Primary Concepts of Therapy and Training Groups Essay

Primary Concepts of Therapy and Training Groups - Essay Example Therapy Groups These are groups organized for the sake of allowing therapists (one or more) to work with several people simultaneously. It is a form of psychotherapy. These groups are found in numerous places, for example in community centers, mental hospitals, private practices (therapy practices). Often, therapy groups are used to treat patients as the only treatment plan. However, they may also be used alongside other treatment plans such as medication of patients and individual therapy sessions. The groups are typically comprised of seven to twelve people, it is however possible to have larger or smaller groups. There meetings are either weekly or biweekly. The minimum number of total meetings is six, though some groups meet for a year. There meetings are either open or closed. With open meetings, new participants can take part any time while in the closed groups there are core members, who are the only allowed partakers. Meetings take place in a setting where seats are arranged in a circle to facilitate every member’s ability to see the all members. ... Therapy groups are based on a number of principles. Yalom and Lesczc (9) outline some of these principles in their 2005 publication. Key among the principles of therapy groups is that they act as wells of hope for the patients. This is because these groups are comprised of different individuals who are receiving treatment at different stages. Those who are at more advanced stages act as sources of hope for those who are only just beginning their respective regimes. Secondly, the group members draw reassurance from the fact that their problem are universal by getting lumped together with other people that are dealing with the same issues (Yalom&Lesczc, 17). A third principle is that of obtaining and sharing information, whereby group members learn how to cope with the problems facing them by learning from the experiences of others. Another principle is the fact that these groups act as a family for the members of the group. These groups allow the members to explore the impact of certa in undertakings in childhood and other stages of life impacted their temperament and behavior. Apart from these, the groups are based on the principle of developing new techniques of socialization. The group provides a venue for the members to adopt and practice new behaviors while reducing the fear of judgment due to failure. Another principle that Yalom and Lesczc (25) outline is learning by imitation, whereby individuals model their actions depending on the actions of other members of the group, or those of the therapists. There is also interpersonal learning, whereby the group interaction provides an opportunity for an individual to receive positive or negative feedback on their actions from other members. Another principle is catharsis, where the members achieve a sense of pain

The Federal Reserve Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Federal Reserve - Essay Example History, Structure, and Function The Federal Reserve was created in 1913 by Woodrow Wilson (Wells 2010). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries credit was controlled entirely by private banks. Farmers in the mid-western regions grew increasingly upset by this fact, as they complained that oftentimes the banks would alter their credit options at times when the farmers were vulnerable. The Federal Reserve was created as a compromise, with the banks still controlling credit, but the government determining the supply of funds (Wells 2010). While the intervening years have seen significant reforms in the way the Federal Reserve operates, its underlining function has remained the same. Private banks are able to borrow from the reserve at a discounted rate, they then loan this money to borrowers at the federal funds rate, or interest rate. As the Federal Reserve raises rates, so must the banks raise the rates of loans. This system is designed to ensure fair and equitable lending througho ut the country. The current chairman of the Federal Reserve, who was recently reappointed in January of 2010, and Alan Greenspan and Paul Volcker preceded him (Johnson, Web). Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) The Federal Open Markets Committee is a branch of the Federal Reserve that has the responsibility of regulating the United States’ open market operations. While there are a great variety of committees and functions with the Federal Reserve, this committee perhaps is the most notable as it functions to make essential decisions about interest rates and the general growth of the supply of money within the country (Chandler 1971). These are factors that directly and significantly affect major aspects of the nation’s economy. In these regards, the FOMC is the primary monetary branch of the Unites States. The committee functions in a variety of complex, but well structured ways. In these regards, the committee meets and sets short-term objectives for long-term objec ts within a long-term structure of economic understanding. The short-term objectives work to ensure that the federal funds rate remains constant. In addition to regulating the federal funds rate, the Federal Open Markets Committee oversees operations that the Federal Reserve has overtaken abroad. They accomplish this task in close collaboration with the United States Treasury department. In terms of meeting structure, the FOMC is required by law to meet at least four-times per year, but generally they convene eight times annually (Chandler 1971). During the meetings, open reports are presented by committee members. The committee then works toward reaching a consensus in regards to policy decisions. During this entire process the Manager of the System Open Market Account oversees the policy presentations. What I Learned & My Point of View In research the Federal Reserve there was a great amount of structural and historical information I gained, but perhaps the greatest insights I gai ned were in regards to how the Federal Reserve functioned during the recent economic recession. When the recession hit the Federal Reserve began the process of lowering interests rates to increase consumer spending. At this point, the Fed has virtually lowered the interest rate to 0%. In addition to