Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Traumatic Effects of Slavery and Colonialism

This paper outlines ways of conceptualizing and understanding the intergenerational impact of slavery and colonialism.

In consideration of the volatile and emotive nature of this subject I shall define what I mean by black issues. I am using a working definition of black issues rather than present myself as the expert on this theme.

The term 'black' in this context is a political and sociological term applied to the most visible minority in the UK who are vulnerable to white racism.

Black people are the least represented in the field of psychotherapy and counselling and there may be several reasons for this. For example Taboos about washing dirty linen in public and sharing family behaviours and culturally specific conflicts with individuals outside of their communities of origin and their networks. Suspicion about the use of traditional therapies that may be culturally inappropriate and exclusion and misunderstanding due to institutional racism may also be another cause.Having said this, although the term black is generally used to affirm the rich African and Asian heritage of colonised peoples, it is important to be clear that not all Africans, Caribbean peoples and Asians identify as 'black'. Indeed a Caribbean artist friend alluding to 'black as a transitional phase through authentic identity development insists that you are black until you are African. In the book I have referred to black issues as pertaining to the experiences and concerns in the lives of black people of which racism has a significant influence. This outlook can therefore be used as model for therapeutic understanding of oppressive influences on other minority groups.

I would like to draw attention to the racial or cultural pre-disposition of the black or minority client in the therapeutic process. There are three main areas in this process. The first being the personal and psychological impact that derives from experiences of individual overt or covert racism from which, according to Scheurich & Young (1997) comes epistemological racism. Even if the individual does not accept they are being racist epistemological racism occurs and thus creates discourses of institutional racism and Eurocentricism.

The second area of Social and educational impact is evidenced by intergenerational oppression and trauma that can be seen in everyday attitudes. A fifteen year old teenager stands in the centre of a cultural carnival in London and states "There are Chinky's all around me" A small child points and laughs out loud at a 'little' person in a shopping centre, a seventeen year old states that he would kill himself if he were gay. An African Caribbean child hates her hair because it is not silky and straight. These snapshots of intergenerational oppression are influenced by social, cultural and educational reference points and get passed on inter-generationally. They are usually evidenced when unconscious psychological processes are exposed. Therapy creates a dynamic emotional situation that uncovers these civilisational and intergenerational modes of response to diversity and culture. Eurocentricism impacts on the modes of response to these social and educational dilemmas and can determine whether for example the oppression of racism will be challenged and the attached emotional distress supported for both individuals within the perpetrator group and victims of racism.

Racism continues to cause trauma and depression. The examination of this problem has been halted in mid flow by a discourse of post racism. Post racism is a defensive excuse to sit in a complacent matrix on laurels and not get messy in attempts to resolve the racial aspects of a transcultural process. It is often forgotten that slavery was damaging both for the perpetrators and the enslaved and both parties must be responsible for how they move on from this atrocity. Silences about the impact of slavery and colonialism within the psychotherapy profession often means that black clients may not have appropriate support for the intergenerational impact of this collective trauma.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Medical Assistant School Can Become in Your Future

Do you find yourself stuck in a meaningless job, or worse, a going-nowhere career? Does helping others genuinely bring joy into your life? Would the dynamic work involved with a career in health and medicine entice you to make some career choice changes? An affirmative answer to one or more of these questions may indicate attending medical assistant school could be a great choice for your financial future.

As you consider making this career changing decision, understand those around you will likely wholeheartedly support your choices or throw up attempted roadblocks in an effort to keep you close to them. The good news? Considering such a life-changing choice comes with some built in support knowledge you can use in your defense.

One major defensive stand includes the rosy job outlook for medical assistants over the course of the next six years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, all indications exist that point to a massive growth in the need for well trained and certified health care practitioners, specifically medical assistants. By 2018 there should be more than a 30% increase in positions needing to be filled.

This one factor easily provides the safety net you will need to overcome most any objections. Another way to help convince those who love and care for you might include pointing out the locations of some leading medical assistant schools in the country. Some of the better career colleges have branches in numerous cities. They likely have a location relatively close to wherever you currently call home.

Even if you find it necessary to travel a bit in order to take advantage of this growing medical field, you won't need to be away for very long. Many programs will have you certified and available for hire in less than nine months. And should you decide to finish an Associates Degree, that can be completed in less than a year and a half. These certifications and degrees will go quite a long way towards helping you not only get a secure position now, but to also prepare you for advancing faster in the medical and health industries.

Of course, you are going to get some questions asking about what sort of work assistants perform. You can confidently proclaim that the job duties are interesting and quite varied. Additionally, you will be trained in both clinical and administrative duties. And no, you can tell those detractors in your life, this is not about becoming a glorified secretary.

Most training programs now include an extensive computer education in order to fully operate the front office of a medical practice. As well, you will answer phones, greet patients, perform a variety of scheduling, billing and correspondence to help keep the practice's business operations running smoothly.

On the clinical side, expect to participate in taking the histories of your medical patients as well as helping them to understand the doctor's prognosis and treatment options. Of course, as the job name indicates, you assisting the medical professional will be one of the forefront duties you perform each day. You may even perform a variety of phlebotomy procedures like drawing blood and collecting patient samples for analysis.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

How Can Technology Help In Classroom?

Teachers who strive to improve their classroom setting often wonder about the addition of technology and how it might help their students. While the debate about whether technology helps or harms students continues, parents and teachers must understand the potential benefits of using technology in the classroom.

Improving Technical Skills:

In this modern world that constantly produces new and improved technological advances, the skills that come with technology are vital to future success. Children need to learn skills like typing, research and communication via technological devices early. By learning the basic skills in school while they are young, students are able to improve their ability to keep up in this ever-changing world.

Increasing Motivation:

New technological devices are ideal when it comes to motivating students. Books, paper and pen are often boring and make it challenging to motivate the students. Bringing in a new gadget that has e-books or interesting learning tools helps draw in students and motivate them to try completing tasks because they are able to also try out the new device. By motivating the students to learn the technology, teachers are also helping them learn vital skills like reading, arithmetic and sciences.

Helping Special Needs:

Technology used in the classroom can also help students who have special needs keep up with their peers. For example, a student who has problems hearing can use a tablet with a record to written feature that allows him or her to record the lecture as the teacher speaks and then see the written form of the lecture. This helps him or her keep up with the activities in class. Technology is useful in a wide range of applications that helps students who have special needs of any type. Depending on the particular disability, students can apply advances in different measures.

Working Together:

Students who are striving to learn the use of a new technological device often end up working together and improving their communication skills through tutoring, discussion and simple inquisitiveness. As students discuss and try new ideas while learning the new technology or software, they are improving their ability to work out problems without the help of adults and become better at communicating. This ability to work together to solve problems carries forward into adulthood, when students will need the skills to succeed in future careers.