As a counselor, you may be familiar with recommending resources to clients, but you may not be prepared with the knowledge of similar resources for colleagues, other crisis response members, or for your own use. When faced with a crisis, it is important for counselors to be ready to recommend these kinds of resources on short notice while adhering to their ethical obligations as practitioners.
Consider the demographics of the population in your local area (community, city, county, or state) that you intend to serve in your counseling practice.
Create a resource packet to provide to clients and colleagues in your area who are experiencing a developmental crisis, cultural crisis, or loss. Your resource packet should include a variety of the following at the local and national level:
A list of 3–4 web resources
A list of 3–4 books
A list of 3–4 support groups
A list of 3–4 exercises or activities they can do on their own
Accessibility supports for individuals with disabilities
Culturally appropriate and supportive resources for your area
At least 2 resources for colleagues on supporting self-care and preventing vicarious trauma
Any other pertinent resources for clients or colleagues
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
Title: Crisis Resource Packet for Clients and Colleagues in [Your Local Area]
Introduction
As a counselor serving the diverse population in [Your Local Area], it is essential to have a comprehensive resource packet readily available for individuals experiencing developmental crises, cultural crises, or loss. This resource packet aims to provide a range of local and national resources to support clients and colleagues in times of need while upholding ethical obligations.
Web Resources
1. Local Crisis Intervention Center Website: Provides immediate support and resources for individuals in crisis situations.
2. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK): Offers 24/7 confidential support for individuals in distress.
3. Mental Health America: National organization offering resources, information, and online tools for mental health support.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Provides resources and treatment options for mental health and substance use disorders.
Books
1. “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk: Explores the impact of trauma on the body and mind.
2. “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy” by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant: Focuses on resilience and coping strategies in times of loss.
3. “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown: Offers insights on vulnerability, courage, and shame resilience.
Support Groups
1. Local Grief Support Group: Facilitates meetings for individuals coping with loss and provides a safe space for sharing experiences.
2. Cultural Support Group: Tailored to specific cultural communities to address unique challenges and provide culturally sensitive support.
3. Online Mental Health Peer Support Groups: Platforms like 7 Cups offer virtual support groups for individuals seeking connection and understanding.
Exercises or Activities
1. Mindfulness Meditation: Encourages clients to practice mindfulness to reduce stress and promote emotional well-being.
2. Journaling Prompts: Provides guided prompts for self-reflection and expression of thoughts and feelings.
3. Physical Exercise or Yoga Classes: Suggests engaging in physical activities to improve mood and overall well-being.
Accessibility Supports
1. Local Disability Resource Center: Offers accessibility services, accommodations, and support for individuals with disabilities.
2. National Federation of the Blind: Provides resources and advocacy for individuals with visual impairments.
Culturally Appropriate Resources
1. [Local Cultural Community Center]: Tailored services and resources for diverse cultural groups in the area.
2. [Local Religious or Spiritual Organization]: Offers culturally sensitive support and guidance based on faith traditions.
Colleague Self-Care Resources
1. Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer: Guides professionals in cultivating self-compassion and managing stress.
2. Professional Boundaries in Social Work and Social Care by Frank Cooper: Offers insights into maintaining healthy professional boundaries and preventing burnout.
Conclusion
In compiling this crisis resource packet for clients and colleagues in [Your Local Area], the goal is to provide a range of accessible and culturally appropriate resources to support individuals facing developmental crises, cultural challenges, or loss. By including web resources, books, support groups, exercises, accessibility supports, and self-care resources, counselors can effectively guide individuals towards healing and resilience while also promoting their own well-being and professional growth.
