Beck Depression Scale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Beck Depression Scale - Essay Example One final goal of assessment is to get a clear understanding of the structure and functioning of the family. The MFT has specific information that he is looking to obtain during the assessment process. First and foremost, the MFT wants to gather as much information as possible on the problem the family is faced with. This includes the length of the current problem, the family's history of conflict, the family's history of solutions, and the family's motivation to rectify the current problem. The MFT also wants information about the structure of the family, such as any cultural or religious influences, socioeconomic status, and the hierarchy of the family. At the same time, the MFT wants to understand how the family functions; their conflict resolution strategies, how well they communicate with one another, each member's role in the family, and individual and collective goals. Finally, the MFT is interested in finding out what the family's goals are for therapy. There are many different ways in which the MFT can gather this assessment information, but they all fall into two broad categories: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative assessment allows the therapist to make inferences about certain behaviors and reactions of family members during an assessment task, whereas quantitative assessment is in the form of a standardized instrument, usually a pencil-and-paper questionnaire or scale. There are many advantages of using qualitative assessments. The family plays a larger, more important role in the assessment process, the assessment becomes part of the treatment process since this type of assessment tends to be therapeutic in and of itself, the therapist can pick and choose different techinques that fit nicely with his specific theoretical orientation, it allows the therapist and family to work together in assessing the information obtained, the family is often more committed to therapy because of the vital role they play in the assessment process, individual family members learn from one another and can learn how each member is affected by the family as a whole, allows the family to be viewed in a three-dimensional context, and it can be used with families from various cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds (Deacon & Piercy, 2001). There are many qualitative techniques available for the MFT. Qualitative assessments include the use of art, guided imagery, photographs, role playing, sculptures, free association, metaphors, and circular questioning. The idea behind this type of assessment is that it takes the focus off of the individual, and places it on the task at hand, often making the clients less defensive and more emotive (Deacon &Piercy, 2001). While there are many advantages to qualitative assessment, it is not for everyone. Some therapists and clients may not feel comfortable with such exercises, and these exercises may in fact exacerbate any anxiety felt towards therapy instead of relieving it (Deacon & Piercy, 2001). In such a case, these exercises should not be pushed. If these activities are forced, the information gathered will most likely be scarce. Deacon and Piercy also note that while qualitative assessments can provide the therapist with a wealth of information, it cannot provide certain informa tion that can only be obtained through quantitative asse

Veteran's Affair Services Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Veteran's Affair Services - Research Paper Example Veteran’s Affair Services When one hears the term ‘veteran’, a perception of its meaning encompasses regular definitions found in the dictionaries, to wit: â€Å"a person who is long experienced or practiced in an activity or capacity† (The Free Dictionary, 2011, par. 1); â€Å"an old soldier of long service or a former member of the armed forces† (Merriam-Webster, 2011, par. 1). In contrast, the Federal definition the term is explicitly stated as â€Å"any person, who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States† (Veterans’ Agent, 2011, par. 1). These definitions confer that a veteran is a person who has rendered particularly long service, as honorably classified, in the armed forces, not only in the United States, but in other governments as well. ... In this regard, the main purpose of the research is to proffer a study of how Veteran's services affects criminal justice in the United States. Particularly, the objectives of the research are as follows: (1) to present a detailed history of the creation of Veteran’s Affair; (2) to provide a presentation of the mission statement of the social agency; (3) to present financial reports or summaries of the operations of the social agency; (4) to proffer a critical analysis of the effectiveness of the social agency, which includes, but is not limited to: details on how the specific agency interacts with the Criminal Justice System, the services provided, the training of critical personnel, and the motivation of the agency to provide services; (5) to present a commentary on ways in which the social agency could improve its effectiveness towards its social goals; and finally, (6) to provide a prediction concerning the future of the social agency and its impact on the criminal justice system. Historical Background The history of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the US was traced in the year 1636 when a war existed between the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony were at war with the Pequot Indians and a law was enacted by the Pilgrims indicating the support pledged to disabled soldiers (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs: History, 2010, par. 1). The following historical details are presented in tabular form for concise structural arrangement, and sourced from the Dept of VA: History (2010): DATE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 1776 During the Revolutionary War, Continental Congress encouraged enlistment of soldiers through the provision of pensions to disabled soldiers. 1811 The Federal Government authorized the first domiciliary