Using the video as a guide, if you were facilitating a therapy group…
What would be the 3 outcome goals you would have for your therapy group?
What would be 3 process goals you would have for a therapy group?
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
Outcome and Process Goals for a Therapy Group Facilitation
Outcome Goals
1. Enhanced Self-Awareness and Emotional Regulation:
– Encourage group members to explore their emotions, triggers, and coping mechanisms.
– Aim for increased self-awareness to better understand and manage their emotional responses.
– Foster emotional regulation skills to navigate challenging situations effectively.
2. Improved Interpersonal Relationships and Communication:
– Facilitate opportunities for group members to practice active listening, empathy, and assertive communication.
– Promote healthy boundaries, conflict resolution strategies, and constructive feedback within the group.
– Work towards building trust, support, and mutual understanding among group members.
3. Empowerment and Personal Growth:
– Encourage goal-setting, self-reflection, and accountability for personal development.
– Support individuals in identifying strengths, values, and aspirations to foster a sense of empowerment.
– Cultivate a growth mindset, resilience, and confidence in facing challenges and pursuing personal goals.
Process Goals
1. Establishing a Safe and Supportive Environment:
– Create a non-judgmental space where group members feel respected, heard, and validated.
– Set clear guidelines for confidentiality, respect, and participation to ensure a safe therapeutic atmosphere.
– Foster a sense of community, trust, and openness to facilitate meaningful interactions and sharing.
2. Facilitating Group Cohesion and Engagement:
– Encourage active participation, collaboration, and mutual support among group members.
– Utilize icebreakers, group activities, and discussions to enhance engagement and connection.
– Address any conflicts or disruptions constructively to maintain group cohesion and harmony.
3. Promoting Reflection and Insight:
– Incorporate reflective exercises, journaling prompts, or mindfulness practices to encourage introspection.
– Guide group members in exploring patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions to gain insights into their experiences.
– Provide feedback, encouragement, and guidance to help individuals deepen their self-understanding and personal growth journey.
