upheld in a different light, she still has an obligation to uphold the highest standards when it comes to her clients. If she feels that she can no longer counsel people without some type of bias, then maybe she recommend them to another therapist.
28. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. 2002. AAMFT Code of Ethics 2001. Alexandria, VA. http://www.aamft.org/Resources/LRM_Plan/Ethics/ethicscode2001.asp American Psychological Association. 2010. Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Washington, DC. http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx#
29. Ethics & Diversity Awareness Human Sexuality Course Code: PSY304 Submitted by: Brittany Nicole Clark Date: December 17, 2010 Module 8 Atypical Sexual Behaviors Jason, 34 years old, and William, 32 years old, have been in a committed relationship for close to six years. A year ago, they had an elaborate commitment ceremony and bought a house together. William travels extensively for his work, and after many difficult discussions, reluctantly agrees to Jason’s plea to a limited open relationship with rules such as no repeat dates, safe sex only, not in their bed, and not with any of their friends. Both are HIV negative. Jason has always been the more sexually adventurous and experienced; William is more conservative. After William refused to explore light Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, Masochism (BDSM) with Jason, Jason admitted that he had been frequenting a Sado-Masochism (SM) club and had engaged in sexual activity several times with the same man.
30. Jason insists he loves William and just wants to expand their sexual repertoire, and if William would just be more open, he, Jason, would not find the SM club so appealing. William is furious and threatens to end their relationship. He says he loves Jason and begrudgingly acknowledges that their sex life is rather tame and predictable. He also says that even if he could get past Jason breaking one of their rules, he believes only “sick people” indulge in BDSM activities. The couple makes an appointment with a community health counselor to resolve this crisis in their relationship. It is extremely important for the community health counselor to be reasonably knowledgeable about BDSM, the theory, and the practice of these sexual behaviors to be able to help Jason and William. Imagine that you, for training purposes, are sitting in with this consultation with the couple’s permission. Answer the following: Clearly define BDSM, and briefly describe a behavior enacted by each of these sexual interests.
31. BDSM: This involves deriving sexual pleasure from being restrained — bondage — taking a dominant or submissive role during sex, being disciplined — discipline — or deriving sexual pleasure from giving pain — sadism — or receiving pain — masochism. Players often prefer to define sadomasochism as “giving or receiving intense stimulation.” BDSM activities do not rise to the level of being a diagnosable disorder per the DSM-IV-TR unless it interferes with the individual’s life functioning. (Argosy University, 2010).
32. Summarize current research results on why these activities interest some people. Good research is difficult among people who fear that their erotic interests and practices may cause them anything from embarrassment to prosecution. By all indications, and in many books such as Wiseman’s classic SM 101, persons interested in and practicing these activities come from every social, cultural, and ethnic background and gender orientation and also tend to be well educated and in comfortable economic circumstances. (Argosy University, 2010). Unlike the paraphilias we previously discussed, most BDSM players develop this interest as adults, wanting to expand an already pleasurable sex life. There is also some indication that the seemingly expanding interest in BDSM may be related to fears about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), because most BDSM activities, although potentially arousing, cannot expose a person to STIs. (Argosy University, 2010).
33. William asserts that only “sick people” indulge in BDSM activities. Based on your learning from this week’s lectures and readings, respond to William’s beliefs regarding the kind of people that enjoy BDSM activities. Based on readings, people who enjoy BDSM activities are people who are looking to expand their sexual vocabulary and experiences. These persons may want to experience increased height in sexual satisfaction or a different kind of orgasm. I feel that William may be more of the conservative type when it comes to his sexual experiences, but he should also take out the time and educated himself on various sexual experiences whether if he engages in them or not. What is the difference between BDSM and abuse? BDSM is a wide continuum of behaviors explored or practiced by a wide continuum of persons. Some players — those who engage in BDSM — describe their experiences as a consensual power exchange, an erotic psychodrama, or an erotically charged exercise in trust and submission. They emphasize that the same intense physical stimulation they seek through BDSM was historically in use for spiritual quests, for example, by early Christian mystics and some Native American tribes. To learn more about BDSM and the terms used as part of BDSM, refer to Jay Wiseman’s SM 101, (1996). (Argosy University, 2010).
34. Safe, sane, and consensual sex is not abusive. Abuse is an out-of-control situation that is not negotiated. In an abusive situation, one person dictates events without asking for consent. In addition, there is no “safe word” as in BDSM, and the person being abused cannot halt the events. Further, in abuse, there is no concern for the needs, desires, or limits of the abused person. In contrast with BDSM, alcohol and drug consumption frequently precedes an abusive event, and after an abusive event, people do not feel good. (Argosy University, 2010). What do BDSM players mean by “consent”? Any sexual activity has some form of risk. BDSM players use the phrase “Safe, Sane, and Consensual” (SSC) or “Risk-Aware Consensual Kink” (RACK) to describe their approach to these activities. The key term is consensual. BDSM is a controlled, pre-negotiated activity to which all parties give “knowledgeable” consent. BDSM involves a submissive partner or a “bottom” and a dominant partner or a “top.” The submissive partner can stop the BDSM activity by using a pre-designated “safe word.” People who engage in BDSM are concerned with the needs and desires of everyone involved, and limits for all players are pre-negotiated. In a BDSM activity, no alcohol or drugs are allowed so that, after the activity, all persons feel good. (Argosy University, 2010).
35. Many BDSM players point out that much of the “vanilla” — common, ordinary, and “normal” sex — is not nearly as consensual as real BDSM. They believe a sexual or sensual activity is not completely consensual in the following cases: (Argosy University, 2010). If a person does not expressly give consent If the persons involved do not expressly pre-negotiate all potential activities If a person is afraid to say no If a person says yes to avoid conflict or “placate” the partner If a person says yes to avoid possible negative consequences such as losing a job or a home or being "outed" If Jason enjoys consensual BDSM play as part of a larger sexual repertoire, is his participation in this activity diagnosable? Jason wanting to take his BDSM play and make it a part of a larger sexual repertoire is not diagnosable. It may cost him is relationship with William, but the BDSM lifestyle changes the aspect of Jason and William’s relationship that William is not comfortable with. So while I may not see anything that could be diagnosed, Jason may want to evaluate his decisions more carefully and consider all possibilities with William.
36. If Jason is capable of being sexually functional only during BDSM, is his participation in this activity diagnosable? If Jason, is only sexually functional during BDSM then he may be diagnosed with some type of paraphilia. Again while his sex life with William is tame and predictable, he may have paraphilias and other fetishes that he now discovering. While some paraphilias may be harmful and other may not he might want to seek treatment for other alternatives for sexual pleasure. Wiseman, J. (1996). SM 101. Emeryville, CA: Greenery Press. Argosy University. (2010). PSY 304: Human Sexuality. Module 8. Aberrant and Atypical Sexual Behavior. www.myeclassonline.com Argosy University. (2010). PSY 304: Human Sexuality. Module 8. BDSM vs. Abuse. www.myeclassonline.com
37. Foundations of Psychology History and Systems of Psychology Course Code: PSY450 Submitted by: Brittany Nicole Clark Date: July 5, 2010 When studying any subject in the world of academia, there is always a history in process. Here knowledge and theory go hand in hand, with the fundamentals presented and used in everyday study. The world of psychology is full of theories, knowledge, and research to how the human mind develops and how behavior affects all. The term epistemology is derived from the Greek episteme, which means to understand or to know. Epistemology is a branch of philosophy concerned with theories of knowledge. (King, Woody, & Viney, 2009).
38. Realism and anti-realism can be used to distinguish between premodernism, modernism, and postmodernism. In most cases, premodernism and modernism are realist theories because they held to an identifiable ultimate truth. (Argosy University, 2010). Postmodernists, on the other hand, can be realists or anti-realists. They may or may not believe that ultimate truth exists. Even if ultimate truth exists, postmodernists do not believe it can be known. (Argosy University, 2010). Postmodern anti-realists believe there is no such thing as ultimate truth. Anything that is thought of as ultimate truth is either an illusion or a constructed truth. Postmodern realists believe there is ultimate truth, but people cannot know it. The best one can do is to approximate or partially know truth. So, what is “constructed” truth? (Argosy University, 2010).
39. Much of early postmodernism was built on critique, which deconstructed modernist philosophy. Early postmodern thinkers deconstructed modernism by breaking it down to its core assumptions and attempting to critique or disprove them. (Argosy University, 2010). Postmodernism does not always invalidate the premodern and modern approaches. Instead, it points to the idea that they are not sufficient on their own. (Argosy University, 2010).During modernism, science and the scientific method became the primary ways of knowing. Evaluating therapy in a modernist paradigm focuses on the application of the scientific method to determine whether therapy is effective. (Argosy University, 2010). When looking at this system of psychology and its history, the time periods of premodernism, modernism, and postmodernism offer different ideologies which create variety within the field its self. Therapy and its treatments vary from psychologist to another and though the people may benefit different, the good professional opinion should be in good measure. Psychology has had many periods where it is going through a phase of change. Between premodernism and modernism, there was a period of construction, where the field itself had new ideas proposed.
40. King, D.B., Woody, W.D., Viney, W. 2009. Chapter 2: Philosophical Issues. A History of Psychology: Ideas and Context. 4th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Argosy University. 2010. Module 1. Premodernism/Modernism/Postmodernism. http://www.myeclassonline.com
41. Applied Psychology Counseling Theories Course Code: PSY400 Submitted by: Brittany Nicole Clark Date: July 4, 2010 PSY400 Counseling Theories Week 1_Assignment 3 Effective Counselors George is a 28-year-old male, currently pursuing a degree in psychology. He wants to be a counselor for people with adjustment difficulties. However, George’s supervisors think he should change his career because of a misfit between his personality and his job and role characteristics. George has a tendency to be judgmental and narrow-minded about people different from him. He is very guarded and defensive with people and typically thinks that other people are trying to put him down. He usually forces his opinions on people.
42. Do you think these characteristics will prevent him from being a good counselor? George’s characteristics could prevent him from being a successful counselor, because he has to learn how to be diverse as well as be open-minded. George wants to be a counselor for people with adjustment difficulties, but in order for him to be successful; he has to learn how to adjust to the situation and respective environment. This means that he cannot always wear his heart on his sleeve or appear to neither have a chip on his shoulder, nor force his ideals on others for they may perceived in an incorrect fashion. I remember back in spring of 2007, when I crossed as a new initiate into Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, there was always a learning lesson in bias perceptions of people that were preconceived beforehand. As for me going into this sisterhood, I knew mostly everyone on my line, but some people I had to make strides to get to know on a whole other level. What one would see on campus is not what one will see behind closed doors. We, as people are guilty of being judgmental, and though we should not engage into those actions, we do.
43. What are the characteristics that counselors should have to be effective in their field? For a counselor to be effective in their field, they should know that: Counselors know themselves well. Counselors are psychologically healthy. Counselors are trustworthy. Counselors are honest. Counselors have the courage to do what they think is most helpful in their personal and professional lives. Counselors are kind, caring, and compassionate. Counselors are patient and reflect this by showing more interest in clients that in the results of therapy. Counselors are sensitive and pick up on subtle vulnerabilities in themselves as well as clients. (Cavanagh, 1981). I believe that these characteristics will help future and current counselors understand their purpose and expectations of their field of work as well as the diversity that will be presented when encountering their clients. Counselors may feel that they have to be the epitome of psychological health to other people. (Cavanagh, 1981). Clinicians are responsible not only for acting in ethical ways themselves but also helping their colleagues to become aware of and adhere to these standards. (Seligman, 2006).
44. What can George do to develop the characteristics he needs to be a therapist? George has to learn how to be autonomous, as well as being nonmaleficence and beneficence. George should look into workshops on dealing with diversity and look into some counseling himself, so that he can be better apt for the field of his pursual. Autonomy- Clinicians help people develop the skills and strengths they need to make wise choices for themselves. … This guideline is the mandate that clinicians understand, respect, and appreciate diversity. Nonmaleficence (Do Not Harm) and Beneficence- Clinicians should always keep in mind that importance of actively promoting the well-being of their clients and actions in the best interest of their clients. (Herlihy and Corey, 1996).
45. Herlihy B., & Corey, G. (1996). ACA ethical standards casebook. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Seligman, L. (2006). Chapter 2. Contexts of Effective Treatment. Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Systems, Strategies, and Skills. 2nd Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Cavanagh, M.E. (1982). The Counseling Experience. A Theoretical and Practical Approach. Waveland Press.
46. Interpersonal Effectiveness Counseling Theories Assignment 2 Course Code: PSY400 Submitted by: Brittany Nicole Clark Date: August 15, 2010 In this course, we have studied various approaches to therapy and explored the utility of each orientation with reference to the client. Please answer the following questions: Do you think there is one approach that every therapist should use? Provide reasons for your answer and illustrate them with examples. What are the personal characteristics of a successful counselor? Can these characteristics be developed or strengthened? How so? What are your personal motivations and characteristics that may help or hinder you as a counselor? What are the advantages and disadvantages of practicing within the framework of one specific theory as opposed to developing a more integrative approach consisting of several therapies? What are the advantages and disadvantages of practicing within an integrated framework? Assume you are a practicing therapist. In reviewing the various therapeutic approaches explored in this course, which approaches would you integrate for use in therapy with clients? What techniques would you ensure are a part your treatment approach? Demonstrate how you would integrate two or more techniques in a therapy session.
47. Postmodern thought is a new trendsetter and provides unique ways of thinking about clients (Nystul, 2003). Key concepts associated with postmodernism are subjective reality, flexibility, and the freedom to make your own interpretation. In other words, postmodern approaches focus on behavior that is guided by people’s own definition of reality. (Argosy University, 2010). Postmodernism does not focus on the past, but gives importance to the present as a basis for therapy. (Argosy University, 2010). The ultimate goal for clients is to “repair the narratives and reauthor their life stories.” (Nystul, pp.73). According to postmodernism, the client will be made aware of the influence of society and literature on her life. This type of realization might help the client alter her expectation in terms of a more realistic one. (Argosy University, 2010). Narrative therapy is based on the premise that people often function according to stories they tell themselves about their lives, which they believe to be true. The aim of narrative therapy is to help clients tell these stories and alter the stories in such a way that their perspective becomes more positive. (Argosy University,2010).
48. Narrative therapy uses clients’ words to see how they build their life experiences as stories about themselves. Therapists build a cooperative and equal relationship with their clients and use the clients’ life experiences and words to create alternate stories by “rebiographing" (Nystul, 2003, pp.7) or repairing the old tale. People get to know themselves through the stories they tell about themselves. Negative, stressful events such as illness or the death of a loved one, affect people’s beliefs about themselves and the world. (Argosy University, 2010). Bitter and Corey (2001) and Carlsen (1995) have identified the following techniques in postmodern therapy: Listening with an open mind: The counseling relationship is based on equality and clients and therapists are co-investigators trying to identify the meaning in the clients’ life stories. Listening with an open mind also involves holding back any stereotypes or judgments of clients. Questions that make a difference: Therapists aim to ask questions that are positive and provide the clients with data that is hopeful and positive. An example is when clients are asked what they did right in a situation rather than focus on what they did wrong. Deconstruction and Externalization: Externalization allows clients to "remove themselves” from their problems. For example, the client will be told, “Imagine that you have a friend who has a similar problem as you. What would you tell him?” This technique may reduce resistance to the therapist’s interventions. As an external observer such as “the friend”, clients may be more open to struggling with their problem and more willing to find new solutions — reconstruction — to old problems. Alternative stories, reauthoring, and narrative repair: Clients are encouraged to rewrite the way they understand their life stories, empowering them to find the courage to pursue their goals. For instance, a client can view losing her job as an opportunity to improve herself and build the skills she needs. If the client is able to change her attention to finding solutions instead of looking only at the problem, the therapist can rest assured that narrative repair has been successful.
49. Use of metaphors: When clients are resistant to facing their own pain, the use of metaphors can assist in deflecting some of their reluctance while still being able to explore the issue. For example, if a client is being abused by her boyfriend, the therapist may ask the client if she feels like a doormat being stepped on and crushed by her relationship. For a counselor to be effective in their field, they should know that: Counselors know themselves well. Counselors are psychologically healthy. Counselors are trustworthy. Counselors are honest. Counselors have the courage to do what they think is most helpful in their personal and professional lives. Counselors are kind, caring, and compassionate. Counselors are patient and reflect this by showing more interest in clients that in the results of therapy. Counselors are sensitive and pick up on subtle vulnerabilities in themselves as well as clients. (Cavanagh, 1981). I believe that these characteristics will help future and current counselors understand their purpose and expectations of their field of work as well as the diversity that will be presented when encountering their clients. Counselors may feel that they have to be the epitome of psychological health to other people. (Cavanagh, 1981). Clinicians are responsible not only for acting in ethical ways themselves but also helping their colleagues to become aware of and adhere to these standards. (Seligman, 2006).
50. When a client is thinking about pursuing counseling and therapy, they are usually scared about the process and what it entails. Also when going to counseling they began to realize that they will have to go into situations that they may not want to talk about or have a hard time opening up. Sometimes these situations are like wounds, and some maybe healed and some maybe slightly open, and there will always be a client who feels that the counselor may not understand what they are really going through. A counselor should always try to empathize or sympathize with the situation at hand. Sometimes depending on the case, the counselor may be able to relate to client in order to come a revelation in the situation that maybe is plaguing their life. (Clark, 2010). I believe that there is always room for improvement. What I would work on would be knowing when and when not to get personal with a client. I have always been a person that has to know every detail, big or small in order to understand a situation. Also people have to be mindful that counselors and therapists are people too, and that we make errors in our strides in life. I believe my approach to most clients will be personal but direct but I also want to ensure my client that I can empathize or sympathize with them as well. There will be times where a client presents a situation that may seem difficult, but establishing the counselor/ client relationship can help bridge a gap to understanding the problem. I would use the narrative therapy because everyone has a story, and that is how people learn life lessons. Also I would incorporate the use of metaphors because people can take proverbs and apply them to their personal life. Personally, I believe my strength to being an effective counselor and clinician will be that I come with an open mind as well as an open set of ears to help myself and my client to become a better person effectively.
51. Argosy University. (2010). PSY 400: Counseling Theories. Module 7: Postmodern Approaches. http://www.myeclassonline.com Bitter, J. R., & Corey, G. (2001). Family systems therapy. In G. Corey, Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/ Cole. Carlsen, M. B. (1995). Meaning-making and creative aging. In R. A. Neimeyer & M. J. Mahoney (Eds.), Constructivism in Psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Seligman, L. (2006). Chapter 2. Contexts of Effective Treatment. Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Systems, Strategies, and Skills. 2nd Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Cavanagh, M.E. (1982). The Counseling Experience. A Theoretical and Practical Approach. Waveland Press. Clark, B. N. (2010). PSY 400: Counseling Theories. Module 2: Assignment 2: Professional Development. Argosy University. Nystul, M.S. (2003). Introduction to Counseling: An art and Science Perspective (2nd ed.). Allyn and Bacon.
53. My Future & Learning I believe that everything one does is a learning experience. Everyday a lesson is learned and everyday we grow as people. Throughout my tenures at Bennett College for Women and Argosy University, Atlanta, I learned that I am a determined person and that I still have a long way to go as far as my academic and professional careers are concern.
54. Contact Me Thank you for viewing my presentation. Feel free to email me at brittanynclark@stu.argosy.edu
