Role of Environment in Child Development Research Paper Example

Role of Environment in Child Development Research Paper Example Role of Environment in Child Development Paper Role of Environment in Child Development Paper An early childhood environment is many things: Its a safe place where children are protected from the elements and are easily supervised, and its here the important activities of the day take place, such as playing, eating, sleeping, washing hands, and going to the bathroom. Beyond the basics, however, an environment for young children implements and supports a programs philosophy and curriculum. Childhood is the most important phase for overall development throughout the lifespan. Part of our capacity for change and growth depends on early experiences and the interrelationships of children and parents. Early experiences determine health, education and economic participation for the rest of life. A childs identity develops as he or she grows. Brain and biological velveteen during the first years of life is highly influenced by an infants environment. Early childhood is the most intensive period of brain development during the lifespan. To reach their potential, young children need to spend time in a caring responsive environment that protects them from neglect and inappropriate disapproval and punishment. Parents and families are the key to early child development, but need support to provide the right environment. Some families provide an atmosphere of love and acceptance. Others have a climate of instability and hostility in which love is not available to aid the childrens development. Studies show that children need love. Families that are loving and democratic not only have children who are brighter than those families which are cold and autocratic, but also tend to have children whose Siss increase while in school rather than decrease. Attention and interest leads to children with a high self esteem. Those mothers who show affectionate warmth toward their children have children with a lower incidence of juvenile delinquency. Interest and affectionate warmth in the home are important for the growing personality. Each family is different, because the family is a system composed of unique individuals. Families can be classified as child-centered, home-centered or parent-centered. The parents in the child-centered family willingly sacrifice their needs and desires for the sake of their children. The happiness and health of their children are more important than any considerations. Typically, in the child-centered family, a division of labor occurs in which the father specializes in maintaining economic security and in ensuring a respected place for the family in the community, the mother specializes in taking care of the children. In home centered families priority is also given to the needs of the children. The preference between the child centered and home centered families is that home centered families are not oriented toward socio-economic achievement, instead both the father and mother give priority to personal relationships among family members, emotional security and companionship are highly valued. The familys energy is spent on the family life, rather than the community. These two family types provides a conducive environment for a child development. Parents who spend time playing and teaching their kids through reading and by performing various types of hands-on games and activities can have a positive impact on their childish development. The childish immediate family environment shapes a sense of stability, self-worth and worldview. The best home environment for a child is one that helps meet the basic needs for health and safety. Homes with a positive emotional climate produce children who trust others. A positive family environment provides consistency for strong childhood development. The childs immediate family environment shapes a sense of stability, self- worth and worldview. Routines such as eating meals together as a family or going to the park on Sundays provide opportunities for family members to develop social relationships amongst themselves. Family rituals also promote a sense of belonging. Bedtime routines are associated with better sleep patterns amongst children. Family routines may also make it easier for children to cope with stress such as parental separation or divorce. Maintaining a good environment at home for children is very important, as it is the first training a child gets before going in to the real world. For instance, a child starts learning from his/her home at the beginning stage. Although this seems to be a difficult job which needs lots of patience, struggle and time to mold the entire system. Some of the key aspects of discipline which your hill should ideally learn in the early years are Courtesy, manners and punctuality. At home your child needs to be taught behavioral qualities, and rude behavior needs to be thwarted out. But before one concentrates his efforts on disciplining a child for misconduct, one must have a strategy, or game plan, for teaching their child how they are expected to behave. As I said patience is an important and a successful element in maintaining a good environment at home. Sometimes it will be very difficult to keep your patience, at this point take some break, there is no need to be disheartened and try again later. To maintain a pleasant environment at home it requires a lot of concentration, persistence and hard work. If you take steps at the beginning of your child by setting out guidelines and goals you want to achieve and stick to them, your chances of maintaining a pleasant environment will be far higher. When your child stays at home all day, and you take on the dual role of teacher and parent, issues of discipline will arise. It IS easy for the child to take on a negative attitude towards understanding discipline. Correct discipline needs to be adhered from the start of your homecomings to avoid potential faculties later on in your childs development and learning. Discipline provides both yourself and your child with immense levels of freedom, and there will be an enticement to stretch this freedom. Certain rules and practices need to be implemented at the beginning stages of your child as it may be very difficult for you to change your childs habits at later stage. There should be a friendly and enabling environment at home. The members of the family should listen and have a great respect for one another. This is very important to maintain a good environment free from all countersigning and confusions among the family members. Parents relations play a significant role in maintaining a better environment at home. Praise is powerful. Praising your child is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. Praise is nourishment. It helps your child grow emotionally, just as food helps your child grow physically. The reason behind giving praise is to build up self esteem, to give a belief of personal satisfaction, with the addition of feeling secure within ones self. There is a sense of confidence that one has when one knows that someone has paid detention and has encourage them with a positive response, due to their efforts. So now knowing what praise is we take in mind how often we should praise a child and when without over saturating with praises or not giving enough praises. Sometimes its best for children that parents should avoid discussing their domestic and financial matters in front of their children as some children are very sensitive and they get frustrated and tilt towards negative activities to escape from their suffocated environment. Ups and downs are part of life from which no one can escape rather it is wise to face them boldly and moieties its good to take your childrens views in any decision-making as this will make them feel more confident about themselves. In this way, they will trust and feel that their parents always give them importance and they will consider themselves an integral part of the family. The bottom line is that maintaining a good environment is in the hands of sensible parents who can build a childs career by playing and affective role so that their children should always feel at home a place where one wants to be relaxed putting aside tensions and worries of life. An ideal learning environment for young children would be established at home, as well as at school. For example, a young child should be able to do homework in a well-lighted area that is free of distractions such as television. The right materials, such as paper, scissors, sharpened pencils, and crayons, need to be on hand for homework or projects. By having these materials ready before the work starts, will save everyone time and help keep your child focused from beginning to end. A Liberal family which has lesser number of kids will be best for children to grow up in. In my opinion, parents have the responsibility to educate their own children in their own way. However, a liberal family will make their children grow up happily. Parents should not limit childrens thought and behavior in their own way. What they think may not be correct at all times. Children could select what they would like to learn and enjoy besides the general studying. I cant agree with people who only want to have one child, not only because of the decrease of the birth rate, but also because their child needs someone to be with to accompany. The lecture from teachers or parents will never replace wisdom gained from siblings and peers. Some people may argue that parents should have the domination toward heir own family; however, apparently its not appropriate to control ones mind and behaviors because they are older. Children should learn how do they discipline their behaviors. Parents and the other elders could give them the suggestion, which it might be useful because they are more experienced than the younger. But, time changes. The old rules could be the best answer; however, its not right to deny other options that could lead them to the correct way. Although things will be more complicated and hard, this is what they choose and they deserve to suffer or enjoy their own lives. The early learning environment is important in a childs development. Education extends beyond traditional schooling. In fact, the first three years of life are possibly the most important to a childs developing brain. During this time, stimulation and interaction with parents and other children is essential. Young children require a rich environment in which to interact and explore. Actively engaging all of his senses stimulates brain cells and encourages growth. Children need to explore, experiment, and learn basic knowledge through direct experience. Indeed, childhood is a time when we earn firsthand about the physical world the feel of water, the constant pull of gravity, the stink of rotten fruit, and the abrasive feel of concrete on a bare knee. A young child can learn by touching, and if denied sources of stimulation, mental growth stagnates. The school that your child attends has a massive impact on creating and molding fundamental behavioral aspects. Children at the preschool and elementary level are building an academic foundation for their future. The role of the teacher is critical in a childs life. Children depend on teachers to be their confidant, colleague, model, instructor, and nurturer of educational experiences. The best learning environment for children is a child-centered, play-based one. Demonstrate to children that the space is theirs by displaying pictures of the children and their families, as well as samples of their artwork. Children learn best through hands-on activities that involve all five senses. Structure your learning environment so that children can move freely between activities at their own pace. Play-based environments emphasize social and emotional development that enables children to excel academically, communicate effectively with teachers and peers and develop problem-solving skills. An ideal learning environment for young children is one where the students can focus on their schoolwork and their teacher and not be distracted by uncomfortable temperatures, insufficient lighting and poor classroom design. The physical learning environment should be safe, comfortable, nurturing and positive. Discipline and academic achievement should be enforced. Schools enforced with rules and a safe environment showed increased scores academically and a reduction in discipline issues. Children learn best when offered a balance between structured and unstructured activity. During free play, children should have the freedom to whose where to play and what to play with. The learning environment serves as an invitation at all times. Make sure that all accessible materials are age- appropriate and safe, and be prepared to allow the children to use those materials as they move around in the space. Provide enough materials so that several children can play in the same area at once. Avoid time limits during free play. Allow time each day for structured play or activities. Whether youre following a theme or teaching about an animal or culture the children have expressed an interest in, make sure the group activity engages as many of the vive senses as possible. For example, if today is A day, you might bring several colors Of apples to the activity space. Talk about the colors with the children and allow each child to smell the apple. Cut the apple and give slices from each variety to each child. Invite the children to sample the apple and describe the way if feels, smells and tastes. You might also prepare a dish using the apples from the activity, talk about the seeds and plant an apple tree. The best learning environments have well-defined spaces. If you have a long, open space through the middle of the room, you re inviting children to UN, skip or hop through that space. Designate areas for reading, dramatic play, art, music and movement, science and math by using rugs, tables, screens, lofts, bookcases, furniture and nooks. Scholastic recommends that you provide both well-lit and dimly-lit areas, informal furniture arrangements and separate spaces designated for quiet and active play. Children seek out a constant change of stimuli-scenery, textures, colors, social groups, activities, environments, sounds, and smells. As our children spend more time in our programs, the more variation and stimulation they need. Play provides a ay for children to integrate all their new experiences into their rapidly developing minds, bodies, emotions, and social skills. Brain research supports this idea, stressing that children learn best through an integrated approach combining physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth. Students with certain learning disabilities or other conditions that may affect learning or performance may do better in classrooms designed or altered to fit their needs. For example, in a classroom with special needs children (particularly those with attention challenges) placing desks with some space around each hill instead of arranging them into groups can reduce the distractions caused by being so close to other students. Environmental influences can be powerful. Nurturing environments foster physical and psychological growth. Adequate stimulation and nutrition are essential for development during the first three years of life. It is during these years that a childs brain is most sensitive to the influences of the external environment. Rapid brain development affects cognitive, social and emotional growth. Such development helps to ensure that each child reaches his or her attention and is a productive part of a rapidly changing, global society. The more stimulating the early environment, the more a child develops and learns. Language and cognitive development are especially important during the first six months to three years of life. A childs social environment influences their cognitive development and educational attainment. Clearly children need lots of exposure to other people in their early childhood years. Children who engage in good social relationships perform better academically than those who do not. Children living in social environments characterized by residential stability are less keel to be absent from school and perform better academically than those who do not. The sense of belonging which individuals experiences when they have good social relationships has a positive influence on their mental health. A healthy child should engage in sports or other beneficial activities. Belonging to a group, whether it is a sporting team, book club or other organization, is a good way to meet new people and develop relationships and a sense of belonging. Groups which actively intervene in communities to improve the social environment, for example by having a cleanup day or organizing a local government petition, have been shown to be particularly effective in creating a sense of cohesion in the community. An individuals physical surroundings markedly influence their health. Environments characterized by poor physical surroundings (e. G. Lack of open space, lack of facilities and litter) are associated with poor health outcomes. For example, social environments characterized by quality, affordable housing are associated with reduced poverty and increased residential stability, both of which affect a childs health and the social relationships which they form. Children who lived in cleaner neighborhoods are assessed as having better social behaviors than those living in less clean environments. The availability of good quality educational facilities within an environment is also important. Children who have good social relationships have greater self esteem than those who do not and are less likely to experience mental health problems including depression and anxiety. There is also evidence that pro-social behavior during childhood leads to better psychological health in adulthood. The social environment may also influence a childs health by influencing the behavior of their parents. Researchers concluded that children rated high in seeking stimulation (nature) were more curious and open to learning from their environment (nurture) which in turn enhanced the development of their cognitive abilities and resulted in higher scores on IQ tests. Researchers conclude that genetic factors set a range for many cognitive abilities and these abilities are facilitated by a stimulating environment. The availability of job opportunities within a neighborhood or community may also affect a childs development, by influencing their parents work. Working locally means less travel time (and presumably, more time for family ointments) and associated stress. Working locally can improve parenting, relationships between parents and children and ultimately child health and development. There is also evidence that the availability of housing and employment within a neighborhood, affect levels of child maltreatment. Nutrition is very important for children. It is directly linked to all aspects of their growth and development. Introducing good nutrition into the lives of your children will help them create healthy habits for life. Learning correct portion sizes at a young age and eating a healthy, balanced diet will help reverent your kids from being overweight as they get older. A balanced diet helps to fuel your childs growing body and give your child the energy she needs for the day. Kids need specific vitamins and minerals to help their bodies and minds develop and mature. A healthy, balanced diet will help to create good nutrition habits in your children that they will take with them the rest of their lives. Proper nutrition allows for adequate growth throughout a childs developmental years. The brain, in particular, relies on regular nourishment to reach its full potential. Healthy eating habits also reduce the sis of serious disease and vitamin deficiencies, a serious concern in the developing world. The childs nutrient needs correspond with these changes in growth rates. An infant needs more calories in relation to size than a preschooler or school-age child needs. Nutrient needs increase again as a child gets close to adolescence Young children need to feel important. In past eras children were responsible to water the garden, do farm chores, and care for younger children. Children need to feel that what they do is meaningful to someone besides themselves. A basic human need is the need to belong. Children need to feel they belong, o. They need to be close to people they know, have familiar and comfortable objects, and be in a setting that has a personal history for them. Many challenges faced by adults, such as mental health issues, obesity, heart disease, criminality, and poor literacy and innumeracy, can be traced back to early childhood. When children spend their early years in a less stimulating, or less emotionally and physically supportive environment, brain development is affected and leads to cognitive, social and behavioral delays. Later in life, these children will have difficulty dealing with complex situations and environments. High levels of adversity and stress during early childhood can increase the risk of stress-related disease and learning problems well into the adult years. A negative physical environment can have harmful effects on a childs development mentally and physically. The mistreatment of children can occur in any religious, socioeconomic or racial group. Domestic violence, drug use, social isolation and verbal abuse are factors that influence childhood development. Children who live in violent homes and witness domestic abuse can fall victim physically and emotionally. Negative relations and disputes can spoil the atmosphere of a house. Instead of a better environment the entire house plunges into chaos which not only affects the psychology of children but also makes them suffer in various complexes. Impoverished environment can stunt growth especially in combination with severe and prolonged environmental stresses. This may produce a lasting physical and psychological failure to thrive. Research has shown children exposed to poor and underprivileged educational environments tend to be at a higher risk of being negatively affected in terms of their development. Poverty has detrimental effects on a childs IQ and school achievement. Children facing a socioeconomic disadvantage show weak academic- readiness skills. Teachers might also have lower expectations for children who come from a poverty situation at home. Children from lower socioeconomic lifestyles have risks in physical development as well. These children show higher rates of pre-birth complications and increased lead exposure, which affect their cognitive brain functions during childhood. Rigid learning programs that focus on accumulating skills through means such as worksheets, computers, memorization and flashcards lead to stressed, high truing aggressive and depressed students later on. Work-related stress and time constraints have been shown to have negative effects on individuals and spill over into the family and affect relationships within it, including the quality of parent-child relationships. Without love physical, mental and emotional development may be retarded. Disturbed families are most likely to produce disturbed children. Abandonment affects children in individual ways with distinctive psychological effects. Abandonment can be psychological or physical. Psychological abandonment can occur when the parent stops bonding with he child or becomes mentally disabled. Physical abandonment can be the result of death, giving the child away or ceasing to have contact with the child in the event of a divorce. The parent may abandon the child because she feels overwhelmed or incompetent or finds herself in an unwanted or unaccepted role of parenting. Abandonment is a term frequently used interchangeably with child neglect or child abuse. A child who has been abandoned may become withdrawn, angry and restless. He may fear that he will be abandoned again and develop nightmares or a fear Of sleeping alone. He eight also cry, have feelings of guilt and question the intentions of other loved ones in his life. An older child may search for love and security elsewhere in potentially dangerous situations. The effects of abandonment may vary according to the childs age and bond with the parent who abandoned him, but it is possible for him to carry lingering distrust and resentment into adulthood. The effect of under nutrition on young children (ages 0-8) can be devastating and enduring. It can impede behavioral and cognitive development, educability, and reproductive health, thereby undermining future work productivity. Whether or not children are well-nourished during their first years of life can have a profound effect on their health status, as well as their ability to learn, communicate, think analytically, socialize effectively and adapt to new environments and people. Some of the developmental problems experienced by malnourished children are caused by direct physiological crippling such as retarded brain growth and low birth weight, where as other conditions are the result of limited and abnormal interaction and stimulation vital to healthy development. Unstable political environment can hamper a childs development.

article on ru 486 essays

article on ru 486 essays Contraceptive Research*Picture: Feminist Majority Foundation* In addition to its use in terminating unwanted pregnancies, MIFEPRISTONE (formerly known as RU-486) also may be effective in treating a range of serious diseases and medical conditions, many of which particularly affect women. Yet American clinical trials for most of these uses have come to a standstill due to anti-abortion politics. A B O R T I O N Available to women in many countries (but currently not in the U.S.), mifepristone (formerly known as RU-486) is the first in a new generation of fertility control agents that can terminate an early pregnancy. Mifepristone works by blocking the action of progesterone, which is necessary to sustain a pregnancy. Mifepristone, taken along with a prostaglandin, has been used by over half a million women worldwide and has found to be safe and effective as an early abortion method during the first nine weeks of a pregnancy. A woman can take mifepristone as soon as she knows she is pregnant. Mifepristone is administered orally, is non-invasive, requires no anesthesia, and bears less risk of infection. Many women prefer mifepristone because the procedure is more private and allows them greater psychological control in ending a pregnancy. Administered with a single dose of a misoprostol (a prostaglandin given as orally or as a vaginal suppository), mifepristone has been proven to be highly effective in successfully terminating pregnancy.[1] Studies also show that mifepristone is a safe, effective post-coital contraceptive.[2] [3] Preliminary shows show, as well, that mifepristone can act as both a male and female contraceptive. [1] Spitz IM, et al. Early pregnancy termination with mifepristone and misoprostol in the United States. New England J of Medicine, 4/30/98. [2] Baird DT, Dewar M, Glasier A et al. Mifepristone (RU486) compared with high-dose estrogen and progesto...

ETHICS FINAL Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Biology in Everyday Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biology in Everyday Life - Essay Example With the awareness of the risks impacted by rapid spread of this species, marine ecologists strive to find out the most appropriate management response (Siggins, 2014). This specific invasive species is costing millions of money because of loss of biodiversity and impact on human health and economic activity especially in Ireland, where it has been reported in the article (Siggins, 2014). The article sheds light on the spread of invasive species, which relates well to the course, which discusses invasive species. However, the course content does not expressly cover this specific invasive species, which can be explained by the fact that there are many invasive species in the world, which cannot be covered in this course. The course provides information on how invasive species affect other species in a given area, which has helped me understand the nature of the Didemnum vexillum, which is threatening to displace other sea species in the area and consequently have devastating effects on the environment and the economy (Hierro & Callaway, 2003). The article caught my attention from the fact it is affecting ocean environment, which clearly shows how serious it is. Previously, I thought it was not possible to have invasive species in ocean since it is vast and hence cannot be easily invaded. The article has changed my perception and expanded my knowledge on invasive species which to be present in almost every possible environment (Hierro & Callaway, 2003). The threat to ocean is real from this invasive species and can indirectly affect me as it displaces valuable sea species, which contribute to economies of nations across the world. The species also has enormous effect on environment as it affects the balance created by existing species where it colonises (Hierro & Callaway, 2003). Research on this invasive species should be increased to understand its nature and the best way of curbing its

East Asia Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

East Asia Studies - Essay Example Although much of the regional transformation in the recent years has been so positive, principally in the economic sphere, various challenges abound, this challenges pose the risk to stability in this region. It is rather hard to count on which of the two; economic and security, could trigger stability in the region. The discourse of security and economic situations has been hugely dominated by the rise of China’s economy which has a huge role of the foreign affairs and has also transformed the geographic landscape of the region, which has sent the policy makers in the region searching for effective ways to cooperate, while still evading uncertainty concerning its future course. Another trend that is being overlooked in the region is Japan’s own steady transformation. The growth of China in the region accompanied by global political influence and rapidly growing defense expenditures has stirred up the public sentiment of Japan towards China. Additionally, situations at the Korean peninsula have been in recent years has become increasingly destabilizing security and the geographical flashpoint. Most importantly the continued growth of China’s economy and its current modernization has the great security concern in the region (Beeson 187). Another reason for tension in the region and its neighbors is the use of water due to the increased population pressure; the whole per capita water accessibility has declined by between forty and sixty per cent. This creates a security concern in the scramble for resource now that there is a great rise of China population and the great industrialization in Japan the great weather that is experienced in the region does not come to of help to the highly populated region. The currency crisis has also been a major concern of the East Asian region. This issue has been of concern for quite a long time spreading from Thailand and becoming more regional. This issue has brought about retrospect in the imbalances of t he structure of the economy of Thailand which exposes it to short term debt; this has in turn affected the currency values of the countries that have had the same experience such as Koreas, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines (Beeson 206-210). Amongst these countries, some of them such as Indonesia did experience great currency movements; with their currency facing up to 80% loss of its value. It is significant to note that this financial crisis had an influence on the regional institutional development, and it affected the reputation and standing of the major powers in various ways with Japan suffering the greatest damage of its regional leadership ambitions (Beeson 203-206). With much concern to the environment, the capacity of China has faced some greater challenges which are associated with the continued processes of economic developments, which have also been extended beyond the borders. There is some indication of the impact of the population of China on the East Asian co untries with the growing prices of commodities and resources such as Oil. The consumption of such commodities in China continues to rise which brings about the continued thinking of the significant development and significant future of the East Asian. Some sources argue that unless the externalities that are associated wi

The Tremendous Benefit of Using Hypnosis Essay Example for Free

The Tremendous Benefit of Using Hypnosis Essay Hypnosis is a condition in which a person under a trance-like state (more likely compared to being half-asleep) responds to suggestions given by another person with the exemption of self-hypnosis when no second person is needed for the experience. Accordingly, hypnosis does not depend on the power of the second person or the hypnotist; rather, it depends on the ability of the person to experience hypnosis. Hypnosis is sometimes used for medical purposes and its effect is greatly demonstrated especially in the field of pain relief. Another important and basic use of hypnosis is for improving behavior such as social interaction with others, self-confidence and self-esteem. When a person is under hypnosis, he is in a state of increased suggestibility and focused attention. With these factors at hand, a person is made to believe or feel what is needed to improve behavior. In the case of a person with low self-esteem, hypnosis helps in a way that it makes the person overcome his social and emotional insecurity by auto suggesting positive reinforcements. The person is made to focus on the idea that he can do whatever others can and that he is someone very special. Given the right focus, the person receives the idea and thought that eventually translates to better conduct and performance. Hypnosis has many practical benefits aside from what is commonly depicted by the media. Although the founding concept of hypnosis is heightened suggestibility, it is not something as exaggerated as what’s shown on tv or movies. Hypnosis can bring a lot of advantages to a person’s physical, emotional and social skills through its idea of concentrating or focusing towards a certain subject (whatever is needed in the instance).

Compassion Fatigue Analysis Health And Social Care Essay

Compassion Fatigue Analysis Health And Social Care Essay Nowadays, natural disasters, warfare, violent crime, acts of terrorism, domestic violence and child abuse are circumstances that significantly impact life in modern society (Bush, 2009). These events necessitate professional counselors to effectively treat the trauma associated with these personal and societal crises. When counselor are therapeutically engaged with a child or adult who has been traumatized or encounter with the trauma survivor, he or she may be at risk to intrusive thoughts, avoidance, negative affect and impaired psychological functioning (Chrestman, 1995). Therefore, counselors are vulnerable to compassion fatigue. The concept of compassion fatigue emerged only in the last several years in the professional literature. It represents the cost of caring about and for traumatized people (Adams et al., 2006; Figley, 2002). 1.1 Definition of compassion fatigue Some authors identified compassion fatigue as a state in which a counselor lacks of emotional strength, exhaustion, experience languor, and loss of vitality and energy (Alkema, Linton, Davies, 2008). In other words, it may be understand as a sense of being tired of helping others and finding it difficult to act out of compassion. Additionally, some experts view compassion fatigue as a hazard associated primarily with mental health clinicians and with first responders to natural and human made disaster such as China earthquake and incident of 9/11 (Boscarino, Figley, Adams, 2004). Among the helping professions, genetic counselors clearly do witness much pain and suffering, and may fall prey to compassion fatigue (Udipi, Veach, Kao, LeRoy, 2008). According to Fidley (1993) as cited in Figley (2002), compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress (STS) can be define as the natural consequence behaviors and emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other-the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person. As Figley (2002) pointed out, compassion fatigue is identical to secondary traumatic stress disorder (STSD) and is the equivalent of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Figley, 2002). Moreover, compassion fatigue is also recognized as secondary traumatization, secondary traumatic stress disorder, or vicarious traumatization within professional literature (Figley, 2002; Hofmann, 2009). 1.2 Historical Background of Compassion Fatigue The study of traumatic events and their subsequent impact on human beings has grown considerably over the past two decades. Since the early 1980s, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) (APPENDIX A) has recognized both acute and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) as identifiable mental health concerns (Alkema et al., 2002). Besides that, according to the notion stated in criterion A1 of the PTSD diagnosis, it clearly indicates that people can develop the symptoms of PTSD without actually being physically harmed or threatened with harm (Alkema et al., 2008; Figley, 2002). That is, people can be traumatized simply by learning about the traumatic event. However, according to a review of the traumatology literature, it come to a conclusion that nearly all of the hundreds of reports focusing on traumatized people exclude those who were traumatized indirectly or secondarily and only focus on those who were directly traumatized, that is, the victims (Craig S prang, 2010; Figley, 2002). As a result, after more than a decade of negligence of the indirect traumatized people, it is important to consider the least studied aspect of traumatized stress, which is secondary traumatic stress (STS) or later, compassion fatigue. The term compassion fatigue was used as far back as 1990, the news media in the United States used compassion fatigue to describe the publics lack of patience, or perhaps simply the editors lack of patience, with the homeless problem, which had previously been presented as an anomaly or even a crisis which had only existed for a short time and could presumably be solved somehow. Later on in 1992, Joinson first used the term in print, in discussing burnout among nurses who deal with hospital emergencies, counselor, emergency workers and other professionals who experience STS in the line of duty (Dominguez-Gomez Rutledge, 2009). That same year Jeffrey Kottler (1992), in his book, Compassionate Therapy, emphasize the importance of compassion in dealing with extremely difficult and resistant patients. Additionally, compassion fatigue has been studied by the field of traumatology, where it has been called the cost of caring for people facing emotional pain (Boscarino et al., 2004; Hofman n, 2009). Furthermore, one of the first earliest references in the scientific literature regarding this cost of caring comes from Carl G. Jung in The Psychology of Dementia Praecox. In this text, Jung discusses the challenges of countertransference the therapists conscious and unconscious reactions to the patient in the therapeutic situation. In his text, he pointed out that therapist can treat their patients with schizophrenia by participates in the delusional fantasies and hallucinations with the patient. Nevertheless, he warns that this participation in the patients darkly painful fantasy world of traumatic images has significant deleterious effects for the therapist; especially when the therapist has not resolved his/her own developmental and traumatic issues (Craig Sprang, 2010; Figley, 2002). 1.3 Statistic of compassion fatigue on counselors Throughout the years, the number of natural and technological disasters was on the rise, therefore, studies of the effects of disaster events on both the victims and the disaster responders increased (Boscarino, Adams, Figley, 2006; Bush, 2009). Many researchers focus on those professionals who provide therapy to victims of trauma such as trauma counselors, crisis workers, nurses and other caregivers who become victims themselves of secondary traumatic stress (STS) or compassion fatigue (Bourassa, 2009; Coetzee Klopper, 2010; Figley, 2002). Studies which focus on examine the psychological impacts of providing mental health counseling to the disasters victims had found out that counselors were psychologically affected by their work, whether or not they personally experienced the disaster (Martin et al., 2010). For instance, as Myers and Wee (2005) pointed out, nearly three-quarters (73.5%) of counselors were rated as being at risk of compassion fatigue, which include moderate risk (23.5%), high risk (29.4%), and extremely high risk (20.6%) in their study of the psychological impact on counselors who work with the trauma survivors of the Oklahoma City Bombing (Myers Wee, 2005) Furthermore, Meldrum et al. (2002) found that 27% of a sample of Australian mental health professions who worked with traumatized individuals reported extreme stress from this type of work (Meldrum, King, Spooner, 2002). In a research article that have been done by Arvay and Uhlemann (1996) using a sample of 161 trauma counselors in British Columbia, they found out that 24% of the counselors interviewed perceived life as stressful. Sixteen percent reported high levels of emotional exhaustion, 4% reported levels of depersonalization and 26% reported feeling ineffective at work in terms of professional accomplishment (Arvay Uhlemann, 1996). Fourteen percent of the sample reported traumatic stress levels similar to PTSD. In their article, Arvay and Uhlemann (1996) also pointed out that the impaired counselor was in his or her early 40s, held less than a masters degree and was more likely to work for an agency than in a private setting. Additionally, Sprang et al. (2007) also found out that young female with higher educational degree and less experience in clinical settings predicted elevated levels compassion fatigue in the studys sample of 1,121 mental health providers (Sprang, Clark, Whitt-Woosley, 2007). 1.4 Causes of compassion fatigue According to Figley (2002), compassion fatigue occurs when one is exposed to extreme events directly experienced by another and becomes overwhelmed by this secondary exposure to trauma. Thus, counselors who always listen to reports of trauma, horror, human cruelty and extreme loss of their clients are at high risk of experience compassion fatigue. In effective counseling, controlled reactivation of the traumatic memories is promoted by many interventions or forms of psychotherapy due to in the prevailing opinion among psychotherapists; working through the traumatic events is beneficial to the client (Craig Sprang, 2010; Kinzel Nanson, 2000). For instance, in behavior therapy, clients are asked to confront with stimuli relating to the traumatic events through returning to a crime scene (in vivo) or imagining the events of the crime (in sensu) (Craig Sprang, 2010). However, psychotherapy work with torture victims is potentially harmful to the therapist and can lead to compassion fatigue although working through the traumatic events experienced by a sufferer of PTSD seems to be beneficial to the client. Undeniably, empathy allows counselors to relate to others in their care and to have a sense of what their clients are feeling. Moreover, it also helps the counselors to put the clients experiences into perspective and understanding how the clients are being affected by the incidents which the counselors are trying to mediate (Meadors et al., 2009). In brief, in an effective counseling, empathy understanding is necessary. Besides that, counselors, by the very nature of their work, are called on to be compassionate toward their clients on a daily basis (Meadors et al., 2009; Pickett, Brennan, Greenberg, Licht, Worrell, 1994). However, the more compassionate and empathetic a counselor is toward the suffering of the traumatized person, the more vulnerable that counselor is to compassion fatigue. It is due to compassion fatigue is based on the idea of a syndrome resulting specifically from empathizing with people who are experiencing pain and suffering; counselor can become overwhelmed a nd may begin to experience feelings of fear, pain and suffering similar to that of their clients (Figley, 2002; Meadors et al., 2009). As Alkema et al. (2008) pointed out, the common situations of counselor that can lead to compassion fatigue include 1) listening to stories of child abuse; 2) working with suicidal ideation, 3) interacting with the terminally ill; 4) responding with humanitarian aid in situations like disaster, poverty, or war; 5) caring for families with an injured or dying child; 6) providing support for survivors of rape; and 7) providing services for bereaved families. It is important to note that the sense of being overwhelmed or vulnerability to compassion fatigue is subjective, meaning that what overwhelms one counselor, may not necessarily overwhelm another. Additionally, even one story that overwhelms the counselors ability to make sense of the event, can lead to compassion fatigue symptoms (Alkema et al., 2008; Bush, 2009). Therefore, it is essential for the counselor to recognize compassion fatigue symptoms in themselves and their coworkers in turn to provide any emergency aid if needed. 1.5 Symptoms of compassion fatigue The symptoms of compassion fatigue vary in intensity depending on counselor characteristics and the characteristics of the client population. The resulting symptoms of compassion fatigue typically have an acute onset and are usually associated with a particular event (Stamm, 2005). Symptoms may include: being afraid, having intrusive images enter the persons attention, having trouble sleeping, or avoiding situations that remind the individual of the event (Tehrani, 2010). Moreover, compassion fatigue can have negative impact on spiritual development of counselor due to in some cases, counselor are psychologically bombarded by the traumatic recollections, emotional suffering, and psychological pain brought by their clients into session. A counselor might begin doubting his/her values, might express anger or bitterness toward God, and begin withdrawing from fellowship (Udipi et al., 2008). Furthermore, the range of counselor behaviors indicating compassion fatigue can include spending less time with clients, being late and absent from work, making professional errors, being hypercritical of others, making sarcastic and cynical comments about clients and the organization, abusing chemicals, and keeping poor records (Stewart, 2009; Tehrani, 2010). In addition, compassion fatigue also can manifest as physical symptoms such as rapid pulse, sleep disturbance, fatigue, reduced resistance to infection, weakness and dizziness, memory problems, weight change, ga strointestinal complaints, hypertension, and head-aches, backaches, or muscle aches (Meadors et al., 2009) According to Stewart (2009), for people exposed to primary stressors (i.e., client) and for those exposed to secondary stressors, there is a fundamental difference between the pattern of response during and following the traumatic event. Researches indicate the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress disorder (STSD) or compassion fatigue is nearly identical to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), except that PTSD symptoms are directly connected to the sufferer (e.g., client), yet STSD symptoms is associated with a exposure to knowledge about traumatizing event experienced by the people who care (e.g., counselor). Moreover, as Fidley (2002) pointed out, symptoms of compassion fatigue can be divided into categories of intrusive, avoidance, and arousal symptoms. Table 1: Compassion fatigue symptoms Intrusive Symptoms Thoughts and images associated with clients traumatic experiences Obsessive and compulsive desire to help certain clients Client/work issues encroaching upon personal time Inability to let go of work-related matters Perception of survivors as fragile and needing the assistance of the caregiver Thoughts and feelings of inadequacy as a caregiver Sense of entitlement or specialness Perception of the world in terms of victims and perpetrators Personal activities interrupted by work-related issues Avoidance Symptoms Silencing Response (avoiding hearing/witnessing clients traumatic material) Loss of enjoyment in activities/cessation of self-care activities Loss of energy Loss of hope/sense of dread working with certain clients Loss of sense of competence/potency Isolation Secretive self-medication/addiction (alcohol, drugs, work, sex, food, spending, etc.) Relational dysfunction Arousal Symptoms Increased anxiety Impulsivity/reactivity Increased perception of demand/threat (in both job and environment) Increased frustration/anger Sleep disturbance Difficulty concentrating Change in weight/appetite Somatic symptoms 1.6 Measuring compassion fatigue It is essential to assess for compassion fatigue symptoms in the caregiver especially for counselors who work with those traumatized clients (Hofmann, 2009; Stamm, 2005) Thus, certain reliable instrument is needed to use to measure the degree of compassion fatigue in counselors. It is mainly due to through the scoring of the instrument, it can give the counselor valuable feedback or insight of their vulnerability level to compassion fatigue (Adams et al., 2008; Stamm, 2005). Besides that, an examination of the history of the counselor is also a critical step in treating compassion fatigue as researchers have found that a personal history of a traumatic experience can contribute to the experience of compassion fatigue (Adams, Figley, Boscarino, 2008). Thus, compassion fatigue counselors can assist their co-workers to examine the role that their previous traumatic material has on making them vulnerable to the experience of compassion fatigue. For instance, the Professional Quality of Life Scale: Compassion Satisfaction and Subscales (ProQOL) have been widely used in assessing secondary/vicarious trauma (Bride, Radey, Figley, 2007). Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) ProQOL is a 30 item self-report measure to assess the dimensions compassion satisfaction, burn-out and compassion fatigue (APPENDIX A). The compassion satisfaction dimension (CS) measures pleasure derived from being able to do the daily work well where higher scores on this scale represent a greater satisfaction related to ones ability to be an effective caregiver. Besides that, the burnout dimension (BO) in this scale is associated with feelings of hopelessness and difficulties in dealing with work. Higher scores are related to higher risk for burnout. Moreover, the compassion fatigue dimension (CF) relates to work-related secondary exposure to extremely stressful events. High scores indicate that ones are exposed to frightening experiences at work. The alpha reliabilities for the scales are 1) Compassion Satisfaction alpha = .87, 2) Burnout alpha = .72 and 3) Compassion Fatigue alpha = .80. Additionally, the construct validity upon which the test is based is well established with over 200 articles noted in the peer-review literature. Using the multi-trait multi-method mode for convergent and discriminant validity the scales on the ProQOL do, in fact, measure different constructs (Adams et al., 2008; Bride et al., 2007). 1.7 Consequences of compassion fatigue Researches have indicated for those counselors who have the greatest capacity for feeling and expressing empathy are at the greatest risk from experiencing secondary traumatic stress or compassion fatigue (Alkema et al., 2008). Furthermore, it has been recognized that counselors suffering from compassion fatigue may be engaged in impaired or unethical practice. Those counselors may become worried with their patients/clients and exhibit signs and symptoms that are not beneficial to optimal patient/client care. It can negatively affect the ability to provide services and maintain personal and professional relationships (Craig Sprang, 2010). When a counselor is suffering from compassion fatigue, he or shes ability to listen with empathy becomes compromised, the counselor may unconsciously avoid the traumatic material brought by the client in an effort to maintain the integrity of the counselors world view (Alkema et al., 2008; Bride et al., 2007). For instance, the counselor will tend to remain silent when he or she is unable to attend to the clients traumatic material. Instead, the counselor will redirects the conversation to less disturbing material that is more pleasant to them (Alkema et al., 2008). Moreover, as Adam et al. (2006) pointed out, counselors who are suffering from compassion fatigue may hurt their clients by placing their own needs above the needs of the clients. They may tend to avoid the discussion of the traumatic content as a means of protecting themselves from further exposure. According to Bride et al. (2006), avoidance of clients traumatic issue in counseling comprise a degree of unethical practice as it further isolates the client in his or her psychological pain and suffering. As a result, the counseling alliance may be damage and will lead to further suffering for the client and puts the counselor itself at risk for injuring other clients. Besides that, it is important to note that counselor with compassion fatigue is more likely to develop a sense of isolation, exhaustion and professional dissatisfaction. Therefore, compassion fatigue has the potential to rob the professional of his or her sense of well-being if left unaddressed (Alkema et al., 2008; Crai g Sprang, 2010; Figley, 2002). PREVENTIONS AND INTERVENTIONS After years of clinical practice, counselors are being confronted with tragedies of life and depression (Hofmann, 2009). Therefore, they are at high risk of accumulated pain and sadness. Thus, if without an appropriate way or the time to have positive experiences, it will increase the risk of compassion fatigue and distancing (Kinzel Nanson, 2000; Newsom, 2010). For that reason, the need for some kind of structured prevention, support, and strengthening processes is necessary in order to help the counselor to deal with indirect traumatization. Among the intervention methods, debriefing sessions are a good way to help a counselor with compassion fatigue decompress and normalize what they are experiencing (Kinzel Nanson, 2000; Pickett et al., 1994). During debriefing session, traumatic incident is discussed in a structured group meeting. Through debriefing, it can help the counselor to address the immediate psychological impact that he or she experienced from the client. Thus, through discussing and seeking assistance from other colleagues and caregivers who have had experience with trauma and have remained healthy and hopeful, it can assist the counselor to alleviate the traumatic symptoms (Pickett et al., 1994). In addition, the importance of regular professional supervision, before and after traumatic events, has been identified as essential, as is continuing education and training (Kinzel Nanson, 2000; Meadors et al., 2009). It is due to for the purpose to promote long-term coping with the consequences of the traumatic events, continuity of the supervision and training program is necessary. Moreover, the aim of supervision is to explore and reduce the impact of the painful client material on the counselors thinking and emotions. In the United Kingdom, personal supervision is a professional requirement for counselors and it may be provided by a clinical supervisor, manager, or peer (Kinzel Nanson, 2000). According to pre-existing studies, it had been recognized that self-hypnosis have beneficial effects on immune control, enhanced mood and well-being (Martin et al., 2010; Mottern, 2010; Ruysschaert, 2003). Besides that, clinical experience with clients and therapists reports also indicated that ones can recovering and lowering their overall level of stress through self-hypnosis (Martin et al., 2010). Therefore, self-hypnosis is an effective tool to help counselor in preventing compassion fatigue or in promoting compassion satisfaction. In stress management, counselors ability to let go do play a very important role in stress-resistance or resilience. Figley (1995) also sees let-it-go as an important aspect in the reduction of compassionate stress. Therefore, in effective counseling, it is important for the counselor to find ways to create some distance from the emotional pain that they experienced from their clients. According to Morttern (2010), practicing self-hypnosis in a regular basis is important step in promoting self-awareness and temporarily distancing oneself from the outside world. For instance, it is possible for the counselor who suffered from compassion fatigue letting go of intrusions and thoughts indirectly by imagining thoughts as clouds, coming and going, and just noticing what happens (Mottern, 2010). Furthermore, counselors have to increase their own self awareness and live a healthy, balanced lifestyle in order decreases their vulnerability from compassion fatigue (Figley, 2002; Prati Pietrantoni, 2009). For instance, counselors can increase their self awareness by knowing their own triggers and vulnerable areas and learn to defuse them or avoid them (Bride et al., 2007). Besides that, counselors have to realize that normal responses to abnormal situations is true for helpers as well as victims. Thus, they should allow themselves to grieve when bad things happen to others (Figley, 2002). Moreover, it is essential for the counselors to set boundaries for themselves by develop realistic expectations about the rewards as well as the limitations of helping (Prati Pietrantoni, 2009). In brief, they have to become aware of any irrational beliefs that impair their well being throughout the helping process. Last but not least, diversions and recreation that allow the counselor to take mini-escapes from the intensity of their work is absolutely essential to avoid from compassion fatigue (Alkema et al., 2008). Researches indicate that those that have the ability to turn their thoughts about work off are more resilient throughout their career (Alkema et al., 2008; Figley, 2002). For instance, counselors can express their feelings through writing in a journal, music or art. CONCLUSION Counselors enroll themselves in the helping profession because they want to assist other in need. Yet, counselors can become so overwhelmed by the exposure to the feelings and experiences of their clients and leave them vulnerable for compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue, if left untreated, can spark a deterioration of personality and generate a decline in general health of the counselors. Thus, it is of vital importance to treat the helpers or counselors with compassion fatigue so that it do not reach a absurd situation where clients/victims are treated and helped, but those who help them experience such burnout that they can no longer function as mental health care providers or even continue their own life patterns as usual. Therefore, counselors and every mental health professionals must note and address the prevention steps in order to prevent compassion fatigue. In brief, compassion fatigue is a serious problem among members of the helping professions, but counselors will be a ble to get through it by acknowledging it, and staying connected to the good in their own life.