Cognitive development and Jan Piaget is a theory about how human beings gather and organize information. For instance, his theory was concerned with four stages:
QUESTION
Read and provide a response for the following Post from another student:
Peter Nathan –
Cognitive development and Jan Piaget is a theory about how human beings gather and organize information. For instance, his theory was concerned with four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The video utilized animation to show examples for a child progressing through these stages. In the video a glass of orange juice in two different size glasses with the same amount of orange juice was given to explain preoperational stage. A benefit of this in counseling and human development is that arithmetically a child at age 2-7 years of age should then be able to compute that 5+3= 8 or 8-3=5 and is a way to interpret the intellectual development of a child.
Ecological theory of development was developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner. The video utilized spheres within each other each other as microsystem the inner most followed by mesosystem, ecosystem, macrosystem and lastly chronosystem. Chronosystem was the fifth system which was added. The theory emphasizes environmental factors and the life span development of human beings. Related to child development parent-child interactions or microsystems have an impact on the child’s development. The mesosystem as noted in the video showed child interactions in school setting with teachers. The exosystemic further showed interactions of a child playing with other students. This is of importance when working as a professional counselor in a school system to address behavioral issues. This could be a result of environmental issues in the home of the student from a developmental standpoint microsystem parent influenced.
2) Prenatal development is presented in three phases of trimesters. The first trimester weeks 1 to 12 is a period when the fetus undergoes the most dramatic changes physically. During this phase at 8 days of fertilization in the fetus the brain which is the first organ to develop starts to develop. In the second trimester organs continue to develop further and begin to function. In the third trimester the fetus growth activity may begin to decline. It is important to understand this from a counseling standpoint since the mother and fetus are quite vulnerable. For instance, the ingestion of alcohol or smoking by mother is transmitted to the fetus and can affect to physical development of the child. Nutrition is paramount during this period and can significant implications for the health and development of the fetus and future development of the child.
3) Three risks that may affect the mothers that are issues that counselors could explore are: domestic violence, teratogens, and maternal stress. Teratogens are aspects that are related to disease, drugs, and other environmental agents that can harm a developing fetus. Specifically, teratogens are infections, chemicals and medications. Domestic violence is a global problem. Cultural understanding is an aspect that may be of consideration when working with a mother. Related to domestic violence counselors can help by developing a plan with the mother for leaving to identify a safe place to go, making a list of items to take, obtaining a prepaid cellular phone, getting a court order of protection, creating a code word for friends and family when in danger, obtaining an extra set of care keys, keeping evidence of abuse and identifying financial supports. It is imperative to address mental and emotional needs Wong, Hall, Justice, and Hernandez (2015).
4) Similarities between postpartum depression and depression could be symptoms of losss of sleep, or increased sleep. A significant consideration is a mother that is diagnosed with major depression prior to pregnancy is the continuation of medications which could have implications for the development of the fetus. It is important to utilize as a strategy the DSM-5 and tools such as the Beck Depression Inventory. It is further important to recognize the symptoms for postpartum depression develop within the first three months after birth and can take up to one year before developing. My role as a counselor is to listen and provide empathy and caring. To be nonjudgmental and to consider cultural diversity. When working with a client related to miscarriage, still birth and termination there is the grief and loss. The Elisabeth Kubler-Ross model recognizing the stages: denial. anger, bargaining, and acceptance. It is important that each grieves individually and to recognize the whole family.
5) My role as a couple’s therapist related to the video is to base upon a psycho-educational perspective is to present aspects that are prevalent related to childbirth. It is noted that anxiety and depression may be a symptom of both the mother and father. In a study conducted by Chan, Ngai, and Ip (2009) they found that childbirth psychoeducation programs in strengthening women’s resourcefulness and reducing depressive symptoms utilizing cognitive restructuring and problem-solving skills was effective in reducing perinatal depression. Another aspect to consider is both the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories in conjunction with the DSM-5 to explore symptoms related to these behaviors. In a study by Murray & Murray (2004) they found that solution-focused therapy was effective initiating communication with couples in explore through the Couple’s Resource Map important aspects such as: personal spheres (i.e. person dreams, coping skills, values, self-esteem, and self-awareness), relationship spheres (i.e. shared dreams, relationship skills, knowledge about partner, and strategies to manage negativity), contextual spheres (i.e. her career, his career, family, friends, and cultural community resources). Another way to manage stress is to explore various mindfulness techniques. An important role as a couples’ therapist is to be nonjudgmental and to show empathy and compassion.
References
Chan, S., Ip, W., & Ngai, F. (2009). The effects of a childbirth psychoeducation program on learned resourcefulness, maternal role competence and perinatal depression: a quasi-experiment. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 40 (1) 1298-1306
Hall, K. R., Hernandez, L. W., Justice, C. A., Wong, D. W. (2015). Counseling Individuals through the lifespan. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Murray, C. E., Murray, T. L. (2004). Solution-focused premarital counseling: helping couples build vision for their marriage. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 30 (3) 349-358.
ANSWER
The student’s post provides a brief overview of several topics related to human development and counseling. They discuss Piaget’s cognitive development theory, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of development, prenatal development, risks that may affect mothers, postpartum depression, and the role of a couples therapist. While the post covers multiple areas, it lacks depth and critical analysis. Additionally, the writing could benefit from clearer organization and improved grammar. Below is a revised version of the post that expands on the topics and enhances coherence:
The post discusses various aspects of human development and their relevance to counseling. It begins by mentioning Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, which outlines different stages of information gathering and organization in human beings. These stages include the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages. To illustrate the preoperational stage, the post mentions a video example involving two different-sized glasses with the same amount of orange juice. This stage is important for understanding a child’s intellectual development and their ability to perform basic arithmetic calculations.
Another theory mentioned is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of development. This theory emphasizes the influence of environmental factors on human development across the lifespan. The video utilized in the post presents spheres representing different systems within the theory, such as the microsystem, mesosystem, ecosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. The microsystem, for example, highlights parent-child interactions and their impact on a child’s development. In a counseling context, understanding these environmental influences, particularly within the microsystem, is crucial for addressing behavioral issues in school settings.
The post briefly touches on prenatal development, which occurs in three trimesters. Each trimester is associated with specific physical changes and organ development in the fetus. The vulnerability of both the mother and fetus during this period is highlighted, as factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and nutrition can significantly impact the health and development of the child. From a counseling standpoint, understanding the importance of prenatal care and providing support to mothers in terms of making healthy choices is essential.
Three risks that can affect mothers during pregnancy are mentioned: domestic violence, teratogens, and maternal stress. Teratogens refer to external factors such as infections, chemicals, and medications that can harm the developing fetus. Domestic violence is a global issue that requires cultural understanding when working with mothers. Counselors can assist by helping develop safety plans, identifying support resources, and addressing the mental and emotional needs of mothers. It is crucial to recognize and address the grief and loss experienced by individuals and families in situations involving miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination.
The post briefly highlights similarities between postpartum depression and depression, such as changes in sleep patterns. It emphasizes the importance of considering the continuation of medications for individuals diagnosed with major depression prior to pregnancy, as this decision can have implications for the fetus’s development. Utilizing tools such as the DSM-5 and the Beck Depression Inventory can aid in assessment and diagnosis. When working with clients experiencing grief and loss related to childbirth, counselors can draw on the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross model, which includes stages such as denial, anger, bargaining, and acceptance. Recognizing individual grieving processes and providing support to the whole family is crucial.
Regarding the role of a couples therapist, the post suggests a psycho-educational perspective that focuses on educating couples about childbirth-related aspects. It notes that anxiety and depression can affect both mothers and fathers. Psychoeducation programs that incorporate cognitive restructuring and problem-solving skills have shown effectiveness in reducing perinatal depression. Solution-focused therapy can facilitate communication and exploration of important aspects within the couple’s relationship. Mindfulness techniques can also be beneficial in stress management. Ultimately, a couples therapist should demonstrate nonjudgmental attitudes, empathy, and compassion in their work.
In summary, the student’s post provides a broad overview of various topics related to human development and counseling. However, it would benefit from expanding on the ideas presented and providing more in-depth analysis. Additionally, improvements in organization and grammar would enhance the clarity of the content.
