Tom is a 16-year-old who comes to you to evaluate his lack of attention because his grades are progressively getting worse. When you ask about stress in his life, he notes that his parents are always fighting, and this upsets him. He believes that they fight more when they have been drinking, and he believes that his father is the heavier drinker of the two, but he cannot quantify either parent’s use.
What information would be most critical for the group leader to collect in the first visit?
What is the primary goal for group treatment of this patients family problem based on US group therapy best practices?
Which harm reduction strategies would you recommend?
Identify your city. Then refer this patient to three support groups near you that promote positive health outcomes for this patient. What was your rationale for choosing these three agencies?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Assessment and Intervention for Tom’s Family Issues
Critical Information to Collect in the First Visit
In the initial visit with Tom, the group leader should focus on collecting the following critical information:
1. Family Dynamics: Understanding Tom’s relationship with his parents and siblings (if any) will help assess the family structure and dynamics.
2. Substance Use History: Gathering information on the frequency and context of alcohol use by his parents, including any patterns or triggers that lead to increased consumption, is vital.
3. Tom’s Coping Mechanisms: Investigating how Tom copes with stress from his home environment (e.g., activities he engages in, friends he confides in) can provide insights into his emotional well-being.
4. Academic Performance: A detailed look at his academic history, including grades, subjects impacted, and any changes in behavior at school, can help identify the extent of his attention issues.
5. Support Systems: Identifying any existing support systems outside his family, such as friends, teachers, or mentors, is crucial for understanding his network.
6. Mental Health History: Inquiring about any previous mental health issues, therapy, or counseling experiences can help tailor future interventions.
7. Goals and Expectations: Understanding what Tom hopes to achieve through group therapy will inform the treatment approach.
Primary Goal for Group Treatment
The primary goal for group treatment in Tom’s case, based on U.S. group therapy best practices, is to establish a safe and supportive environment that facilitates open communication about family issues, enhances coping skills, and encourages positive change within the family dynamics. This includes:
– Improving Communication Skills: Equipping Tom with tools to express his feelings about his parents’ conflict effectively.
– Fostering Peer Support: Encouraging Tom to share his experiences with peers facing similar issues, reducing isolation.
– Promoting Understanding of Substance Use: Educating Tom about the impact of alcohol on behavior and family relationships to foster healthier perspectives and choices.
Recommended Harm Reduction Strategies
To address Tom’s family situation and promote healthier outcomes, the following harm reduction strategies can be recommended:
1. Education on Substance Use: Providing resources and education about the effects of alcohol on behavior and family dynamics can empower Tom and potentially influence his parents’ awareness of their drinking habits.
2. Encouraging Open Dialogue: Facilitating conversations between Tom and his parents about their conflicts in a non-confrontational manner may help reduce tensions and foster understanding.
3. Stress Management Techniques: Teaching Tom coping strategies such as mindfulness, relaxation techniques, or engaging in physical activities to manage stress effectively.
4. Setting Boundaries: Helping Tom establish boundaries regarding his involvement in parental conflicts to protect his emotional well-being.
Local Support Groups
For Tom’s situation, I will use Chicago, Illinois, as an example city. Here are three support groups that promote positive health outcomes for him:
1. Al-Anon Family Groups
– Rationale: Al-Anon focuses on providing support to families and friends of individuals struggling with alcoholism. This group can help Tom understand the nature of alcohol dependence and provide him with coping strategies.
2. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago
– Rationale: NAMI offers various programs that address mental health issues within families. They provide support groups specifically geared towards young people, which can help Tom connect with others facing similar challenges.
3. The Chicago Center for Family Health
– Rationale: This organization provides therapy services and family counseling. They focus on improving family dynamics and addressing issues related to substance use within family systems, making them a suitable referral for Tom’s situation.
Conclusion
Tom’s situation is complex and requires a multifaceted approach involving assessment, education, and therapeutic support. By gathering critical information during the initial visit, setting clear treatment goals, employing harm reduction strategies, and connecting him with appropriate resources, we can support Tom in navigating the challenges posed by his family environment effectively.
