In 2009, CACREP adopted a new focus on crisis, disaster, and trauma counseling. Explain the two ways this focus would have been helpful in the 1980’s during the cocaine crisis as well as two ways counselors were better prepared for the current opioid crisis. Explain your reasoning. Since the above-noted shift in 2009, explain the two ways this focus would have been helpful in the 1980s during the cocaine crisis as well as two ways counselors were better prepared for the current opioid crisis and explain your reasoning.
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: The Evolution of Crisis Counseling: From the Cocaine Crisis to the Opioid Epidemic
Introduction:
Crisis counseling has become increasingly important in recent years, as communities face various crises, disasters, and traumatic events. In 2009, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) adopted a new focus on crisis, disaster, and trauma counseling. This shift has proven beneficial in addressing past crises, such as the cocaine epidemic in the 1980s, as well as preparing counselors to handle the current opioid crisis. This essay will explore two ways this focus would have been helpful during the cocaine crisis and two ways counselors were better equipped for the current opioid crisis.
Body:
I. The Benefits of Crisis Counseling during the Cocaine Crisis in the 1980s
Early detection and intervention:
Crisis counseling’s focus on crisis management and prevention would have been invaluable during the cocaine crisis in the 1980s. By recognizing the signs of addiction and addressing them promptly, counselors could have helped individuals seek treatment before their addiction escalated further. This early detection and intervention approach could have potentially saved lives and prevented the spread of addiction within communities.
Community support and education:
Crisis counseling promotes community involvement and education, which would have been crucial during the cocaine crisis. Counselors could have organized community initiatives to raise awareness about the dangers of cocaine use, providing vital information about its physical and psychological effects. By fostering a sense of community support, counselors could have helped individuals struggling with addiction to feel less stigmatized and more empowered to seek help.
II. Enhanced Preparedness for the Opioid Crisis
Evidence-based interventions:
With the focus on crisis, disaster, and trauma counseling, counselors are equipped with evidence-based interventions to address the opioid crisis. They are trained in techniques such as Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, which have been proven effective in treating substance abuse disorders. By utilizing these interventions, counselors are better prepared to guide individuals through the recovery process and help them develop coping mechanisms to avoid relapse.
Collaboration among professionals:
The shift towards crisis counseling has also emphasized the importance of collaboration among various professionals involved in addressing crises. In the case of the opioid epidemic, counselors are encouraged to work closely with medical professionals, social workers, and community organizations to provide comprehensive care. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that individuals receive holistic treatment, addressing not only their addiction but also underlying mental health issues and social factors contributing to their substance abuse.
Conclusion:
The adoption of a focus on crisis, disaster, and trauma counseling by CACREP in 2009 has had a significant impact on addressing past and current crises such as the cocaine epidemic in the 1980s and the ongoing opioid crisis. By emphasizing early detection and intervention, community support, evidence-based interventions, and collaboration among professionals, counselors are better equipped to provide comprehensive care and support to individuals struggling with addiction. As crises continue to emerge, it is imperative that counselors remain adaptable and well-prepared to address these challenges head-on, ensuring the well-being of individuals and communities alike.