Discuss personal therapist variables

The literature on therapist effectiveness had found support for the importance of the personal experience and background of the therapist. This would imply that counseling effectiveness does not rely only on the theoretical orientation and academic training, but also on the values, principles, emotional stability, self-awareness, and optimism of the therapist (Seligman, 2006).As a student of the counseling process, I am fairly certain that being optimistic, open-minded and emotionally mature are what I consider my strengths and which will help me become a more effective therapist. Counseling is a helping profession and I believe that we could not give to others what we do not have. As a therapist, one must be able to reserve judgment, to accept clients unconditionally and have the willingness to help.Emotional maturity is said to be borne from experience and age (Sperry, Carlson & Kjos, 2003), and although I am not advanced in age, I know that I am emotionally mature because I have a lready experienced a number of difficult situations in my childhood which also gives me an insight into the feelings and thoughts of my clients, I am in a better position to understand them, because I have experienced what they are going through.However, this advantage may also have its own flaw since transference can easily occur in this situation. I have a good grasp of who I am as a person, but I think that I still need to work on my inner self-awareness as well as determining what values are predominant in my life and how I can deal with how my values might influence my relationships with my clients. Nevertheless, I am confident that through this course and in the coming terms, I would be able to deal effectively with the said limitations.I had always been a firm believer of man’s capacity for growth, and I have to say that my counseling approach would be evocative or client-directed (Seligman, 2006). I think that when people are given the opportunity to think and confron t their own issues and problems, they would be able to realize the solutions to their problems. As a therapist, it is my responsibility to help clients become more self-aware, define their identities, become independent and confident. Thus, I am more inclined to use listening skills, empathy, and genuineness in my counseling sessions.

Pest Analysis of Tyre Industry

PEST ANALYSIS OF TIRE INDUSTRY Tire Market in India is growing strongly and their production increasing from every year. In 2005, there were 40 tire manufacturing companies working in India which was consisted of major big brands in tire industry such as Good year, MRF, Falcon Tires and Bridge stones etc. we apply pest analysis on this market to check at what extent political, economical, technological and social factors are affecting this tire industry in India. POLITICAL: The government policy is much favored too local manufactures as said by the managing director of Goodyear India in 2005 that the tire market in India was almost exclusively dominated by local players and 90% of all tires on the Indian market were made and sold by the local Indian companies so Big companies like Good year, Michelin etc are hardly visible in India Tire Industry â€Å"Indianized† Government is providing more leverage to the local market that the foreign tire companies coming towards India. In 1926, when big giants in tire manufacturing like Dunlop, American firestone, Goodyear and Italian Ceat had much capital started their production plant in India than this had been a big treat for the local tire market. So Indian Government Immediately took an action and made a policy that if any foreign tire manufacturing company wanted to start their tire business in India than they had to act as locally and their names also seemed like locally such as Dunlop changed into Dunlop India and from Goodyear to Goodyear India. This â€Å"Indianized† process speeded up with the acquisition of most of the subsidiaries of foreign companies that operated in India: Firestone was bought by Modis in the early 1980s and Ceat and Dunlop were taken oven by RPG. Agreements with other foreign companies: There are many contracts and agreement of Indian companies with other foreigner companies which are as follows: * Under the Bangkok agreement, car and two wheelers tires were imported from china and South Korea at 10 percent custom duty. These imported tires had an average price 30 percent lower than tires sold by Indian companies. Some Indian companies like Apollo and JK tires tried to collaborate with Chinese companies in order to jointly produce cross ply tires. * In 1984, there was a agreement between the Indian and Japanese companies to get the model of Maruti 800 from Japanese company. * Ford and Dacia Logan are soon to be manufacture under the agreement by the Indian company with the foreign companies. ECONOMICAL: Growth of tire industry: The tire industry is growing in India day by day. In 1926, first tires were made by British company Dunlop. This gave rise to flourish of tire industry in India. When Cross ply tires were first introduced than 65 % of tire sales in India were covered by cross ply tires. But with the introduction of radial tire, radial tires represented 85% of car tire sales by volume. All the tire manufacturing companies are increasing their shares because tire industry in India is grooming with every year. In 2005, MRF, Apollo and JK tires had a tough competition and had a tough competition between them. Increases price of raw material: The prices of natural rubber and petroleum, which are essential components for the manufacturing of tires, becoming higher and higher which is badly effecting the tire manufacturing industry. TECHNOLOGY: SOCIAL:

Argumentative Essay : My Argumentative Synthesis Essay -- Writing, Essay

I started out by rewriting my entire first body paragraph which had a lot to do with coffee and its crucial role to the United States, and the South American economy. I had to delete the majority of this paragraph and re-read all my sources. I rewrote this paragraph and stated out in a lot of detail the importance and beneficial role that coffee had to play in the American economy. This time I did so in my own words. I elaborated in all the details such as how coffee affected small coffee houses and how it contributed in the making of worldwide jobs. The organization in this essay wasn 't so great so i ended up organizing it much better. I started out by first talking about how coffee benefited the U.S economy, and then i moved on into the effects it had on the South American economy. ce on how caffeine can be a risk reducer towards type II diabetes and liver cancer was a walk in the park metaphorically speaking. Another strength of mine is my wordplay. While this can also be a big w eakness because at times I can write some really awkward sentences it can also bring about some creativity on how I state things out. I used this to my advantage and used it on my first essay, the explanatory synthesis essay. Concluding this essay as a writer i feel more knowledgeable and in a sense my skills have vastly improved. I know how to use sources and scientific articles. I 've also learned how to cite sources and write a good bibliography. My knowledge has also expanded to the point where i now know how to use scholarly journals. As a growing writer I feel as if I have a lot more to learn in the near future and i feel like i have a lot of growing left to do.

Middle east Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Middle east - Essay Example He was a prominent composer of the Classical period and he played an important part in developing chamber music, like the piano trio and he is also known as the Father of Symphony. A prominent characteristic of Haydn’s music is the development of the sonata form and simple musical motifs, which he derived from large structures. Haydn was more interested in monothematic exposition, in which the music is dominant is similar to the theme that is presented in the opening. Unlike other composers, there was humor found in Haydn’s compositions like the Surprise Symphony; his compositions were particularly developed for the delight of a prince. His compositions also reflected his own personality, which was healthy and well-balanced. The role of Haydn was important, because he proved to be an example for other composers like Beethoven. He is known for his contributions towards Opera and chamber music; he made 42 compositions fro opera, 29 compositions for oratorios, 120 compositions for cantatas and many compositions for chamber music. The most popular piece produced by Handel is Messiah, which is known in contemporary music as Hallelujah; it is a composition of choral music and is mostly sung at Christmas times. Handel also composed Music for the Royal Fireworks, which was attended by 12,000 people, when it was first performed. The transition piece, which encouraged Handel to move from Italian to English, was his choral work called Saul. Handel did a lot of experimenting in this composition with his trombones, carillon and military kettledrums. Johann Sebastian Bach was a skilled German composer and musician, who changed the German styles by introducing counterpoint, harmony and motives in his compositions. His prominent works included as an organist; he was known for composing organ works like preludes and fantasias. However, his works involving

The concept of power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The concept of power - Essay Example Mistrust among nations, fear of attack by other nations, breaking of international agreements by some nations and urge to establish supremacy over other countries had continued unabated even after the Second World War leading to cold war among nations. The most unwanted result of this mad military race among nations was the diversion of public welfare funds to create nuclear weapons. Now, the concept of power had crossed all boundaries and reached the ultimate to convey the special meaning of an irrepressible nuclear power. More power means nature that is more destructive. All most all countries are afraid of USA. Why The answer lies in the naked truth that this country possesses most of the world's nuclear bombs and weapons indicating that it is more destructive than any other country. Unfortunately, the concept of power had also taken away the discretionary powers of these nuclear powers due to their "Power is something of which I am convinced there is no innocence this side of the womb," says Nadine Gordimer, South Africa's well-acclaimed novelist (Internet, quotations). Russian socialist theoretician Mikhail Bakunin comes out very strong on the concept of power: "The instinct to command others, in its primitive essence, is a carnivorous, altogether bestial and savage instinct. Under the influence of the mental development of man, it takes on a somewhat more ideal form and becomes somewhat ennobled, presenting itself as the instrument of reason and the devoted servant of that abstraction, or political fiction, which is called the public good. But in its essence it remains just as baneful, and it becomes even more so when, with the application of science, it extends its scope and intensifies the power of its action. If there is a devil in history, it is this power principle" (Internet, Mikhail ). People normally talk about the concept of power in terms of theoretical sense. Practically speaking, power is nothing but a state of commanding others to do certain things, though the methods of commanding vary from person to person and from country to country. When it comes to international relations, the meaning of power assumes serious dimensions. In the international arena, power is interpreted as the capacity of a country to dictate terms to other 3 countries. The Great Britain used its power once and ruled most of the world for more than two centuries. Now USA has been using its power to dominate and control most of the world. The great Mahabharata war occurred centuries ago because of the power struggle among Pandava and Kaurava brothers. Nowadays, in most of the third world countries, joint families are breaking up due to power struggle between brothers for controlling the family properties. The break up of the Ambani family controlling India's number one industrial empire, known as the Reliance Group, is the most recent example of a power struggle. The source for any power struggle normally generates in the people's urge to dominate others and control things at their will and pleasure. When you extend this analogy to countries in international relations, the comparison throws up innumerable similarities. A country

Do Americans Prefer a Divided Government Thesis - 1

Do Americans Prefer a Divided Government - Thesis Example The matter significantly reverberates as a political theme especially when national election comes. A substantial number of electorates perceived that the present government will not reflect a divided government because President Barrack Obama inspires a one-party rule. For them, this is harmful to democratic system. Everyone was in a political hodge-podge whether or not divided government creates a necessary condition for check and balance in governance? Under one dominant party, can President and his bureaucrats sustain transparent and accountable government effectively to sustain stability? Will the Supreme Court, filled with legal luminaries, be able to check a ruling party well? Or is it necessary to maintain divided government to encourage people to be able to objectively look at issues, governance and political decision-making? The question can go on endlessly as substantial number of Americans perceived that this present administration is enjoying a free rein with his busines s in foreign policy and relations at his volition although some Republican claimed that they maintain significant influence to prevent some of the president’s foreign policy initiatives. This is a qualitative study that aims to explore how many would prefer divided government from 50 select respondents that are randomly chosen by this researcher and to know reasons or causes about their preferred/inclination with divided government. Respondents’ opinion will be gathered through an online survey questionnaire which will be consolidated using monkeysurvey, an online method of generating responses which will be saved in a data base and will be used as bases for analysis in this study. Modern sociologists have varying perceptions about Americans inclination to favor or to disagree on divided government. Republicans for instance use a divided government as a mechanism and as a power to wield opposition against the

Final research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Final research - Essay Example In the opening line of Tomson’s play â€Å"The Rez Sisters†, the character Pelajia says, â€Å"Philomena, I want to go to Toronto†. Pelajia is a Native girl; a reservation resident who immediately pulls audiences into the story because it’s clear she wants to leave her life on the reservation in favour of the multicultural, urban existence of Toronto. Tomson, a Native himself, understands how the pull of the great urban multicultural centre can take a young Native out of his or her home; primarily he understands that this is because many Natives feel segregated and essentially sidelined to life itself, and to cultural awareness and individual expression. This is one of many ways that Tomson has decided to explore and write about Canada as a multicultural nation: his idea of this idealistic notion is basically positive but in this play he pays tribute to the fact that many people, although integral parts of the nation’s multicultural society, feel le ft out of Canadian culture and lifestyle on the whole and seek to explore multiculturalism from their own perspective. â€Å"On the Rez† is ambiguous in that it clearly represents a multicultural nation but it also represents a segregated part of society that often has little recourse to the ethnic differences of an entire nation of people. The multicultural Canada theme continues into Tomson’s other works, most markedly in â€Å"Kiss of the Fur Queen† and â€Å"My Canada†. The first is a story that follows Native boys during their enrolment at a reservation school in Manitoba. Aside from using the major themes of child abuse and segregation, this story also touches on the theme of a multicultural Canada. Instead of showing the idealistic side of a multicultural society, â€Å"Kiss of the Fur Queen† actually delves into the darker side of Canadian history and portrays how people originally dealt with cultures that were

A Situational Analysis on Marsha Warrens Case Essay

A Situational Analysis on Marsha Warrens Case - Essay Example In environmental control, the exercise of excessive disciplinary actions may sound sensible, but it can establish restrictive academic atmosphere, arresting learning at the expense of highly reactive students. Indicatively, in the case study of Marsha Warren, despite application of contingent teaching and management strategies, there are still manifestations of setbacks, not only on the part of the students, but also in the instructors’ classroom management. Although the students’ behavioral and learning problems are sources of class disruptions, the teachers’ personal attitude towards their academic functions may worsen the uncontrollable situations.  In environmental control, the exercise of excessive disciplinary actions may sound sensible, but it can establish restrictive academic atmosphere, arresting learning at the expense of highly reactive students. Indicatively, in the case study of Marsha Warren, despite application of contingent teaching and managem ent strategies, there are still manifestations of setbacks, not only on the part of the students, but also in the instructors’ classroom management. Although the students’ behavioral and learning problems are sources of class disruptions, the teachers’ personal attitude towards their academic functions may worsen the uncontrollable situations.   Dealing with difficult students in heterogeneous groups can be tasking to patience and efforts of every instructor. In the case of Warren, several dilemmas have piled up, instigating sparks of hostility in learning and social interaction. For one, the source of disruptive behavior has not been dealt with accordingly. With the narrowed focus on â€Å"bad behavior,† other important aspects of the disruptive problems have been neglectfully addressed (Goldstein, 2007, p. 4). The instructor in the paper keeps placing punishing consequences on the delinquent acts of the students, never reflecting on implication of con secutive reprimands on children’s social conditioning. Active interaction is severely hampered through this restrictive management form, reducing motivations on students’ learning desires.  In relation, while the lack of insight on how to classroom conflicts is rampant, abject competency in teaching and handling a classroom conflict is questioned.  

Who Done It Business Communications Assignments Essay

Who Done It Business Communications Assignments - Essay Example This is a flaw, which the management seeks to address. Consequently, the management has audited the system and discovered the causes of the flaws. The most affected workers were the tellers who deal directly with the clients (Campion). The management has discovered that teller conducted reconciliation in an inappropriate order. The inappropriate reconciliation resulted in the system malfunction. Therefore, the system failed to post such transactions by the end of the business day. The management has realized that most tellers were running close, registering, posting and merging. Execution of the 2.00 P.M in that order meant once the employee click on the post option there would be nothing for the system to merge. Additionally, the consolidate option failed to pop up. Consequently, the teller assumes that the system will deal with such inconsistencies since it is advanced and it executes much functionality automatically. The above malfunction has affected the functioning of the bank greatly. The IT (information technology) department was vested with the task of correcting the above malfunctions. Therefore, this communication seeks to elaborate what corrective measure the entity has adopted to streamline the system (Campion). It is imperative for employees to understand that the system is its initial stages of installation. Subsequently, the system may have several flaws that the developer had not foreseen. The measures that this department has adopted include elaborating the correcting reconciliation procedure to the tellers. The proper procedure is running close, registering, merging and posting. This ensures that the system has data to consolidate and post. Once the tellers conduct in the reconciliation correctly, the cheques will not bounce. Additionally, all the above transaction will be reflected in the appropriate accounts. The new features will include an enlarged merging icon, which is visible to all workers. As such, the tellers will no fail

Enterprise Data Warehousing and Data Mining Coursework

Enterprise Data Warehousing and Data Mining - Coursework Example To this end data mining systems are used, are they all they could be and are they really the only way of sorting the chaff from the wheat? Keywords: data, mining, search, find, information, business intelligence. Implementing Data Warehousing To bring a data warehousing system into a company means first analyzing the situation that exists, the size of the organization, its present systems and what they can do to improve the problem without extra costs, it is quite likely there are professional statisticians in the company who simply need help to get their work done a little faster. To bring a new system into the company means ensuring there is a business need as that must always drive implementation so there must be an emphasised need such as competitors are getting products to the marketplace first. Stated by Davis (1994). Once it has been decided there is no choice, but to purchase, then a study of what applications are available in the marketplace must be done, a needs definition will give information on just what is needed from the new system, it may need to be custom built or modified such as has been done for the data mining tool now used by Jaeger. Stated by Grant (2008). With a large company there are going to be many demands from different groups for something that addresses their needs, but as a person responsible for buying the tool it is important it can answer as many differing demands as possible. The implementation often means a company must upgrade its present IT, its hardware, networks and PC’s may need replacement or upgrading, so the cost of implementation becomes more than just the cost of purchasing the new system. Thearling, (2003). Figure 1: Convergence of Three Technologies for Data Mining, Thearling (2003) Once the data warehouse is in place data mining can begin, but the two things are separate, data warehousing is not data mining. For data mining to go ahead it is probable that software for this role will have to be bought, and implemented after the warehousing system is in place, creating a time delay. Applications available include: Sybase IQ 15.3 -- this business intelligence/analytics and data warehouse focused relational database management product is now powered by a so-called "new generation" of shared everything Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) technology. Bridgwater (2011). Another application is that used by Jaeger's new loss prevention programme aims to change managers' behaviour by giving them the data they need to take action. Jaeger went to UK loss prevention specialist Oris, which has a strategic partnership with product identity and shrink management company Checkpoint Systems. Oris also supplied IDM Systems' Oracle-based LossManager data mining application. Data from its electronic point of sale system lets Jaeger identify the source of losses, integrate information from other applications such as RFID and CCTV, monitor investigations, and provide action alerts for managers. "From data mining we knew that 84% of goods stolen were taken from near doors, despite 70% of our [more than 120] stores having tagging," Hearn said. Stated by Grant (2008). Benefits of a Data Warehousing System Data warehousing can be very useful in the right situation, it can give just the information needed from all

The Stop Online Piracy Act Essay Example for Free

The Stop Online Piracy Act Essay The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP-Act (PIPA) is a bill that Congress are trying to pass in order to illegalize downloading and streaming movies and/or T. V shows; however the two legislation has Internet users in fear about censorship. Congress claims that companies and organizations are losing revenue from users who illegally download copyrighted programs and entertainment. Internet users state, this permits the government to disable freedom of speech and innovation, while enabling the government to censor and watch in the entire Internet for infringing content. The reason why SOPA and PIPA came about was due to companies annoyed with stolen content- which has proponents and opponents in a heated debate. Prior to SOPA and PIPA, there were two other bills that had the same foundation but did not pass. PIPA was first called, Combating Online Infringement (COICA) that failed in 2010. The re-written legislation had come back as PIPA to the Senate on May 12, 2011 by Senators Patrick Leahy, Orrin Hatch and Chuck Grassley. The second bill SOPA, was legislation that had been first been introduced as the Pro-IP Act in 2008 however failed. Then on October 26, 2011 SOPA was presented to the U. S. House of Representatives by Representative Lamar Smith. Creative America which is considered, the entertainment community, who basically own all the entertainment companies is the largest supporters of PIPA and SOPA. Creative America is comprised of many companies like The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA. ) On top of the MPAA: The Screen Actors Guild, The American Federation of TV and Radio Artists are pro-SOPA and PIPA. Even the music label companies are out to support, as well as the music publishers associations, and a long list of publishing houses who also support the acts. These companies have been estimated of paying100 million dollars on lobbyist in 2011 to pass these bills in order to protect their copyrights. SOPA and PIPA are two bills that work in conjunction of each other. Proponents claim, copyright holders are permitted to sue all domains that have their patent infringed whether or not their origin is from the U. S.  First corporations will create a hit list of websites who they feel are violating their copyright polices, then the corporation will be able to contact the websites payment processors to force them to cut their ties to whomever is infringing their copyrights. This will give the website five days to act before being shut down. The government will allow immunity to payment networks that comply with the bill, plus take recognition to sites that severely cut ties. Copyright holders who knowingly misrepresent a website for infringing copyrights will have to pay for all damages occurred. Opponents believe that SOPA and PIPA must not pass due to the domino effect it will create. Internet users are in fear that it will block freedom of speech. Many argue that the Internet cannot have any censorship because it violates Americans first amendment. These two bills will enable the U. S. Attorney General access to watch all Internet domains. The Internet Service Provider (ISP) will have to give up all information to the government when asked. Whats unfair is the government would not fund ISP even though they would be there minion. Moreover, other countries will follow suit, thus creating no access to foreign websites. Another issue is when a person posts someones intellectual content without permission, the website will have be shut down. All Internet users are in fear that this stifles innovation. A way that this stifles innovation is if someone posts on a blog of an article that features a logo or trademark of a corporation to use as a teaching method, the corporation can dislike the display and the blog can be shut down. Because SOPA and PIPA are so vague, it can be manipulated to the corporations advantage and be found true. If this bill was around when the Internet was first made, then there would have never been any websites like Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox etc. because those sites will be liable for any person that violates the two bills. Due to the Acts liability, those companies wont last one minute without being sued. For example, Youtube created a new trend of letting their users upload their version of an artists song known as a, cover song. If the two bills were to pass, this will disable users to gain any attention to the music industry which can stop any discovery of the next biggest artist. January 18, 2012 was the day these two bills went to Congress for voting. Companies like Reddit, GoDaddy. com, Wiki, etc. went black in protest of the two bills. Many sites directed Internet users to sign a petition and to call or email the House of Representative- for the state the user resides in. Voices were heard and many supporters understood the vague thought of the two bills and backed out, thereby SOPA and PIPA didnt pass. Even if the bill did pass, it would have done little to stop pirating because the criminals who want to download illegal content will only need the IP address in order to reach the supposedly blocked sites. Criminals will find a way to get pass the Acts, thus making challenges for companies who want to follow the law waste time worrying about the implications of SOPA and PIPA. Although the opponents made sure that SOPA and PIPA didnt pass, Internet users know there is a problem with stolen intellectual property; however SOPA and PIPA was not the answer.

Leading Equality and Diversity Essay Example for Free

Leading Equality and Diversity Essay Be able to understand the commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity 1. 1 – Evaluate the organisation’s commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity Equality and diversity means that every service user has their individual needs comprehensively addressed. He or she will be treated equally and without discrimination. This is regardless of the individual’s ethnic background, language, culture, faith, gender, age, sexual orientation or any other aspect that could result in their being discriminated against purely because they have such characteristics. Ashley Care LLP is firmly committed to diversity in all areas of our work. We believe that we have much to learn and profit from diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives, and that diversity will make our organisation more effective in meeting the needs of all our stakeholders. We believe that equality and diversity within our organisation contributes to our objectives and we are especially conscious of the fact that effective partnership relationships require a shared commitment to equality of opportunity and valuing and managing diversity. Our Equality and Diversity Policy helps to ensure that there is no unjustified discrimination in the recruitment, retention, training and development of staff on the basis of gender including transgender, marital status, sexual identity, religion and belief, political opinion, race, work pattern, age, disability or HIV/AIDS status, socio-economic background, spent convictions, on the basis of having or not having dependants, or any other irrelevant grounds. Our Policy is an integral way on which we handle our recruitment procedures to ensure a fair and approachable image of our organisation. Ashley Care LLP have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Policy and its purpose is to ensure that its service is fully committed to these principles and values and to communicate this commitment to all stakeholders. The policy should always be referred to wherever differences of view based on lack of understanding or prejudice about diversity, equality and inclusion are evident. Equality, diversity and inclusion means that every service user has their individual needs comprehensively addressed he or she will be treated equally and without discrimination. This is regardless of the individual’s ethnic background, language, culture, faith, gender, age, sexual orientation or any other aspect that could result in their being discriminated against purely because they have such characteristics. 1. 2Discuss how behaviour, actions and words of all members of the organisation support the commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity At Ashley Care LLP we are committed to working together to build a community founded on equality of opportunity a social care community which celebrates the rich diversity of our service users and staff populations. Discriminatory behaviour has no place in our community and will not be tolerated. Within a spirit of respecting difference, our equality and diversity policies promise equal treatment and opportunity for all regardless of gender, sexuality, race, colour, disability, religion, age, and ethnicity or nationality. We call on all members of our company to make a personal commitment to these aims. Our Partners of the Company will ensure that its own actions promote equality and diversity. Through their words and behaviours, Partners will aim to provide genuine equality of opportunity regardless of gender, sexuality, race, colour, disability, religion, age, and ethnic or national origin. In considering its own composition and filling vacancies, the Partners will seek to ensure that its membership embraces the widest possible variety of backgrounds and views, consistent with the need to maintain a Partnership with the skills and experience necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Ashley Care LLP expresses its commitment to equality and diversity by: a. especting service users’ ethnic, cultural and religious practices and making practical provision for them to be observed b. reassuring its service uses that their diverse backgrounds enhance the quality of experience of the service c. accepting service users as individuals, not as cases or stereotypes d. involving service users to express their individuality and to follow their preferred lifestyle, also helping them to celebrate events, anniversaries or festivals which are important to them as individuals e. howing positive leadership and having management and human resources practices that actively demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity principles f. developing an ethos throughout Ashley Care LLP that reflects these values and principles g. expecting all staff to work to equality and diversity principles and policies and to behave at all times in non-discriminatory ways h. providing, training, supervision and support to enable staff to do this i. aving a code of conduct that makes any form of discriminatory behaviour unacceptable; this is applicable to both staff and service users and is rigorously observed and monitored accordingly. Partners will devote time to the development of their own knowledge, understanding and practices to promote and achieve equality and respect for diversity and will see such development as one test of their effectiveness. The achievement of genuine equality of opportunity is at the heart of our mission as a provider of higher education. We aim to build a learning community which exhibits the diverse range of skills and experience which cannot be found within any single group of students or staff. In pursuing this aim, we want our community to value and to be at ease with its own diversity and to reflect the needs of the wider community within which we operate. Although we accept all of our responsibilities under current legislation, we aim to reach beyond the strict confines of the law to provide equality of opportunity for all. We will continue to formulate and implement policies to that end. Every member of our company has a moral and legal responsibility to promote equal treatment within that community and to respect its diversity. Overall responsibility for working with our community in support of these aims lies with the Senior Partner, closely supported by the other Partners. The HR amp; Workforce Development Manager is responsible for matters relating to equality of opportunity in employment, for developing policies which meet legislation and best practice, for monitoring the impact of these policies on different minority groups, and for providing relevant employment statistics. All staff and service users are responsible for ensuring that their actions are carried out in accordance with this policy. They may be held personally to account should their actions fall sort of the requirements of this policy in any way. We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We wish to see people from all groups in our society represented at all levels of employment, to ensure that no available talent is overlooked and to provide role models for our staff members. 1. 3Identify organisational and personal responsibilities and liabilities under equality legislation and codes of practice The Equality Act became law in October 2010. It replaces previous legislation (such as the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) and ensures consistency in what we needed to do to make our workplace a fair environment and to comply with the law. â€Å"This was, primarily , the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and three major statutory instruments protecting discrimination in employment on grounds of religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. † en. wikipedia. rg/wiki/Equality_Act_2010 The public sector Equality Duty (section 149 of the Act) came into force on 5 April 2011. The Equality Duty applies to public bodies and others carrying out public functions. It supports good decision-making by ensuring public bodies consider how different people will be affected by their activities, helping them to deliver policies and services which are efficient and effecti ve; accessible to all; and which meet different peoples needs. The Equality Duty is supported by specific duties, set out in regulations which came into force on 10 September 2011. The specific duties require public bodies to publish relevant, proportionate information demonstrating their compliance with the Equality Duty; and to set themselves specific, measurable equality objectives. The Equality Act covers the same groups that were protected by existing equality legislation age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity it extends some protections to some of the groups not previously covered, and also strengthens particular aspects of equality law. The Equality Act is a mixture of rights and responsibilities that have: * Stayed the same for example, direct discrimination still occurs when someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic * Changed for example, employees will now be able to complain of harassment even if it is not directed at them, if they can demonstrate that it creates an offensive environment for them * Been extended for example, associative discrimination (direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who possesses a protected characteristic) will cover age, disability, gender reassignment and sex as well as race, religion and belief and sexual orientation Been introduced for the first time for example, the concept of discrimination arising from disability, which occurs if a disabled person is treated unfavourably because of something arising in consequence of their disability. As a result, I needed to review and change most of our policies and practices. 2. Be able to understand the application of equality of opportunity and diversity 2. 1 – Describe the organisation’s equality and diversity policies and how these are communicated within the workplace To ensure equality and diversity is no longer viewed as something only affecting minority groups, any issues need to be viewed not as issues, but as something to be explored and celebrated. Staff could be personally affected by stereotyping, prejudice and/or discrimination when attending work, which could lead to non attendance or non achievement. As a manager I need to ensure all my staff value one another and that the basic rights they are entitled to, for example to learn in a comfortable and safe environment are met. The Pre-Employment Induction to Ashley Care LLP include details of all policies and procedures, including equality and diversity, which are brought to the attention of the staff members during their initial interview and during the induction session. Having a policy is not enough, Ashley Care LLP also have a working group to ensure that the policies are promoted, monitored and regularly reviewed. Policies are also communicated to all staff through the following mechanisms: * Staff handbook * Contract of Employment * Application Form * Team meetings * Staff meetings Ashley Care LLP fully supports all principles of equality and diversity, and opposes any unfair or unlawful discrimination on the grounds of ability, age, colour, culture, disability, domestic circumstances, employment status, ethnic origin, gender, learning difficulties, marital status / civil partnership, nationality, political conviction, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and/or social background. Ashley Care LLP aims to ensure that equality and diversity is promoted among all staff and service users and that unfair or unlawful discrimination, whether direct or indirect, is eliminated to promote a climate of equality and respect. All staff can expect to work in an environment free from harassment and bullying. † Taken from Ashley Care LLP’s policy on Equality and Diversity 2. 2 – Assess the application of the organisation’s commitment to equality of opportunity and dive rsity The evidence that Ashley Care LLP have collected over the years clearly demonstrate our commitment to equality and diversity. The application form states that â€Å"Ashley Care LLP is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all work seekers and shall adhere to our policy at all times. We review all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. † Our policy states that â€Å"Equality and diversity means that every service user has their individual needs comprehensively addressed. He or she will be treated equally and without discrimination. This is regardless of the individual’s ethnic background, language, culture, faith, gender, age, sexual orientation or any other aspect that could result in their being discriminated against purely because they have such characteristics. † Within our policy we also state that â€Å"Ashley Care LLP expresses its commitment to equality and diversity by: a. respecting service users’ ethnic, cultural and religious practices and making practical provision for them to be observed b. reassuring its service uses that their diverse backgrounds enhance the quality of experience of the service c. accepting service users as individuals, not as cases or stereotypes d. nvolving service users to express their individuality and to follow their preferred lifestyle, also helping them to celebrate events, anniversaries or festivals which are important to them as individuals e. showing positive leadership and having management and human resources practices that actively demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity principles f. developing an ethos throughout Ashley Care LLP that reflects these values and principles g. expecting all staff to work to equality and diversity principles and policies and to behave at all times in non-discriminatory ways h. providing, training, supervision and support to enable staff to do this i. aving a code of conduct that makes any form of discriminatory behaviour unacceptable; this is applicable to both staff and service users and is rigorously observed and monitored accordingly. † 2. 3 – Review the diversity of the workforce against the local and/or national population and identify areas for review. Diversity is about valuing and respecting the differences in the workforce, regardless of ability and/or circumstances or any other individual characteristics they may have. If you have more than one member in your workforce you will experience diversity. I am also different from my workforce in many ways, and they are different from one another, therefore they are entitled to be treated with respect, wi th their differences taken into consideration. Combined together, equality and diversity drive an organisation to comply with anti-discrimination legislation as well as emphasising the positive benefits of diversity such as drawing on a wider pool of talent, positively motivating all employees and meeting the needs of a wider customer base. Differences should be acknowledged, celebrated and embraced, to ensure all employees feel included in the process to be followed, and that the working environment is suitable for all. Examples of these differences are: * ability| * disability – physical or mental| * age| * domestic circumstances| * belief| * educational background| * colour| * employment status| * class| * ethnic origin| clothing worn| * experience| * confidence| * gender| * culture| * intelligence| * language, accent, dialect| * race| * learning difficulties| * religion| * marital status / civil partnership| * sexual orientation| * nationality| * social class or identity| * occupation| * talent| * parental status| * tr adition| * physical characteristics| * transgender| * political conviction| * wealth| Promoting diversity in the workforce is about attracting and retaining the best people, regardless of what group they belong to. â€Å"There is considerable evidence to show that inclusive organisations benefit from diversity through: enhanced competitiveness, attracting and retaining more competent employees, who understand the needs of their workforce and respect differences; * improved performance and outcomes, creating a working environment in which everyone is encouraged to perform to their maximum potential; * improved customer services, being able to reflect and meet the diverse needs of the workforce and; * improved staff relations, which reduced the risk of costly tribunals by complying with anti-discriminatory legislation. † www. lluk. org. uk/3167. htm As a manager working within the Health ;amp; Social Care Sector, I agree with the above statement, particularly creating a working environment in which everyone is encouraged to perform to their maximum potential. An inclusive organisation will ensure that their workforce are not excluded for any reason, either directly or indirectly, from part aking in a chosen programme. All the workforce will bring with them valuable skills, knowledge and experiences, I try to incorporate these within any training sessions and treat everyone as an individual. I am always positive and proactive where equality and diversity are concerned, even if my opinions differ from those of my workforce. I have to challenge my own values and beliefs. However, as a professional, I am first and foremost a manager, and my personal opinions must not interfere with the employment process. I must also be careful not to indulge the minority to the detriment of the majority. 3. Be able to understand the needs of others in relation to equality of opportunity and diversity 3. 1 – Explain the requirement to understand individual’s needs, feeling and motivations and to take an interest in their concerns The fundamental reason for promoting equality is to meet the needs of the workforce. Individuals are at the heart of the company and meeting their needs requires an active approach to equality of opportunity at all stages of their employment. It is about the removal of social and economic barriers to participation. Good equal opportunities ensure that all employees: * are respected and not discriminated against; * become aware of equality and inclusion; * benefit from high quality opportunities * work in an environment that supports their development. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) look to employers and learning organisations they fund to help promote equality of opportunity, widen participation and improve performance. They recommend the following. â€Å"Explicit references: equality of opportunity should be promoted and discrimination tacked so that all employees achieve their potential, * guidance and support should be sensitive to quality of opportunity, * organisations should have effective measures to eliminate oppressive behaviour, including all forms of harassment, * companies should be socially inclusive, ensuring equality of access and opportunities for workforces, * managers should use materials and methods that promote equality of opportunity, * there should be explicit aims, values and strategies promoting equality for all that are reflected in the organisation’s work. Implicit references: staff should have access to relevant, effective support on personal issues, * staff should understand their rights and responsibilities, * resources and accommodation should allow all staff to participate fully, * organisations should promote good working relationships, * programmes should be responsive to local circumstances, * the organisation’s values should be fully understood by staff, including sub contractors and work placement organisations, * the performance of different groups of staff should be used to guide programme development. As a manager I need to take positive steps to promote a culture of equality and diversity in everything that I do that may affect the employment process. 3. 2 – Evaluate the impact of showing respect to others, recognising their value and upholding their rights An example of showing respect to others, recognising their value and upholding their rights could be: An employee has declared to me during this Common Induction Standards training that he is transgender and wants to know which toilet facilities he can use. He has not asked this information remain confidential. This declaration by the employee means that my whole organisation is deemed to know under the Equality Act 2010, and will need to make reasonable adjustments so that the employee has access to toilet facilities he is comfortable with. I may suggest that the employee can use the disabled toilet which is accessed by both males and females. If I am unable to respond to the employee’s needs, he may feel that under the Gender Reassignment Regulations (1999) his needs have not been given the same consideration as those of male and female gender. Some employees may not want to may not want to complete the section on the application form (pre 2008), which required them to disclose details such as a disability, ethnic origin, date of birth etc. Although it was not compulsory, the information often helped our organisation support the workforce, as well as collect data for purposes such as funding and statistics to inform policies. 3. 3 – Describe the need for integrity, fairness and consistency in dealings with individuals When considering forms of harassment, it is important to bear in mind that different people have different cultural and social perceptions as to what they consider to be hostile or degrading. If possible, deliver sessions with your workforce to try to address these perceptions or assumptions. During the recruitment and selection process, I often ask the interviewers what they understand by equality and diversity and how they ensure it in their interviewing. Very often the response is that they would treat everyone the same. However, diversity, fairness and equality are about treating others as they would wish to be treated, rather than making assumptions on their behalf. The workforce is all different and therefore have different needs and different degrees of need which will lead to equal outcomes at the end of their training. Language has a fundamental role to play in treating people fairly. Words you use should give a clear message to all the workforce that myself and my organisation value diversity and respect individual differences. Carefully examining the language I use and the way I use it will help ensure that I treat my workforce as individuals and not merely as members of staff. Communication is not just about words, however, and I also should ensure that my tone of voice, demeanour and body language convey the same message of inclusiveness. An example may be: Gemma has been asked to plan, design and deliver a four week Job Skills programme as part of a Support and Achieve Programme for Lone Parents. The clients are referred to the programme from JobCentrePlus and the aim of the project is for the one parents to return to work. The very title of this project typecasts these clients into a particular group. They are immediately identified as lone or single parents. Gemma therefore suggests the title be changed. Reports from the media project an image of lone parents as predominately young mothers or fathers with children living on their own and claiming state benefits. There are many diverse people who find themselves as lone parents due to different circumstances, for example, widows, windowers or divorcees. The title of a programme can therefore affect who will apply for it, in this example it is positive discrimination in favour of lone parents. However, the content will be based around returning to work and could easily be adapted to suit others, and the mix of workers will help promote inclusion and equality. 3. 4 – Outline a process for dealing with others whose behaviours, words or actions do not support a commitment to equality of opportunity or diversity When an inspection is planned, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) uses the provider’s annual self-assessment report, along with other information such as data on achievement and development plans. Inspection reports include judgements on self-assessment and the self-assessment report. During the inspection the self-assessment report will continue to provide CQC inspectors with crucial evidence to support judgements about the Essential Standards of Quality and Safety’s main aspects, the contributory grades for equality and diversity, safeguarding and the provider’s capacity to improve. Inspectors will use the report to assess risk, monitor standards and plan for inspection. Where subject areas are to be inspected, the report will help the lead inspector select the areas to inspect. Findings during the inspection will be compared with those in the self-assessment report, and a conclusion reached on the accuracy of those judgements. Judgements on the accuracy and use made of the self-assessment report contribute to the grade awarded for the provider’s capacity to make and sustain improvements. A provider that is judged to be outstanding in this area will have a self-assessment report that is highly accurate. The process of self-assessment will be comprehensive and inclusive. It will be used very effectively to secure sustained improvements in all aspects of the provider’s work. A provider that is judged to be good in this area will have a self-assessment report that is largely accurate. The process will be thorough and used well to secure improvements in most aspects of the provider’s work. A provider that is judged to be satisfactory in this area will use self-assessment well to identify most of the provider’s strengths and weaknesses and bring about improvements. A provider judged to be inadequate in this area may be one where quality improvement and self-assessment do not lead to demonstrable improvements. After inspection you must review and update your plans to take account of the inspection findings. Providers are required to set out clearly what actions are needed and to link this explicitly to the inspection findings within two months of the publication of the inspection report.

Hippotherapy and Cerebral Palsy

Hippotherapy and Cerebral Palsy Intervention Analysis Background Jane Walters is a five year old girl and has a diagnosis of left sided spastic hemiplegia, a form of Cerebral Palsy. Jane has two older sisters who attend horse riding lessons at their local stables. Jane has recently expressed an interest in joining them to her parents. However her parents are worried that because of her diagnosis she will not be able to keep up with her siblings. However Jane is very independent child and she doesnt believe that she is any different from other children of her age. Diagnosis Cerebral Palsy (CP) refers to non-progressive conditions characterised by impaired voluntary movement or posture, and resulting from prenatal developmental malformations or postnatal CNS damage (Reed, 2013, pp. 38-47). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2008), it is highly likely that a child with CP will have other medical disorders such as; cognitive impairments, seizures, delayed growth and development. Spastic syndromes such as Jane’s occur in more than 70 percent of CP cases. Spastic hemiplegia is a type of CP that typically affects the arm and hand on one side of the body, but can also include the leg. . The spasticity creates a state of resistance against any range of motion, this resistance ultimately increases with increasing speed of that movement (Reed, 2013, pp. 38-47). Children with spastic hemiplegia will generally walk later and on tiptoe because of high heel tendons. Often the arm and leg on the child’s affected side are shorter and thinner (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 2008). Impact of Right Hemisphere Brain Damage The primary cause of CP is damage to white matter of the brain this is often caused by abnormal brain development, a bleed on the brain, or brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen in the brain, generally caused by a difficult birth. Jane has left sided spastic hemiplegia, indicating that damage to the brain has occurred on the right hemisphere. It was felt important to consider additional complications related to right sided brain damage to ensure we are aware of Ellie’s level of functioning physically, cognitively and behaviourally. Those that may relate to Ellie’s case are listed below, however, it is important to recognise that each case must be treated individually; the symptoms and severity will vary for each individual. Attention Difficulty concentrating on a task or focusing on what is said or seen. Perception Visual perception deficits causing a person to have difficulty perceiving and processing any information on the left visual field (left-sided neglect). For example, individuals with right hemisphere damage may have difficulty with reading words on the left side of a page, eating food on the left side of their plate, or acknowledging the left side of their body Reasoning and problem solving: Difficulty identifying that there is a problem and generating solutions. Memory: Difficulty recalling previously learned information and learning new information. Social communication Difficulty interpreting abstract language such as metaphors, making inferences, and understanding jokes; and problems understanding nonverbal cues and following the rules of communication Organisation: Difficulty with systematically arranging information and planning, which is often reflected in communication difficulties, such as trouble telling a story with events in the right order, maintaining a topic during conversation. Insight Difficulty recognizing problems and the impact on daily functioning. Orientation: Difficulty recalling the date, time, or place. The individual may also be disoriented to self (ASHA 2014). Medical Considerations for Therapeutic Riding People with cerebral palsy have difficulty coordinating and producing purposeful, functional movements. Some people have too much muscle tone, such as those with spasticity. Their muscles hold their limbs in rather stiff postures and it is difficult to relax these muscles. Thus, the rider cannot move his limbs easily except in the direction the spastic muscles pull. Other types of tone abnormalities include fluctuating tone, as seen in athetoid cerebral palsy and hypotonia, or too little tone. Tone is an elusive thing to quantify. Using treatment techniques to temporarily make tone more normal does not suddenly result in normal, coordinated movement patterns. In fact, increased tone may be the result of pathologic weaknesses in other muscle groups coupled with the normal human desire to move. Muscle fibers are known to change over time, resulting in increasing, age-related difficulty in maintaining posture. It may be true that abnormal tone, especially spasticity, is an abnormal response to normal sensation, such as touch and movement sensation. Orthopedic problems occur in people with cerebral palsy, perhaps partly because of the interaction of the abnormal neurologic system with the muscles, joints and soft tissues. The abnormal, usually asymmetrical pull of spastic muscles coupled with lack of normal movement and weightbearing can result in progressive scoliosis and dislocating hips. Other joints, such as wrists, elbows, knees and ankles, can lose flexibility and range of motion. Despite these factors, the rhythmic motion, shape, warmth and inherently motivating quality of the horse can be helpful to people with cerebral palsy throughout their lives. Therapeutic riding can facilitate cognitive and sensorimotor development in childhood, help develop a sense of responsibility, self-confidence and fair play in adolescence and provide life-long recreation and sport. It can do all this while stimulating the good posture, balance and flexibility needed for functional independence off the horse. Riding works best for maintaining range of motion and joint flexibility if a well-aligned, correct posture on the horse is always a goal. There is no substitute for a horse with good, symmetric movement. Many riders with cerebral palsy can achieve normal balance, posture and movement on a horse if the instructor takes a long, slow approach, focusing on posture and alignment. These are not therapy goals. Good posture, hands-free balance and a following seat are prerequisites to riding with ease and comfort for the rider and the horse. Riding sessions for people with cerebral palsy should never result in increased tone and discomfort. Ask the rider (family member or personal care assistant) how he feels after the session, when hes at home. Are the muscles relaxed or tight? If spasticity is worse after the session, decrease the amount of stimulation. Focus on less impulsion, more stretching and relaxation, more straight-line work and fewer circles. Use a horse with a wider base and a smoother walk. Offer an opportunity to sit and rest after dismounting. Try a saddle with a suede or synthetic cover so the riders seat and legs will stick to the saddle better, which will increase his stability and decrease stress. Recent articles by Ruth DismukeBlakely, SLP/CCC, in AHA News and NARHA News, indicate that the movement of the horse in hippotherapy sessions can increase the quantity, quality and volume of vocalization in the rider. For children with cerebral palsy, the horse is a wonderful motivation for speech, while the horses movement can improve the coordination of breathing, swallowing and sound production. The horse naturally motivates children with cerebral palsy to move, explore and touch. Using the horse as a large, gentle, rhytiunic and predictably moving gross-motor platform, where the child is invited and assisted to explore, can be even more useful than learning to ride. Instructors can encourage movement and hopefully disconnect it from the fear of failure. The result is self-confidence and courage on and off the horse. The rider with cerebral palsy benefits from advance preparation in many areas. Stretching before getting on the horse, as recommended by a physical therapist, can reduce the warm-up time on the horse. When practicing walk-halt transitions, the instructor or therapist can use: Prepare to walk, Prepare to halt, Get ready to whoa. These preparatory phrases allow the rider to prepare or set the posture needed to accomplish the task. If the rider has decreased or asymmetric range of motion at the hips and knees, select the horse that accommodates the problem so the rider can sit easily in good alignment without being pulled to one side. If the hip is partially dislocated (subluxed), the type of horse is essential. The lack of range of motion, spasticity, the horses natural shape and movement can all potentially worsen the subluxation. In general, the rider with cerebral palsy who has orthopedic problems at the hips or spine may benefit greatly from consultation with a physical therapist who can assist the instructor in creating an appropriate riding program. -Liz Baker, PT, NARHA Medical Commitfee Chairman http://www.cpparent.org/hippotherapy/articles/cp.htm Bissell, C. 2015. Cerebral Palsy and Therapeutic Riding [Online]. Available at: http://www.cpparent.org/hippotherapy/articles/cp.htm [Accessed: 29 April 2015]. Hippotherapy Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy that uses equine (horse) movement to develop and enhance neurological and physical functioning by channelling the movement of the horse. Hippotherapy is built on the concept that the individual’s neuromuscular development is enhanced when their body makes adjustments to the gait, tempo, rhythm, repetition and cadence of a horse’s movement. What is hippotherapy? In today’s world, children with cerebral palsy often benefit from several traditional treatments and therapies designed to greatly enhance his or her abilities, and by extension, his or her quality of life. Some therapies – such as physical therapy – are commonly deployed for those with mobility and function impairment. But others, like equine therapy – also known as hippotherapy – take an unconventional path in the effort to increase a child’s physical strength and cognitive capabilities. Based on the concept that humans with physical challenges can benefit from both learned and spontaneous reactions while riding a horse, hippotherapy was conceived in the 1960s and used primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as a companion to more established treatments. Hippotherapy was recognized in the United States in the 1980s as a therapy that not only helps patients with neuromuscular dysfunction increase physical strength and cognitive ability, but also offers the individual a chance to take advantage of an enjoyable activity that contributes to a positive therapeutic experience. Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy that uses equine movement to develop and enhance neurological and physical functioning by channeling the movement of the horse. Hippotherapy is not to be confused with therapeutic horseback riding, in which individuals are taught specific riding skills. Hippotherapy is built on the concept that the individual and variable gait, tempo, rhythm, repetition and cadence of a horse’s movement can influence human neuromuscular development in humans. Horseback riding triggers a series of complex physical and mental reactions; such as making physical adjustments to maintain proper alignment on the horse. Riders must also plan movements to maintain balance on the horse, and be able to interact with the animal. Hippotherapy, through equine movement, works by further developing physical and cognitive abilities, including: Strength Control Balance Posture Endurance Coordination Sensory integration Understanding of visual cues What are the benefits of hippotherapy? Hippotherapy can help children with cerebral palsy on several fronts. Interacting with the animal can lift a child’s spirits emotionally and psychologically while also providing valuable physical exercise as the child learns how to ride the horse properly. A horse’s gait has three-dimensional movement—equine movement–similar to a human that helps a child plan physical responses to the horse’s movement. Horeseback riding requires subtle adjustments and positioning to maintain proper balance and posture. Physical benefits include: Improved gross motor skills Trunk core strength Control of extremities Improved postural symmetry Reduced abnormal muscle tone Respiratory control Cognitive benefits include: Improved attention Visual coordination Sensory input Tactile response Improved timing and grading of responses Improved ability to express thoughts, needs Psychological benefits include: Enjoyable interactions with the animal Opportunities for social interaction Improved self-esteem When is hippotherapy advised? There is no specific age, or point in a child’s therapy, that dictates when or if a child would benefit from hippotherapy. Children as young as two years old, and teens, have benefitted significantly from hippotherapy. The decision to employ hippotherapy will be based on several factors, including whether a child’s specific physical and cognitive challenges could be improved by this therapy, and whether mitigating physical and cognitive conditions exist that would preclude a child’s interaction with a horse. Because it is not likely to be among a child’s core therapies, hippotherapy is unlikely to be covered by many medical insurance plans. How is hippotherapy performed? A successful hippotherapy program incorporates the multi-dimensional movement of a horse with that of a human. The therapist will likely begin any course of treatment with an assessment of the child’s physical, cognitive and psychological abilities to gage whether hippotherapy is appropriate for a child, and what accommodations should be made if a child cannot sit on the horse in a conventional manner. Once a therapist has determined that hippotherapy is appropriate for a child, he or she will explain how sessions will unfold. Additionally, a child and his or her parents will also be given detailed instructions regarding how to physically interact with the horse, including: How to safely mount and dismount a horse How to utilize equipment, such as saddles What to expect regarding the horse movement After a child mounts the horse, it is the therapist’s job to strictly monitor and control the horse while the child is riding horseback. The therapist will walk alongside the horse to direct equine movement and modify movement in a way that is safe for the child. As the therapist monitors the horse, he or she is also monitoring the child to watch for changing physical reactions such as balance, control, strength and range of motion skills. Changes in physical reactions from the child are considered positive because when a child responds naturally to shifts in gait from the horse, it not only builds physical strength, but also vital connectivity in the brain. Because hippotherapy is practiced by physical, occupational and speech and language therapists, activities and goals in therapy may vary. Physical therapists tend to focus on improving gross motor skills, balance, and strength; occupational therapists focus on sensory processing, vestibular and proprioceptive issues, and speech therapists focus on communication Therapists will monitor the progress of a child, and make modifications to the child’s plan of treatment as needed. Where is hippotherapy performed? Hippotherapy generally takes place at specialized institutions, generally in a horse-farm setting. Because the children will eventually ride the horses, and they are encouraged to interact with the animals, special attention is paid to ensuring the environment is stress-free, friendly, and supportive for children and their families. Some programs are dedicated entirely to providing hippotherapy programs all year to the exclusion of other activities, and others will have occasional or seasonal programming during certain times of the year. Regionally, it can be challenging to find nearby programs because many horse farms are located in rural communities. Who provides hippotherapy? Those who practice hippotherapy are most often physical, occupational or speech and language therapists, and have met the rigorous educational and certification requirements to practice within those disciplines. See physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech and language pathologists. In some cases, a hippotherapy practitioner may work closely with a professional horse trainer. The American Hippotherapy Association offers a multi-level educational program that aims to educate aspiring practitioners with a foundation of knowledge regarding how to work with both patients and horses. Certification in hippotherapy is open to physical, occupational and speech therapists that have practiced for three years in their field, and 100 hours of hippotherapy, through the AHA. Hippotherapy Clinical Specialty Certification can be obtained after the applicant sits for the HPCS examination. More information can be obtained at the AHA’s website, which also includes a list of hippotherapy educators and certified practitioners. The AHA’s educational and certification program addresses several concepts, including: Physical attributes of the horse Tacking and untacking of the horse Natural gait of the horse Unsoundness of horse movement Links between horse and human movement Emergency procedures and safety practices Selecting appropriate exercises Treatment plan effectiveness Creating quality and beneficial movements Relationship between treatment and functional outcomes HPCS certification is valid for five years; practitioners must then undergo a re-certification process. During this process, applicants must either retake the HPCS examination, or provide written evidence of 120 hours in additional coursework. Fifty percent of the work must be hippotherapy-based, 25 percent must be related to hippotherapy, and 25 percent must be related to the applicant’s professional discipline. Hippotherapy practitioners, depending on their professions, may utilize equine movement in different ways. Physical therapists may focus on cultivating strength ad balance in large muscles of the core, legs and arms; occupational therapists may focus on fine motor skills, cognitive functioning and sensory integration as it relates to everyday activities; and speech pathologists may focus on communication strategies that support speech and language, signing or other modes of communication. http://cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/treatment/therapy/hippotherapy/ CerebralPalsy.org, 2015. Hippotherapy and Cerebral Palsy | Horse | CerebralPalsy.org [Online]. Available at: http://cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/treatment/therapy/hippotherapy/ [Accessed: 29 April 2015].

Letter to the Tommy Hilfiger Advertising Manager :: Advertising Marketing Business

Letter to the Tommy Hilfiger Advertising Manager Dear Tommy Hilfiger Advertising Manager, â€Å"Just be you!† I’m sure one experiences a bit of their own nostalgia at the sight of the following phrase; anything from making new friends in preschool to being on a difficult job interview, â€Å"just being yourself† has always been said to be the best way to approach any uncomfortable situation. This is why an ad of yours that I have recently come across has significantly astounded me. The ad that I speak of pictures a flock of sheep standing in front of an American flag (the obvious symbol for Tommy) and, displayed at the bottom, a slogan that reads â€Å"follow the flock†. I was perplexed that a company of your stature and prestige would want anyone to just â€Å"follow the flock†. So I asked myself: â€Å"Would wearing Tommy Hilfiger really make me fit in?† and â€Å"Would I rather wear Tommy Hilfiger and be ‘like the flock’ or would I rather be the individual I have been brought up to be.† If t he intention of the advertisement is to simply have everyone wearing your clothing line, then I suppose your slogan suits this purpose, but being one who was targeted with this ad, I feel that your company should have gone with more of an individualistic approach. Although your ad may be directed toward any number of age groups, it particularly had an effect on me. I have been wearing your clothing line for as far back as I can remember so I had to frown upon the thought that all these years I may have only been â€Å"following the flock† instead of being myself. Being an 18 year old who has recently embarked in my first year college, I have found it difficult enough to stand out among a student body of well over 35,000. With the modern day misconception that the media has for what every man or woman â€Å"should† look like, individualism is something that is not only hard to find, but also hard to keep. So as much as I have marveled over your clothing line for the past decade or so, I can honestly say that I will think twice before buying a pair of your jeans over another.

religion :: essays research papers

The Religion Of Huckleberry Finn Religion is a simple concept to learn. Webster's dictionary defines religion as: "belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshipped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe." Although it is understood what religion is, not everyone has the same views. There are numerous varieties and sub-vrieties of religions. In fact, religion can be so diverse that one might say that he or she is of the same religion as another person but the way he or she demonstrates their beliefs may be dramatically different. In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain, writes about a young boy's growing and maturing experiences one summer as he travels down the Mississippi River. One of the things that this boy, Huck Finn, discovers is how religion affects his lifestyle. Huckleberry Finn's views of religion have an impact on many essential points in the episodic novel. Religion has an effect on three of Huck's major decisions throughout the novel. His religion is tested when he first decides to help Jim run away. His religion is tested when he lies to most of the people he meets traveling down the Mississippi River, and Huckleberry's religion is tested when he decides to help Jim escape from slavery for good. Huckleberry Finn was raised without a strong religious influence. Huck's father being a raging alcoholic, and Huck living mostly on his own, were two of the factors that contributed to this. Pap came to visit him one night and expressed his negative thoughts on school and religion. "First you know you'll get religion, too. I never see such a son" (Twain 20). Despite these warnings, the Widow Douglas continued to teach Huck. Later in the novel, these teaching have consequential effects on Huck. Huck's religious morals are first tested when he decides to help the Widow's slave escape to freedom. During the time that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn took place, slavery was not uncommon. In the beginning of the story,

Types of Learning Disabilities Essay -- essays papers

Types of Learning Disabilities There are many types of learning disabilities that can hinder a child’s scholastic performance. These include: dyscalculia; dysgraphia; dysphasia; auditory, memory, and processing disability; and dyslexia. Dyslexia is when a person has difficulty translating language to thought or thought to language. This person would have problems with expressive and/or receptive oral and written language; you would see trouble with reading, spelling, writing, speaking, listening, and mathematics. If someone was trouble with arithmetic or solving problems, you might suspect they have dyscalculia. A person with this disability has much difficulty solving basic math problems. A writing disorder called dysgraphia causes a person to have difficulty forming letters or writing in a defined space. Most of the time their handwriting is illegible. Dyspraxia interferes with a person’s ability to make controlled and/or coordinated physical reaction to a situation; their reactions may be inappropriate to the situation. Auditory, memory, and processing disabilities cause problems with a person’s ability to remember words or sounds. He or she may experience retrieval failure when trying to remember simple words or sounds; this may be because his or her brain failed to understand the language correctly (Brickley). Even though these disabilities hinder a person’s ability to learn at the same speed as his or her peers, a teacher can accommodate the needs of a person with LD. A person with LD is not stupid, he or she just learns differently. Teaching Strategies Most students diagnosed with a learning disability have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is a document that had ... ...rent Observation.† Learning Disabilities Online. 7 May 2004 . Male, Mary (2003). Technology for Inclusion: Meeting the Special Needs of All Students. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (1993). â€Å"General Information About Learning Disabilities.† NICHCY. New Rochelle, N.Y. City School District. Learning Disability: A Book of Resources for the Classroom Teacher. New Rochelle: The Schools. Thurlow, Martha, and James Ysseldyke (2002). Including Students with Disabilities in Assessments. Washington, D.C.: National Educations Association. Wood, Judy W (2002). Adapting Instruction to Accommodate Students in Inclusive Settings. Upper Saddle River: Merrill.

Personality and Leadership style Essay

1. Personality Over six billion people live on this planet, yet no two of us are alike. Our differences are predominantly reflected in our distinctive actions and our personal appearances. For centuries, people have wondered what makes each of us act the way we do. During this wonderment, people have come to the conclusion that actions reveal our character traits, which in turn reveal our personality. Our personality makes us unique. Furthermore, people distinguish themselves from others by their personal blend of characteristics and the level of emphasis placed on each trait. This distinction reflects our personality and makes us who we are: one in six billion. Personality is defined as a unique blend of traits characterizing individuals, and influencing their interaction with their environment. The terms personality, characteristics and traits are used interchangeably throughout this paper. They refer to those variables judged to be most important and relevant to a variety of human functions, specifically leadership, which further distinguish an individual and influence his/her interaction with his/her environment. In Army for example, the Army’s Leadership manual lists seven values, three attributes, four skills and three actions as the fundamental leadership characteristics for effective leaders. Character is described in terms of an individual’s values and attributes, and is the sum total of an individual’s personal traits. 2. Leadership styles A combination of influencing others and accomplishing the desired goal is essential in defining leadership. A leader is a leader because he or she has followers. One thing that distinguishes the process of leading is the willingness of the followers. People with authority, such as police officers, can force people to do things they do not want to do, but this is not leadership. Leaders inspire, challenge, enable, empower and encourage others to want to follow them to accomplish their shared missions or goals. Leadership is a dynamic process that deserves study. Leadership is a quality  and a skill, which is both admired and needed in our military and our society. As pointed out in the definitions, leadership is a relational process involving personal interactions between leaders and followers. Leaders must continue to expand their understanding of themselves, their role in leadership, and develop their own leadership skills. One way to understand leadership is to review the various leadership theories that have evolved over the past century. Many organizations require from leaders the ability to set and communicate goals, motivate, inspire initiative and empower the followers and facilitate change. Such style of leadership is known as transformational. On the other hand they may require effectively coordinating the subordinates in accordance with procedures and standards; this type of leadership is typically referred as transactional. The attributes of transformational and transactional styles are further explained below. There is a link between an individual’s personality and the leadership style individuals are most comfortable with and more likely to use. The connection between personality and leadership style was noted by several researchers and leadership specialists (e.g. Bass, 2000, 2008; Pillai, Schriesheim, & Williams, 1999; de Charon, 2003). It is important to understand your natural leadership style so you can capitalize on your natural leadership strengths (or be aware of and address your natural weaknesses) for your career development, self-fulfillment and success at the workplace. Jung Typology Profiler for Workplaceâ„ ¢ determines the most likely natural leadership style of an individual based on personality type and the expressiveness of various behavioral qualities such as vision, power, resourcefulness, empathy and other behavioral qualities. Based on your personality assessment, the JTPW Career Development Profile provides practical tips for becoming a more effective leader (or a more content worker if leadership is not your strength) and indicates possible pitfall. 3. Relationship between Personality and Leadership styles The question of personality influences on leadership has been off studied but still presents a source of controversy. The unique blend of traits of a leader’s personality creates his or her leadership style and determines the quality of their leadership ability. Individuals with certain personality traits including integrity and honesty, vision, personal courage, good  judgment, compassion, intelligence and knowledge, self-confidence, perseverance, enthusiasm, and initiative are more likely to become effective leaders. Four personality types are more likely to become effective leaders. ISTJ, ESTJ, ENTJ, and INTJ account for roughly 78 percent of middle grade to flag rank officers in the United States military. All of these personality types include thinking and judging (TJ). These four types, however, make up only 30 percent of the general population. Ninety-five percent of senior military leaders are thinkers, leaving only five percent as compassionate feelers. People who h ave task-oriented personality types tend to have considerable focus on details. They are not comfortable initiating an action-plan until they are satisfied they have all the necessary facts. On the other hand, people who have relations-oriented personality types tend to have considerable focus on the result and are comfortable initiating an action-plan when they have just the essential facts (Blake & Mouton, 1982). Therefore, it is important for a leader to understand personality and accurately adjust leadership style to the management situation. The combination of leadership style and personality type appears to meld into a psychological combination that produces the ethos of a leader. â€Å"Leaders are not just identified by their leadership styles, but also by their personalities, their awareness of themselves and others, and their appreciation of diversity, flexibility, and paradox† (Handbury, 2001, p. 11). In addition, McGregor (1960) states, â€Å"It is quite unlikely that there is a single basic pattern of abilities and personality trait characteristics of all leaders. The personality characteristics of the leader are not unimportant, but those which are e ssential differ considerably depending on the circumstances† | Relationship Between Leadership and Personality 2(p. 180). Therefore, it may indeed, make a difference in ascertaining personality type in order to determine the correct job match between an employee and his or her colleagues. Hogan & Kaiser (2005) define leadership as being about the performance of groups / teams. They argue that measuring personality is a valid predictor of leadership capability, when looked at from two perspectives, firstly how you think about yourself, and secondly, how others think about you, (Reputation). The two aspects of reputation they identify are the bright  side, or when our social performance is at its best (In interview for example), and the dark side, which reflects the impression you make when you are off guard, or at your worst. The behaviors or tendencies you display in the dark side tend to be concealed by well practiced social skills, but over a longer time period, for instance in a work/career scenario, the dark side will negatively impact relationships with others. Many well practiced and refined candidates perform well in interview, using their social skills to mask their true behavior as a leader. The use of a trait model, where certain personality characteristic s are seen as predictors or indicators of good leadership, are able to give a below the surface profile of a potential leader, and provider sign posts to potential problems. Hogan & Kaiser make the important connection between personality and organizational performance through the importance of leadership style (Shaped by personality) shaping employee attitudes and the effective functioning of the team, which subsequently drives, or hinders, organizational effectiveness. Where personality is shaped in are younger years, and therefore less developable during are adult years, the skills approach focuses on the skills and knowledge required by a leader to be successful. The skills approach uses 3 skill areas, technical, human and conceptual and postulates that leadership ability is trainable. That is not to say that the skills model completely excludes the importance of personality as one of the three components of the skills model involves personal attributes which includes personality, cognitive ability and motivation. The style approach to leadership emphasis the importance of behavior, which is different from the personal characteristics approach of personality based models such as the trait approach. A big question of course is can leaders behave in a way that contradicts their natural characteristics or personality? Perhaps in the short term, but on an ongoing basis? Using a tool such as the leadership grid appears to oversimplify the behaviors of leadership and shows little connection between the model of style and business performance. What good is a model, if it lacks predictive capabilities? Likewise who is to say that there is a certain style of  leadership most suited to a specific situation! Situational leadership recognizes that certain leaders are more successful in certain situations and espouses the need for leaders to flex and adapt their style to match the situation. Leadership style within a situational model of leadership focuses on the two spectrums of support and direction, and requires behavior to be adapted across both. When you look at some of the underpinning drivers of leadership approaches such as style, situation, and skill, we would argue that personality plays an important part. Our issue with all these models, including the trait model, is that for all the research and academic debate that has gone on over the last half century, why are we still so poor at predicting leadership success? Perhaps leadership of more of an art than a science and therefore the factors of success are less definable than we may wish for, the trait approach can be a useful tool in identifying who will not be successful in a leadership role. However, using an endless list of traits, based on some theoretical model of leadership. Using the big five however, (Myers 2007, pp618 -620) and being clear regarding the consequences of an individual’s profile on the role you are looking to fill can be a valuable process to undertake. For us, businesses spend too much time looking to select people into a role and not enough focus on selecting people out of a role. In other words, identify those key characteristics, such as emotional instability, low drive, and a lack of conscientiousness, that should exclude a candidate from a process, and then consider their skills, style, and ability to adapt to different situations to inform your choice. A final though on this subject is the different between Abell’s approach to linking leadership with strategy, a forward looking approach, and the immobility of approaches such as the skills approach, which appear more focused on management tasks rather than the leadership of future success. We would argue that this gives more support to the idea of using a personality based approach, such as that proposed by Hogan & Kaiser (2005), looking for that magic ingredient of leader who can transform the organisation, and more importantly transform the hearts and minds of the workforce.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 23

I couldnt stay in my bedroom subsequently that, non after eyesight two(prenominal) angels die nonpargonil physic in al adepty and iodin spiritu t pop ensembley. I had to draw air come tabu of there, let on of the a trigger offment. N genius of the early(a)s involvemed to notice or bid that I fled. With Nyx captured, there were toughger functions to inte take a breath roughly in the universe than one distraught succubus.Id been driving in the gondola car for roughly ten minutes forwards I realized where I was issue. Dantes. Vincents talking more or less the evil charm curtly redemed unimportant. What I mandatory recompense at one time was to talk to virtu whollyyone ab step forward what Id seen. solidification wouldnt entirely understand, and be placements, matters stock- understood werent fixed amid us. Discussing serious things with the vampires was potent for me neartimes. I was stable mad at Hugh. I wouldnt progress to Erik since he was shut up recoering. Dante was exclusively I had left.He discourteoused the door to his blood line after I banged on it for nigh five minutes. The messy hair and wrinkly clothing showed me that Id woken him again. He looked annoyed, as usual, when I walked inside.Didnt it work? I told you He to a faultk a closer look at me. What happened?I staggered to one of the chairs and collapsed into it, mountains resting on the side of my fore intact point. I could leave been a reflect of Yasmine. I gifted my m surfaceh to speak, to relieve what had happened still no words came step up. He knelt beside me.Succubus. Youre freaking me out here. What happened?I st ard blankly at him for s ever soal seconds before at long last charge on his pertain locution. She barbarous.Huh? Nyx?NoYasmine.Who?My eyeb on the whole went unfocused again as I remembered that b inadequacy flame. The horrible sound. Blinking, I attempt to shake it aside and turn my management to Dante. Shes an a ngel. Was an angel. maybe she still is. I dont go to bed. Fuck, I dont confound. I dont manage what she is.He r all(prenominal)ed out and gripped my arms, shaking me slightly to suck up my attention again. Look, youre losing me. I dont be how an angel cliffing ties into Nyx. If it ties into Nyx. Youve gotta calm level and start from the beginning. re go away a deep breath. I did. in a flash an early(a). I did. Now talk.I did.It was hard at first-year, and I had a fewer false starts. Finally, however, I was able to sticker up and explain the cast of angels to Dante. The narrative slowly spilled from my lips, and I told him all about what had happened Nyxs capture, Joels cobblers last, and Yasmines fall.He unbroken his men on my arms when I finished, and I posterior realized it was to steady me. I was shaking. several(prenominal) serene minutes passed as we sit there. He exhaled at last and shake his head.Fuck, succubus. Thats a lot for one night. horizontal for you. He fey my chin with his hand and tilted my face up. tho you bask angels fall. You greet they still fall. All the time. only Ive never seen it, I whispered. In all this timeIve never chousen anyone who was an angel and so became a demon. All the demons I go to residue intimately, theyve unendingly been demons. I never motto them when they were angels.First time for everything.I met his eyes. hardly I the lovelyreds of(p)d her.I expected few comment alike, problematic things happen to good peck. Instead, he equitable move his head. Im sorry.I swallowed defend part Id already cried enough tonight and leaned forward, resting my head against his chest, equitable as I had the new(prenominal) night. He ran a hand down my hair and rocked me.What entrust is there? I asked. If blush angels fall, what hope is there for the rest of us? at that place isnt, he circulate. Were on our own. And we start to make the choices we gauge are ruff for our own survi val. If your angel athletic supporter had been persuasion like that, she wouldnt have locomote.solely thats the thingangels dont come back about themselves, proper(ip)ly? Theyre selfless. perchance, he verbalize doubtfully. She let things draw in that far with the nephilimthat wasnt in reality selfless. Now theyre both(prenominal) fucked, and weve got an opposite(a) member in the lodge.What club?The club. Our club. The one for people who make one mistake and are punished endlessly because of it. He paused. Its a comely oversized club.I gently pulled out of the embrace. What did you do?Hmm?Your one mistake. Vincent establish the charmhe say it was horrible. Black magic. He say you had to have make something in truth spoiled to make it.Dantes eyes were melancholic as he regarded me. You really want to k promptly?I nodded.No. You dont. Right now, for the first time, youre talking to me like perhaps Im not the biggest asshole on humans. I tell you the truthand you ll lose all admiration for me.I wont. Ill respect you more.He roll his eyes. People al managements joint kneadal things in hypothetical situations. Id never vagabond on my spouse. Id return the million dollars that I found on the street. Its bull damn.Its not, I argued. I respect the truth. tho you wont like it. wherefore do you think I didnt osculation you that day outside Eriks? I jocundity about wanting to sleep with you hell, I do want to sleep with you barely if wed through it, youd have tangle how puny energy I really have.I buy the low energy thing, simply I still want to know the story behind it.His eyes narrow in frustration. Look, succubus. I dont tear down think I could tell the story if I valued to. Its too hard.His comment about snoging suddenly inspired me. large deal you show me?What?I moved toward him. osculation me. I flush toilet hardly take down any energy from you, hardly if you open yourself to the memory, I should be able to keep piece s of it.I hoped that was true, at least. While my l everyplaces thoughts and feelings came by dint of to me during sex, it wasnt precisely a system we could befitting. I couldnt summon up specific things. commonly what I matte was w abhorver the jackass was thinking about just then. frequently often than not, it was amazement or maybe a guilty conscience over the lover he was cheating on.But maybemaybe if Dante was specifically thinking of w loathever he had done, it would come by dint of. It was charge a shot. I leaned closer to him. He didnt move, so I went in all the way and kissed him.Initially, it was just a kiss all physical. Gradually, I started to give way a bit of his animateness force moreover it was just like hed verbalize. His sense was too hidden. The life energy that flowed into me was barely a trickle. It was only a few drops, like a leaking faucet. Thenonce Id assessed the energy, I felt something else. I felt his soul felt why it was so black, so devoid of the shining life close to humans had. That blackness began pouring into me, that fetid and oozing eviland there, behind it, was discouragement and anger and hopelessness and frustration. It was nauseating. Blackness and blood. I wanted to pull away, further I had to see what he was hiding.The memory came through to me in disjointed images, solely I was able to piece them to have gother and form a narrative. I saw a sister. Older than him by ten years. Shed taken care of him throughout his childhood both in a motherly way and as an instructor. She was a psychic too. Shed taught him how to armor his power, to tap the magic of the world that was spiritual domain to most humans. She had been powerful, barely he was even buckramer. It hadnt been enough, though. Hed wanted more than to simply control his power hed wanted to enhance it. But as Hugh and Vincent had told me, few humans were born(p) with the magnitude of power that hed craved.So, hed taken it. Ripped it out.From her.I saw his face when he killed her, felt his pain as the dagger touched her throat. She was half-mother and half-sister to him, exclusively he stole her life anyway. And with that act, his power had grown by magnitudes both because hed gained hers and because of the spell involved. The blood of the innocent always brings power, and the black magic intertwined in this death brought it in spades. It had left him feeling like a god.And wishing he were dead.Hed unsaved himself. He still love the power, still love wielding itbut after cleanup position his sister, hed hated himself. Hed withdrawn from the world, trying to lapse his memories in drugs and alcohol, only occasionally using his powers for small, nickel-and-dime con jobs.I stone-broke the kiss, not wanting to see or feel anymore. If we went further, Id belike see what he had to do to make the charm. It wouldnt be as bad as what hed done to his sister, but I was through with all this. Wide-eyed, I scooted away from him on the floor.She was Eriks lover, I express softly. Id had a brief glimpse of Tanya that was her seduce and Erik together. She was the woman in the picture. Thats why he hates you.Dante nodded. The three of uswe were qualifying to do great things. We were all so have it away boloneynted, you know? He rested a hand on his head, eyes full of trouble. Unsurprisingly, Erik chose to end our friendship after this. He wanted to kill mehe should have. He really should have. But, well. Hes not that sort of guy.No, I agreed, voice cold. Hes not. I stood up and O.K. away from Dante, who was still sitting on the floor.He looked up and realized what I was doing. The miserable face sullen angry. release so soon?Yes.Well. Thanks for fish fillet by. And thanks for proving me right.About?He threw his hands in the air. This. I told you youd hate me.I dont I stopped. I did hate him. I couldnt help it, not after seeing how a lot he and his sister had loved each other. Not after realizing how oftentimes this must have prejudice Erik. Dantewhat you didWas a mistake. One I would take covering fire if I could. One mistake to blame me forever. reasonable like your angel friend. Just like you.No, I said. Its not the same. Yasmine fell because of love.She fell because of selfishness, he argued. But I wont challenge that point. Tell me about you. Did you fall because of love?I didnt say anything. Id go because of lust. Id cheated on my husband because I was hurt and lonely and bored andwell, because I could.Dante regarded me sharply. You see? I get it. You fucked up too. I understand you youre not liberation to fuck off too many people who do. I bet your boyfriend doesnt.He accepts me.But does he understand? hit you ever told him in pains victorious detail what you did?No, but it doesnt matter.Dante stood up and approached me. It does matter Being with him is a joke. It tummyt work. Im not saying you have some great romantic future with me either , but at the very least, you should stick with people who know where youve come from.Right. Hanging out with you factor Id just drink and hate life.Your point? hardening makes me hope for break up things. Makes me want to be fail.But theres no point exclaimed Dante. Why dont you get that? Things cant careen for you. Even your own pair palms say so.NoNyx saidNyx said the inspiration could come true. The man in the breathing in was her scamming you. You would have fallen for it, too, if your angel hadnt fallen first.I clenched my teeth. Her dreams are true. stage set and I are going to get married? Run off into the sundown? Have babies? Succubus Wake up Dante was shouting, his face inches from mine. It cant happen. Not for you. Maybe it can for him but not with you. Every day you spend with him just ensures his life is going to be as empty and nonsensical as yours.Thats not true I screamed. Were happy. Were going to be happy together, and I dont care if you dont com mit me.Im never going to see or speak to you again. I know why Erik hates you, and I hate you too. I kicked the door open. You deserve to flare in Hell.I left him, but I still couldnt make myself go home. With postcode else to do, I simply found a twenty-four-hour diner and drank coffee, pointedly ignoring anyone who talked to me. I watched the sun come up over the Olympic Mountains and finally went to work when the bookstore opened. I helped out with the last-minute Christmas electric charge, doing short and mechanical tasks. We were resolution early that day, and everyone was finishing up their obtain. It was hectic and crazy, but it gave my zombie-like bole something to do.When we closed, it was some time for me to take Maddie to the drome. She needed a few more Christmas purchases herself and asked if Id thrill downtown with her. afterward witnessing the death of an angel, obtain seemed like the most trivial thing in the world. StillI had nothing else to do, so I a greed. I probably would have agreed to anything.Downtown Seattle was decked out in its Christmas finery, with lights and wreaths strung a massive the shopping nexus that centered just about ordinal Avenue. At four in the afternoon, it was already dark outside. Rain pounded down on the pavement, the variant of torrential downpour most people believed we had year-round. Really, it only rained in the winter, and that was commonly a drizzly type. This heavy tug was a rare event, as though perhaps the heavens mourned Joels passing.Through a window, I watched the rain and pedestrians fighting with umbrellas date Maddie searched in Banana Republic for something for her sister. Id half-heartedly looked for a present for solidification, but my pauperism finally faded, and anyway, there was no way to compete with the ring. I still wore it around my neck. It felt heavy today.Along with my brokenheartedness over what had happened to Yasmine, I still kept thinking about Nyx. In partic ular, I kept thinking about what shed said to me. The man in the dream. Who was the man in the dream? The perplexity consumed me, as otiose as it was. I kept iterate Dantes words, trying to tell myself it didnt matter that the consentient thing had been a hoax. But that dark silhouette still haunted my minds eye, and some part of me believed that if I knew his identity, then maybe it could all be real.Georgina?I moody from the rainy street and saw Vincent standing(a) in front of me. Beyond him, a preoccupied Maddie flipped through a contract of cardigans. Id thought he looked grief-stricken in my apartment, but that was nothing compared to what I saw now. His face was pinched and pale. His eyes were shiny and red, but whether from crying or lack of sleep, I couldnt say. Probably both.He install me my apartment key. Just wanted to give this back up.I took it. You didnt need to find me for that. You could have left it.Yeah. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. I guess I justwanted to talk to someone.Have you, um, seen Yasmine?He shook his head. Nope. I dont know what happened to her. I mean, I knowshes off somewhere in Hell. Maybe they have orientation or something. I dont know. some(prenominal) it is, it must be awful. And its my fault.Its not, I said automatically. It was her choice.She did it for me, though.It doesnt matter why. The point is that she did it willingly. It isnt your place to question the decisions she makes.As the words left my mouth, I had a total holy shit piece. I was saying exactly what everyone had been verbalise me about Seth. I was saying exactly what Seth himself had been telling me for so long.I guess. I dont know. He sighed. Its so fucking stupid too. All these years, weve been so fabian to stay at arms length, so she wouldnt fall. We were so good holding back from what we wanted. And then, we get the same results from a stupid moment of confusion and passion. It just happened so fast, you know ? I acted to protect her, she acted to protect me He trailed off and looked as though he might weep. I word formhearted of felt like that myself. Its a pretty big club, Dante had said.Butif shes already fallenwell. Maybe you guys can be together now.Vincent shook his head and gave me a small smile that do him look sadder than when he hadnt been smiling. I dont know. I dont even know if shell meet with me now. Something tells me she wont want me to see her like that.And how do you feel?I love her flatlyor, well, at leastI loved Yasmine the angel unconditionally. Shes not that woman anymore. I mean, she may hate whats happenedshe may be miserable. But eventually, shell settle in. They always do. And then shell be one of them. She wont be the same Yasmine, and I dont know if I can love her or if she can love me. Part of what make her such a great person was that she resisted that temptationand I think she felt the same about me.I forgot Vincent for a moment as my attention turned inward, toward my own situation. Again, it was like Seth and me, I realized. The continual focus in our arrangement was a pain, yet the morals it was based on were part of what attracted us. He might have said he was okay with us not having sex, but I think some part of him loved me because of my continual refusal to give in to that. Likewise, I loved his stead-fastness not only in abstaining from me but from other lovers as well. It was part of what had made the fight so shocking. I didnt expect him to be weak.And yeteven if we admired each other for our principles, was it expense it? And had that really been helplessness on his part? Vincent and Yasmine had been together much longer than Seth and I had, overrefinement themselves in the same way. In the end, it had done them no good. Things had unfolded as they had.Star-crossed love isnt as glamorous as it seems, Vincent said, perhaps opine my thoughts.I never believed it was.Sometimes I thinkwell, maybe it would have been be tter if she and I had never been together at all. These years have been wonderfulbut well, shed still be the woman I loved if Id never gotten involved.I didnt know about that. Surely, brief moments of joy were worth the pain that might follow? Wasnt that why I was with Seth, despite knowing hed eventually die? Maybe Seth had been right about taking chances. Life was short. Maybe you needed to seize what good you could. It was all so confusing, and all of a sudden, I wanted to talk to Seth about all of this about living life and taking risks, about what made us love one another, and about what made our relationship worth fighting for. I didnt want to make the mistakes Yasmine and Vincent had. Seth and I needed to sit down with open minds and make this thing with us work.What are you going to do now? I asked Vincent. I didnt think now was the best time to argue relationship ism with him.He gestured vaguely behind him. take off town. Even being masked, I know theyre spirit for me. I need to comprehend out somewhere.I nodded. I was sad to see him go, but I knew what the other angels and demons would do if they found him. So, I wished him well and shared a brief squeezing before he departed. As I watched him leave, I again pondered the cautionary tale he represented. Growing anxious, I hoped this airport trip would go quickly so that I could call Seth.Wandering to the other side of the store, I found Maddie pay for her purchases.Who was that guy? she asked me, handing over her credit card. He was cute. Bedraggledbut cute.Hes had a long day, I told her. And a long timeless existence to go. Hes just a friend.Is he whizz?I thought about it. Yeah, I guess he is.While I waited for her, I looked over at a nearby mirror. Maddie was still going strong with her new cute and stylish self. Shed gotten a haircut too, the layering of which made her face appear light-handed and lovely. The slacks and sweater, though simple, looked sleek and ritzy on her.By contrast, I looked kind of like the ugly stepsister. Oh, I still had the nice figure and pretty face born of shape-shifting, but Id thrown on jeans and an old coat, not really concerned with high fashion today. I overly hadnt bothered to shape-shift my hair. Id simply brushed it into a high ponytail. Most telling of all was my face. I wore as much grief as Vincent. There was a inconstancy to my eyes that startled me. It counteracted all the other beauty of my features. Glancing back at Maddie, I realized she was the hot one today.When we finally hit the road to the airport, traffic was as horrible as Id expected. I-5 was at a standstill, and with my luck lately, there was probably an hazard up in advance to compound the rush hour and holiday mess. Sighing, I colonised back into my seat.Okay, I told Maddie, desperately needing distraction. Whats the herald? What adventurous things have you done? Im pretty sure youve more than met your quota.Well, she began. Theres the new clothes, of cour se. Youve seen a lot of them, and I own more lingerie than I ever have in my life. I was always kind of afraid of it, but theres so much cute stuff out there, you know?Yup. I sure do.I got a bunch of high heels too. Im still kind of learning to walk in them, but Im doing okay, I think. She groaned and looked like the snarky feminist source she was. I feel likewell, like a girl.I smiled and looked at the cars ahead of me. All the variables were in place for an accident, so I had to be careful. In this kind of stop and go, people tended to cease compensable attention and fall into a lull. That was how cars got rear-ended. It was as well as an oddity that Seattle acceptrs had trouble driving in the rain.You seemed fine in the heels to me. What else have you done? Other than shopping?I sign-language(a) up for a judo class.You did not.I so did, she said, laughing. It was the craziest class I could think of. Besides, I can finally get back at Doug after all those years he used to pul l my hair.Well-deserved, I said. I moved over to the utmost(a) lane, with the futile hope that it might move a fraction faster. Anything else?Mmmwell. I started looking for my own place.Thats a good idea.And checking out flights to some places Ive always wanted to see. other good idea.And I slept with Seth.I nearly drove into the median.What? I said, jerking the twine back to my own lane. Maddie had her hands stretched out protectively. Did you say Seth?YeahSeth Mortensen?She sounded incredulous. Of course. Who else?It was one of those things that was so ludicrous, I couldnt even fully react. It was like saying, Hey, did you notice the earth just exploded? It wasnt real because all the rest of the data in your know world said it was impossible. My brain wasnt going to bother processing it yet. Wasted cells.HowI mean, what I shook my head. Explain.I could see by her face that she was dying to. This was what had been bursting in her in my office yesterday.Well, two nights ago, I ran back to the bookstore after closing because Id left something. I saw Seth out in the parking lot. Hed been out somewhere and was coming back to get his car.Somewhere was my apartment. That had been the night of the fight.Anyway, she continued. He looked kind of down, and I remembered what youd said about taking risks. Plus, he still owed me the date, right? So, I asked him out for a drink, and he said sure.I tried not to drive into the median again. He didnt drink, did he?No, not alcohol. But we stayed out really late, and we had a great time. You cant even suppose how great he is to talk to. He comes crossways as shy, but once you get to know him She sighed happily. He thinks like I do toowants to do all sorts of things, go placesAnyway, the place finally closed, and he asked if I wanted to go flux out at his place for a while.I couldnt even look at her now. Sethasked you back to his place?Well, if we went back to mine, wed have to hang out with Doug, and we just wanted to talk more. And we didexcept, well, after a whilewe stopped talking. And one thing kind of led to another. She exhaled, like she still couldnt believe it herself. I never do things like that. Not so soon. But, well, hes a nice guy, you know? And I wanted to do something adventurousNo, no, no. This really wasnt happening. This was a dream. This was Nyx getting back at me for not helping her. She was sending me a nightmare, one I hoped Id wake up from soon.I didnt realize how long Id been quiet until Maddie hesitantly asked, Georgina? You still with me? You dont thinkyou dont think I was too easy, do you? There was fear in her voice, fear of my dismay and disapproval.Huh? Nonoof course not. I took a deep breath. So, um, it was good?Oh, yeah She gave a nervous giggle. I cant believe Im even talking about this. But, yeah, Seths a great lover. Hes really attentive.Yeah, I imagine he would be.God, I cant believe this happened.That made two of us. Whats going to happen now? Was ita fling? Aft er all, what else could it be? Seth was with me, right? I had no reason to be upset. Id given him the endeavour to get sex elsewhere. In featureI had told him to that night. If he wanted to sleep with her, that was fine. But obviously, it meant nothing. It had to be a fling, right?Right?I dont know, she admitted. I hope not. I really like himand it was so great. I feel like we really connectedlike the auction hadnt just been because he felt sorry for me. He said he would call and wed go out again sometime. Once more, she turned timid and unsure. You dont thinkyou dont think hes the kind of guy whod just say something like that and not mean it, do you? She was the Maddie Id know before, the one who looked up to me and wanted my guidance. The one who didnt trust men.I stared ahead and trenchant maybe the heavens were weeping for me now. After several moments, I finally said, No, Maddie. If he says he wants to go out, he means it. Thats the kind of guy he is.