2. Personal Statement Hello fellow students, distinguished faculty, and future colleagues. It has definitely been a long, but enlightening road. I, like so many, was unsure of my future aspirations for the longest time. I switched majors and career paths more than once on my journey to Argosy only to continuously find myself unsatisfied and incomplete. I initially decided to pursue a psychology degree as a result of desiring to understand myself and as a way of padding my resume in hopes of acquiring an upper management position at my current place of employment. It wasn’t until I was able to apply the science in my day to day interactions did becoming proficient in the science of the mind transform from a credential into a desire. Upon becoming a parent for the first time in the middle of my soft more year and watching my daughter grow and develop, I became fascinated with the development of children. I began to consider myself and those I had known since child hood in a way that had once been foreign to me. I considered the influences and choices that had brought each of us to our current state of being and wondered how small alterations may have swayed our journeys. I then considered my daughter, and how who I was would strongly influence who she would someday be. I decided it was my duty to allow all the opportunities each of us deserves and I was to do that by ensuring she grew up happy and strong, and surrounded by love and sense of safety. The next logical step was of course to decide on child psychology as my future career field. I simply want to help children avoid the mistakes my friends and I made as kids. So much tragically wasted time, so many unnecessary deaths, and so much potential wasted. So many of us share this same sort of story, so many of us have regrets and painful memories that are driving force behind our ambitions. When I meet other students, parents, or have a conversation with a stranger and the topic of schooling comes up, I am constituently asked “why child psychology, there is no money in that?”(social workers seem to ask this more than anybody) I answer that I remember what it was like to be a kid. I guess I just wish someone would have stepped in and helped us. Thank you for reading this brief statement meant to define who I am, where I came from, where I am trying to get to. We all share a similar interest and have used the knowledge gained to assess who we are as individuals. The most important thing we can do to find a balance between constantly challenging ourselves to improve and being able to accept and appreciate things the way they are. I wish all that read this a promising future.
27. Research Skills Research paper concerning electronic waste disposal. It is estimated that over one billion cellular phones were sold in 2009 bringing the number of cellular phone users upward of 2.6 billion. (Gitlin, 2005) Computer sales reached 306 million in 2009. (Future 500 Global 2010) These numbers combined with the move from CRT tube televisions to plasma screens account for twenty to fifty tons of electronic waste generated each year which is incinerated, recycled for the precious metals, reused, or dumped into landfills. (Davis 2006) This adds up to a ridiculous amount unnecessary hazardous pollution added to our already struggling planet, but how hazardous are the components and pieces that are used to produce these items? February 19 of 2009, the FCC required that all televisions use signal which means there is going to a large number of older, unusable, televisions headed for the garbage. The majority of these televisions contain CRT tubes which are 20 percent lead in composition.(Earth 911, 2010) The lead released from these tubes has dire effects on our environment and the organisms that inhabit it. Lead can hinder the breakdown of inorganic soil in cultivated soil. The Lead is mixed in at root level, become more soluble and easier for plant life to absorb. The lead then coats the leaves of plants, reducing the amount of light it can absorb reducing photosynthesis which will an effect on all oxygen breathing organisms, such as us. Lead also has a dangerous effect on the central nervous systems of animals. It retards their ability to produce red blood cells, and the EPA estimates that just 2.8 mg of lead per pound of body weight ingested daily will kill most animals. Animals that graze on plant life grown in soil with high lead levels are the most directly affected, but if the lead blood level is high enough, the predators of these animals can be harmed as well. (Greene, 1993) As old cellular phones are discarded for new ones, the old batteries are discarded as well. There are four main types of cellular phone batteries; lithium polymer, lithium ion, nickel cadmium, and nickel metal hydrid. The type I will be focusing on is nickel cadmium which is and older battery in terms of technology which indicates a higher level of disposal. There are a number of health risks linked to cadmium depending of method and length of exposure. Either inhaled or ingested, cadmium is directly linked to kidney and lung failure and even some cancers. The cellular phones themselves, while in lesser amounts, still contain mercury, nickel, and flame retardants can poison and pollute the area they are dumped in. Even though the amounts of hazardous materials that compose cellular phones is less than 1 percent per device, in the large amounts that are discarded it adds up to a serious problem. (Epa 2010) The CRT tubes in older computer monitors have the same adverse effects on the environment as those found in discarded televisions and the newer LCD based monitors contain mercury. The LCD screens found on digital cameras and PDA devices also contain threatening mercury. (Epa 2010) The information provided above does little to put into perspective the possible negative effects of large amount of electronic waste when it is not disposed of properly. As mentioned before, electronic waste is handled in four different ways; recycled, reused, dumped in landfills, or incinerated. The next portion of this paper will discuss these four methods and how they are affecting our environment.
28. Communication Skills: Oral and Written Case study involving a child who lost her mother during an explosion at her school. She has yet to express any real feeling or begun to mourn. Allison’s whole world has come down around her. Not only has she been exposed to an incident that strikes a huge blow against her sense of security and safety, she also lost her mother during the incident; a devastating blow to anyone. Her response at the funeral illustrates just how affected she was; failure to exhibit or express emotions in their correct context can be indicative of a serious psychological disorder and needs to be addressed. Furthermore, now that she has detached herself outside interaction, she is in danger of falling deeper into a psychosis that will be difficult to overcome. Her father has definitely made the right decision and must ensure that Allison is the right treatment. Allison will need to be treated for both the loss of her mother and the loss of her sense of security; as well as any trauma related stress she may experience. Because of the multiple factors in this case, multiple approaches will need to be employed to ensure all of the concerns with Allison’s condition are addressed. What follows is an outline of the various programs and therapeutic options Allison’s father should seek for his daughter. Exposure to terrorism can cause PTSD, major depression, fear and anxiety, separation disorders, and panic disorders. (Argosy, 2011) This tends to be more pronounced if the incident happened unexpectedly and/ or family member was lost; both of these criteria are present in Allison’s case. Allison being withdrawn and demonstrating flat affect are common symptoms associated with exposure to trauma. (helpguide.org, 2011) I believe if not treated, Allison’s condition will only worsen. For example, I have a family member who endured a similar incident. Due to lack of available programs and financial resource, his condition deteriorated to the point of extreme agoraphobia. It would seem that perhaps Allison is trying to avoid confronting the reality of what happened by refusing to speak or react to the incident; this is common amongst PTSD suffers. (Holmes, 2010) There are going to be two main focuses in Allison’s treatment; the recreation of security and healthy mourning for her mother. I would advise that at first, her therapy be shared with peers who have also lost a family member; preferably from 9-11. The goal is to get her to fully “realize” what has happened so she can begin to heal. She will not be able to move past her mother’s passing for a long time; you cannot expect her to. Being a little girl, her mother is a very important part of her life, one that she will not easily cope without. It will be important that her father be a large part of her treatment, she needs him more now than ever and creating a stronger bond between them that stems from their mutual pain will help them cope. I admit that sounds somewhat superficial or cold, but at this point Allison is detached, we need to get her secured within her family and a large part doing that involves their shared trauma. Even after Allison begins to speak and interact, her mourning process has been disrupted. Crying at a funeral is a large part of saying “goodbye.” She will need to be encouraged to not only mourn, but also find her own way of saying “goodbye.” I would suggest that Allison’s dad seek out a program that specifically deals with the survivors of traumatic events; these programs should have a child psychologist in staff that can help Allison deal with the loss of her mom. Allison needs to be placed in a program comprised of children who have experienced similar trauma in order to not only create a support group, but also to slowly attach reality to the incident in Allison’s mind. This program needs to held in an environment that she considers safe in order to begin to rebuild her sense of security. (Argosy, 2011) The counselors in charge of Allison’s group therapy need to focus on counterterrorism measures such as a plan that is to be followed in the event of future attacks. This plan should have both personal and government aspects. A useful tool in rebuilding a child’s sense of security is to create a structured environment that supports stability. (Argosy, 2011)FEMA provides a number of tools that can be used to educate children on the threat of terrorism and the steps they need to take to prepare and protect themselves from said threat. (Argosy, 2011) There is a group that is directly dedicated to the people directly affected by 9 11. The group is called Tuesday’s Children and they offer the kind of treatment best suited for children like Allison; including a full counseling program, financial support, hotlines and online chats, newsletters that relay success stories and city wide progress and planning. (Families of September 11th, 2011)
29. Ethics and Diversity Awareness Assignment discussing issues surrounding providing proper health care for immigrant women. Due to lack of health care resources, immigrant women and migrant workers are susceptible to a variety of health risks. (womenshealth.gov, 2010) Common illnesses that can be easily treated can turn into serious health problems if not addressed promptly and properly. (Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) The focus of this paper is to identify the reasons why these illnesses go untreated and to suggest options for educating women who may need health care services as to where treatment can be found. There are three major reasons why immigrant women hesitate to consult medical professionals; lack of options, communication difficulties, and discrimination. (womenshealth.gov, 2010) Many immigrant women work in family operated establishments that provide little or no health care options.( Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) While they may receive health services from older, and more experienced family members in their native country, this tends not to be the case in the United States. (Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) Recent Medicaid reform, limits the number of immigrants that are eligible for benefits. The eligibility laws and “red tape” make it difficult of immigrant women, especially those not educated in the United States to discern whether or not they can receive state funded health care coverage (kff.org, 2003) Secondly, the language barrier can be a difficult obstacle to overcome in terms of receiving health care and explaining symptoms once health care is received. (Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) It can prove difficult for immigrant women to relay what ails them to doctors who do not speak their native tongue. Even commonly used visual representations of pain or discomfort can be inadequate in describing symptoms since the concept behind these representations may be lost in translation. Simply put, people from cultures outside of the United States use different terminology and descriptive terms to define their symptoms. (Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) The only way to combat this obstacle is for health care professionals to be educated on the different visual and verbal representations used by different cultures and ethnicities to describe health concerns. (Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) Finally, unfavorable stereotypes of immigrants can lead to poor diagnosis and treatment. (Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) These women may be viewed as irrational or over dramatic or as a burden on public resources as a result of their ethnic origin. This can lead to improper evaluation of symptoms, poor treatment, or an outright dismissal of illness.(Strum, Tarantolo, 2002) When we look at these three issue surrounding immigrant women and health care, it is not hard to see why so many are hesitant to seek treatment. It may seem almost pointless for them to pursue treatment since even if they manage to find it, they may not be able to express their needs accurately or their concerns may be dismissed as a result of stereotypical prejudice. In order to combat this problem, a network designed to inform these women of their options needs to be implemented. In the next section of this paper, I will discuss steps that can be taken towards informing immigrant women of their options and ensuring they receive quality and prompt care for their medical concerns.
30. Foundations of Psychology & Applied Psychology Course long case study concerning a women who has recently begun to “separate” from her family and life. Suppressed memories of abuse, included parental knowledge and/or participation, have begun to service and disrupt healthy functioning. Throughout Katherine’s sessions, we have encountered a vast amount of symptomatic behavior that is in some instances very diverse in nature and closely linked in others. A large part of Katherine’s condition is her depression. The central theme in Katherine’s case is emotional distress. In our initial meeting with Katherine, she made mention of dependency, loss of sexual interest, feelings of inadequacy and anger, and her loss interest in a beloved hobby (painting) which can be attributed to her depression. In later sessions, we saw each of these symptoms amplified into its own disorder. Katherine has both dissociative episodes and hallucinations. So in considering all of Katherine symptoms, I have to lean toward a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and complex PTSD. I will demonstrate my logic in what follows. Studies have shown that women suffering from childhood sexual abuse at an early age are prone to this diagnosis. (McLean, Gallop, 2003) Even though these are two different types of disorders, they have many common features. BPD, as with other personality disorders, is prevalent in clients that have experienced early childhood trauma, such as abuse. Subjects with suffering from BPD tend to have abandonment, parental acceptance issues, have self image issues, and are impulsive or have mood swings. (Argosy, 2010) We have seen all of this in Katherine. She has exhibited symptoms of PTSD as well. She is avoidant of her family and actually experienced a panic attack while on her way to see them. She sought therapy after years after the incident and she was the victim of repeated trauma after she was assaulted in college. (Allpsych, 2010) BPD, and axis II disorder, is usually associated with at least one axis I disorder. In Katherine’s case, we saw the presence a number of axis I disorders such as sexual dysfunction, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. Both of these disorders are diagnosable in a number of ways and have a wide range of inclusive criteria, Katherine falls right in the “overlap” area for these two disorders found in the DSM table. There is increased interest in the correlation between these two disorders as a result of these very reasons. (Hodges, 2003) In terms of treatment options and chosen model, because of her condition, a “mixed” approach would serve best. My initial approach was humanistic in nature; I believe this proved to be most beneficial in terms of “opening” Katherine up and gaining a full understanding of her symptom spectrum. I believe that Katherine should engage in long term group and one on one therapy in order to address her BPD symptoms. Basically Katherine’s condition is the accumulation of maladaptive learned behaviors and emotions which need to be addressed through cognitive-behavioral therapy. This form of therapy focuses on maladaptive thinking patterns and the correction there of. It is a goal oriented form of therapy that is designed to challenge the client’s corrupted perspective. If nothing else, there seems to be a lot of unresolved blame and anger within Katherine, CBT will force her to confront these emotions and realize the negative effect they are having on her life. (NAMI, 2010) My main concern for Katherine as she ages is that if not treated, her maladaptive behaviors will continue to intensify and she will become increasingly separated from society. She is carrying around a lot of secrets and suppressed emotions, if her perception is not altered, these issues will become too hard to face and she will further dissociate herself from everything that reminds her of her trauma, finally resulting in a possible separation from reality. She is willing to be treated, this is her strong point. Her dependency issues do raise an ethical problem when it comes to treatment. She has already become dependent on us, so finding the best environment for Katherine’s treatment may pose a problem. It is imperative that she learn how to overcome both her past traumas and her future psychological disturbances on her own. On the bright side, being a woman, Katherine will have a lot of cultural backing in terms of understanding the cause of her disorders. The effect of child abuse in women is a heavily researched topic that has spawned many research experiments and support groups. (Hodges, 2003)
31. Interpersonal Effectiveness Personal Review of a interpersonal conflict with a subordinate. This event was handled very poorly by myself, I am using this example as a reference point in which to measure my personal growth. This assignment was done during my first semester with Argosy which just further supports the progress I have made. I feel the way I handled this situation could not have been more incorrect: Recently, I found myself in conflict with an ex-co-worker. In truth he worked under me and I was responsible for his training. Despite my many efforts and discussions, he failed to perform up to par and the repair center was starting to suffer for it. I, trying not to abuse power, never performed what is called a “write up” and instead tried to talk to him and help him perform better. One Tuesday I came in and everything was a mess from the night before and I received two angry complaints concerning his service during the night. When he came in, I asked him what happened and blew it off like it was no big deal and that the customer and I were taken it too seriously. When I inquired as to why he did not perform his close out duties, most of which entailed cleaning the work area which was a mess, he said he got too busy (which I knew was a lie because I have access to the customer record) and walked away. It was obvious he had no respect for me or his job, so I asked the department manager if we could replace him. I was told that since I had never written him up, this would appear as a first offense and she could not rightfully fire him. I was angry and when I saw the employee in question again I informed him that I would be writing him up to which he laughed and walked away. At that point, to be honest I wanted to become physically confrontational, but instead I followed him and told him that I was going to write him up for every little mistake until I could get rid of him and hire someone with reasonable levels of responsibility and intelligence. This of course was terribly wrong professionally, ethically, and from a conflict resolution stand point. Immediately after the incident I knew that I was wrong, I had let my anger get the best of me. By acting on a level that did not reflect my position, I lost a large amount of formal power. (Lewicki, Barry, & Saunders, 2007). I had took the conflict to a personal level and lost all credibility from a professional stand point in terms of this negotiation or conflict. Fortunately I had the good sense to apologize to him and explain to him that he was in essence not only jeopardizing his job but mine as well. We again went over every procedure in the book in terms of general work responsibilities and service. I then had him sign a contract saying we again covered all training material and he understood his responsibilities and job description. I informed him that I would not be writing him up for the last instance, mostly out of guilt for acting in the manner I had.
32. My Future in Learning My future in learning will be a journey well detailed. What I mean to is I will absorb new experiences and knowledge completely. There is no room for close minded reason in a “thinking man’s” world. I simply seek to earn a place amongst great counseling minds by working hard and putting the client first. I will utilize the resources at my disposal in order to become the best man, student, and counselor I can be. As discussed in my opening statement, children are my future. I want to help, as often as it is stated in job interviews across the globe, I want to help and I want to learn. Lift starts with childhood, understanding who we were as children helps us understand who we have come to be and who we will end up as. I am a student of life as much as I am a student of academia.
33. Contact Me Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio. For further information, please contact me at the e-mail address below. pdonley81@yahoo.com
Editor's Notes
Nolt, J., Rohatyn, D., & Varzi, A. (1998). Schaum’s outline of logic. New York, NY: McGraw-HillRadia, Ryan (2009) A Downside to Banning Silent Camera Phones?, The Technology Liberation Front(http://techliberation.com/2009/01/27/a-downside-to-banning-silent-cell-phone-cameras/)
Davis, Crystal World Resources Institute, December 21 2006, Why is Electronic Waste aProblem, Retrieved May 23 2010 from http://earthtrends.wri.org/updates/node/130Earth 911, E-waste: Harmful Materials, Retrieved May 22 2010 from http://earth911.com/recycling/electronics/e-waste-harmful-materials/Environmental Protection Agency, 2010 What are the hazards in electronics?, Retrieved June 13, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/eCycling/eCyclingans_general1.htm Gitlin, Elle Cayabyab, Annual cell phone sales to reach 1 billion by 2009, July 20 2005, retrieved June 13, 2010 from http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2005/07/5116.arsGreene, Deni, 1993, Effects of Lead on the Environment, retrieved June 13, 2010 from http://www.lead.org.au/lanv1n2/lanv1n2-8.html
Argosy University, (2011) Children and Violence, Online Lecture (http://myeclassonline.com)Families of September 11th (2011) Tuesday’s Children Support Resources Web Site (http://www.familiesofseptember11.org/resources.aspx?s=33#ss38)HelpGuide.org, (2011) Healing Emotional and Psychological Trauma: Symptoms Treatment and Recovery, (http://helpguide.org/mental/emotional_psychological_trauma.htm) Holmes, L (2010) The Psychological Effects of Trauma, About.com (http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/traumaptsd/a/trauma.htm)
Carlsruh, S.(2009) Illegal Immigrant Health Care, Accuracy in Media, September 15, 2009, retrieved from (http://www.aim.org/briefing/illegal-immigrant-health-care/)The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation (2003) Immigrants’ Health Care Coverage and Access, Kaiser Commission on Key facts, Medicaid and the Uninsured, August 2003, retrieved from (http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/Immigrants-Health-Care-Coverage-and-Access-fact-sheet.pdf)Strum, P., Tarantol, D.(2002) Women Immigrants in the United States, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, September 9, 2002, Retrieved from (http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/womenimm_rpt.pdf)Womenshealth.gov (2010) Minority Women’s Health: Immigrant and Migrant Issues, Retrieved from (http://www.womenshealth.gov/minority/immigrant/)
Allpsych Online (2010) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, (http://allpsych.com/disorders/dsm.html)Argosy University Online Lecture (2010) Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology, (http://myeclassonline.com/)Gallop, R., Mclean, L.M (2003) Implications of Childhood Sexual Abuse for Adult BorderlinePersonality Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, American Journal of Psychiatry 160:369-371, February 2003(http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/160/2/369)Hodges, S (2003) Borderline Personality Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Time for Integration? Journal of Counseling and Development, Vol. 81 Iss. 4, Pg. 409-417. 9p (http://web.ebscohost.com.wf2dnvr8.webfeat.org/ehost/detail?hid=106&sid=7d3d366c-184b-4ed7-b578-42ee40d99ce2%40sessionmgr111&vid=1&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bsh&AN=11261395)National Alliance on Mental Illness (2010) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,(http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Treatments_and_Supports&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7952)
