Define competency and indicate the standard used for juvenile and adult competency.

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Assignment 1: Assault in the City: CST and Criminal Responsibility at the Time of Offense

Click here to study a vignette.

Tasks:

On the basis of the vignette you read, respond to the following:

  • Define competency and indicate the standard used for juvenile and adult competency. Discuss how a CST evaluation is conducted, including any assessment instruments relevant in this particular vignette.
  • On the basis of the information you have from the vignette, provide an opinion on the defendant’s competence.
  • Discuss the assessment of criminal responsibility by addressing the following:
    • Present the standards used for criminal responsibility in your jurisdiction. This information can be obtained through an Internet search regarding the state law.
    • Discuss the assessment procedures for an examination of MSO and the possible outcomes of NGRI and GBMI.

Submission Details:

  • By Saturday, September 20, 2014, post your responses to this Discussion Area.
  • Through Wednesday, September 24, 2014, respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. While responding, compare the similarities and differences between what you have constructed and what your classmates have.

Discuss why it is important to take into consideration cultural traditions when designing an intervention program

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Unit 5: Module 5 – M5 Assignment 1

 

Dropbox AssignmentAssignment 1: LASA 2: Cultural Considerations

As a mental health worker in a large city, you have been asked to work with refugee children who have been relocated from central Nigeria to live with foster families in your city. The children are between the ages of 9 and 13, boys and girls. They were rescued from a refugee camp in Nigeria where conditions were very poor. People were cramped and slept in rudimentary shelters. Food was scarce, and disease was rampant. Prior to arriving in the camp, the children were exposed to brutal violence. They saw their families murdered, houses burned, and witnessed or experienced sexual assault. Some were also injured in the attacks on their villages.

Utilize the Culturegrams database in the Argosy Online library, the Ethics and Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2010), and your readings to write a paper addressing the following:

  • Describe the psychological effects of violence that the children from Nigeria might be experiencing? Be sure to consider issues such as gender and age.
  • Design an intervention program to address the children’s exposure to violence. Remember to consider individual, family, and community needs.
  • Describe the elements you would incorporate into a prevention program designed to foster resilience in the children from Nigeria, as well as break the cycle of violence that we learned can occur for children exposed to violence. You may research existing programs that utilize best practices as we have learned in this course, or design your own program.
  • Reflect on the debate between “cultural universality” and “cultural specificity”. How would you reconcile this debate within the context of the ethics code for psychologists?
  • Discuss why it is important to take into consideration cultural traditions when designing an intervention program. Describe at least two specific Nigerian cultural traditions and how you would use this knowledge in designing your intervention program.
  • Briefly describe at least 2 ethical considerations that one would need to take into account when intervening with children as victims of violence in general, as well as pertaining to cultural issues specifically

By Monday, October 6, 2014, format your paper in APA style, using research gathered from the sources above (i.e., module readings, Culturegrams, and the ethics code) to support your response. Your paper should be between 4 and 5 pages in length and include a cover page, abstract, and reference list.Submit your assignment to the M5: Assignment 1 Dropbox.

Assignment 1 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Describe the psychological effects of violence that the children from Nigeria might be experiencing. Be sure to consider issues such as gender and age.
44
Design an intervention program to address the children’s exposure to violence. Consider individual, family, and community needs.
44
Describe the elements that would be incorporated into a prevention program designed to foster resilience in the children from Nigeria, as well as break the cycle of violence that we learned can occur for children exposed to violence.
44
Reflect on the debate between “cultural universality” and “cultural specificity”. Discuss how to reconcile this debate within the context of the ethics code for psychologists.
44
Discuss the importance of cultural traditions when designing an intervention program. Describe at least two specific Nigerian cultural traditions and how this knowledge would be used in designing an intervention program
40
Briefly describe at least 2 ethical considerations that one would need to take into account when intervening with children as victims of violence in general, as well as pertaining to cultural issues specifically
20
Style (8 points): Tone, audience, and word choice

Organization (16 points): Introduction, transitions, and conclusion

Usage and Mechanics (16 points): Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure

APA Elements (24 points): In text citations and references, paraphrasing, and appropriate use of quotations and other elements of style
64
Total:
300

LASA Rubric 

Applying Behavioral And Cognitive Behavioral Therapies

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Assignment 2: Applying Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies

Codrina is a 40-year-old, divorced, white female seeking counseling at a community mental health center.  She is seeking counseling because she has been depressed, unable to sleep well and has lost her appetite since the sudden ending of her marriage one month ago.  Before leaving, her husband told her that he did not love her any longer and doubted whether he ever did. He told Codrina that he had felt lonely and distant from her for the entire three years of their short marriage. He now questions whether she is even capable of feeling love for another person.

Codrina was raised in an orphanage and her childhood years were characterized by isolation, hunger and scarcity. She describes spending many days just staring at the wall and rocking back and forth. After she left the orphanage at 16 years of age she worked in odd jobs and was in and out of abusive relationships with men for a few years until she met her husband about four years ago. She lived with him for six months before they got married. Even from the start she had a difficult time trusting him or any man for that matter. She showed little interest in sex, never cried, rarely laughed and had a very subdued mood most of the time. In the second year of her marriage, Codrina discovered that her husband was having an affair with a woman he worked with. Instead of being upset, she was almost relieved because it seemed to take the pressure off of her to engage in sexual intercourse with her husband.  Out of guilt, he finally told her about the affair. Upon hearing his confession, Condrina showed no emotion and didn’t even ask him to end the affair. From that point forward her husband spent few nights at home and one month ago announced he was filing for divorce. Now, in addition to her insomnia and poor appetite she is neglecting her self-care to the point that she is being shunned by others who come in contact with her, which deepens her sense of isolation. She’s coming to therapy to see if you can help her before she loses all hope that she can regain control of her life.

Assume that you are a cognitive behavioral therapist and have agreed to work with Codrina. Using principles and techniques from Beck’s Cognitive Therapy (CT), respond to the following questions:

  • From a cognitive behavioral perspective, state at least three assumptions that you would make about the origin of Codrina’s behavioral problems? Be specific and detailed in your response.
  • Describe at least two goals that you, as a cognitive behavioral therapist, would have for Codrina in therapy. Give a thorough rationale for each goal bringing in terms and concepts from CT.
  • How might your goals differ from those that Codrina might have coming into therapy?
  • Identify at least two cognitive distortions that Codrina might be experiencing. State each one and provide evidence from the information given about her life that would support each cognitive distortion you have mentioned.
  • What CT techniques or methods would you use to achieve the goals mentioned in question 2?
  • As a CT therapist, what would be your desired outcome for Codrina be as a result of your work with her?

Submit your response to the M4: Assignment 2 Dropbox by Wednesday, October 1, 2014. Your paper should be at least 1000 words. Your paper should be double-spaced and in 12 point, Times New Roman font with normal one-inch margins, and should follow APA style for attributing sources. It should include a title page with a running head and a reference page.

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria and Respective Point Value
Maximum
Points
Stated three assumptions from a cognitive therapy perspective about the origin of Codrina’s behavioral problems.
15
Described in detail two concrete and specific goals for Codrina from a cognitive behavioral perspective that a therapist might have for a client.
10
Explained how a cognitive therapist’s goals for his or her client might differ from the client’s goals in this situation.
15
Stated two cognitive distortions and provided supportive evidence from the case study to substantiate the choices.
15
Described at least two techniques or methods a cognitive therapist would use to achieve their stated goals.
15
Described the desired outcome of therapy for Codrina.
10
Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
20
Total:
100

How your own cultural background affected your development

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Directions:  You are to create a PowerPoint presentation or a Word Document that includes the following:

 

Several (at least ten) pictures of you as a child/adolescent.  Each picture should be representative of your growth in each of the areas of development.  If you don’t have access to pictures of yourself, find pictures from the Internet that are representative of you.

 

 

 

A description of each picture that includes

 

(1)  Your age at the time of the picture

 

(2)  The area of development that is evident in the picture (Socio-Emotional, Physical, or Cognitive)

 

(3)  Where the picture was taken

 

(4)  How your own cultural background affected your development

 

(5)  A determination as to whether or not you had met any developmental milestones appropriate to your age at the time of the picture (See Lessons One, Two, and Three).

 

A conclusion paragraph of at least 250 words that includes insights you have gained from completing this project