Comparing Piaget's and Vygotsky's Theories on Human Development and Mental Health Counseling

Learning Components

Read the initial posts of your peers and respond substantively to at least one learner whose post resonates with you. Compare and contrast your peer's post with yours. Take note of new ideas or examples. Learning Components This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Examine developmental states and critical events of crisis.

Develop communications appropriate for the audience.

provide a framework for the study of human development that furthers scientific vision and stimulates the application of science for public policy and social programs.

Most importantly, theories help organize a large body of information and provide ways of examining facts. They also help focus our search for new understandings, explain how findings may be interpreted, and identify major disagreements among scholars (Dacey, Travers, & Fiore, 2009). According to Wong, Hall, Justice, and Wong Hernandez (2015), "Theories in development are scientific theories and, as such, represent the systematic statement and integrated assumptions and hypotheses drawn from the observations and research conducted by developmental theorists" (p. 35). Piaget’s theory of cognitive development describes how humans gather and organize information and how this process changes developmentally (Inhelder & Piaget, 1958).

Further, he posited that each stage was qualitatively different than the others, such that it was not simply a matter of more knowledge or information but a different way or ability to derive and use that information. a schema (or the plural schemata) referred to the cognitive structures by which an individual organizes his or her experience and environment Piaget noted that our first inclination is to attempt to “force” the new experience into an existing template or schema by way of the process of assimilation It would not be unexpected that when encountering a new male figure, the infant responds with “daddy.” But as the infant develops and possesses increased visual clarity and memory, discerning that the new male does not possess all the distinguishing characteristics of “daddy,” he or she will be forced to make an adjustment or to create a new schema, perhaps “uncle,” as a way of making meaning and organizing this encounter.

This condition of making a new schema is call accommodation For Piaget, humans are continually adjusting knowledge to adapt to the environment through a process of equilibration, assimilating when possible and accommodating when necessary Finally, while assuming the necessity of biological readiness as a determining factor in one’s progression through the stages, he also acknowledged the potential for the environment to accelerate or even retard that progression. I chose the theory of Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Perspective. Describe as in the book, Vygotsky believed that human development is the result of interactions between people and their social environment. He focused on the connections between people and the sociocultural context in which they act and interact in shared experiences and cultural artifacts such as written languages, number systems, various signs, and symbols (Burns, Bodrova, & Leong, 2012).

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

The purpose of these cultural artifacts is to facilitate the possible adjustment of a growing child into the culture and transform the way the child’s mind is formed. Initially, children develop these tools to serve solely as social functions and ways to communicate needs. These cultural tools are an achievement that expands one’s mental capacities, allowing individuals to master their own behavior. Children generally learn how to use these cultural tools through interactions with parents, teachers, or more experienced peers (Burns et al., 2012).

My counseling is Mental Health Counseling. I believe this theory can connect to Mental Health counseling because depending on a person’s interaction and environment can change their mental health. If you live with a family who cares for you, then your mental health will most likely stay stable. If you’re in an environment where its arguing and yelling consist, your state of mind will be all over the place. Personally, my mother suffers from depression and bipolar disorder. When she was marriage is was arguing and yelling consist and trying to figure out who going to pay bills. So, her depression and bipolar would kick in hand. Being that she is now divorced and happy with a good man and has money to pay bills. She doesn’t become as depressed so offend. Reference Wong, D. W. Counseling Individuals Through the Lifespan. [Capella] Respond to one learner whose interests in a division or region are the same as yours, and one learner with different interests.

Learning Components:

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components: Locate Web sites for counselors in your area, and search for professional disclosure statements (sometimes called treatment contracts or counselor-client contracts) on these Web sites. Compare examples of professional disclosures/contract statement to notice how laws, ethical guidelines, licenses, and professional credentials are noted.

Identify a professional counseling disclosure statement, meeting ethical and legal standards, that discloses credentials, licenses, and certifications.

The idea of collaborating with other creative minds within the counseling profession to share ideas for innovative and productive modalities or activities is more than inspirational to me as a future mental health counselor. The cost to join the ACC is an annual fee of $105.00 for students, new, and retired counselors. For professional counselors this fee increases to $189.00 (American Counseling Association, 2019). However, one must first become a member of the ACA to be eligible to join the ACC.

Vygotsky's Sociocultural Perspective

There are many added benefits to becoming an ACC member, such as: Grant Opportunities for ACC members. Participation at member rates for ACC training events and creativity conferences. Meetings and social events at the ACA Annual Convention, providing members with opportunities for networking, creating professional connections, and leadership involvement. The Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, a scholarly journal, published quarterly, that gives voice to creative and relational-cultural expressions in counseling and psychotherapy. Members have online access to the journal through our member's page. The ACC Newsletter, an annual publication which highlights activities, workshops, conferences, publications, and other relevant information for ACC members (American Counseling Association, 2019).

The ACA for the state of Tennessee is located in the southern region. The cost of membership associated with the Tennessee Counseling Association (TCA) is not listed on any website I could find, however, I called and left a message and emailed as well. The contact information for TCA for membership is listed below:

Membership Secretary: Cherrie Holden; [email protected] TCA Membership: P.O. Box 240365, Memphis, TN 38124-0365; Toll Free Phone: 877-730-3159 Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society According to Capella University, to become a member of the Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society, students must have completed at least one semester of full-time graduate coursework in a counselor education degree program, have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 system, and be recommended for membership by the chapter, including promise for a capacity to represent the best about professional counseling through appropriate professional behavior, ethical judgment, emotional maturity, and attitudes conducive to working to advocate for wellness and human dignity for all (Capella University, 2019). I would say I am not completely opposed to the Chi Sigma Honor Society, however, I have always been resistant to honor societies in general. I feel as if I have been at a place in my life, for decades now, where I am comfortable with myself and all that comes along with being me. I have never been one to seek recognition, and I credit every experience in my life for who/what I am or may become.

That being said, I still aspire to be the absolute best that I can be, and I intend to do all I am able to more than meet the requirements for membership into Chi Sigma Iota, however, although it would be a great honor, I am not certain I would accept such a membership as I still have a bit of resistance to what I see as elitist groups or what I have come to see as the "better than" phenomenon that permeates much of society On the other hand, I would congratulate, encourage, and support, without judgment, any other counseling student who feels it is of importance to them to be accepted into such a society. In addition to the benefits listed above, benefits to belonging to multiple associations and/or societies related to the counseling profession are as immense as they are varied in activity, and although costly, I believe the cost and time commitment are worth the gains. Continuing education courses are often offered for no additional cost, and the one benefit that cannot be compared to much of anything else, in my opinion, is the benefit of connection to like-minded individuals all working toward a common goal, the well-being of this world in which we all share