Assessment in psychotherapy and its impacts

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
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Reflection 1
Title: Assessment in psychotherapy and its impacts
The first chapter in the Clinician’s Handbook of Child Behavior Assessment provides
some significant insight into the assessment of the behavior of children in various contexts.
Not only does it provide a background on behavior assessment but also asks two very
significant questions – ‘Whose’ behavior is being assessed and ‘what’ behavior is being
assessed. I think among all the questions asked in the first chapter, these two hold paramount
significance as it not only answers the questions regarding behavior assessment but also
provides a foreshadowing on the readers on behavior assessment of children. A key inclusion
in the first part of the chapter was the assessment that the behavior of a child is not
independent but rather a byproduct of parent and teacher behavior with the children. I have
experienced as well as read about instances of family violence where an indirect
psychological impact on children has reaped a variety of behavioral traits like increased
aggression, resilience, apathy (Margolin & Gordis, 2004) as well as in some cases, premature
depression and anxiety followed by substance abuse in adolescents (Hughes, 1988). This
comes as a shocking revelation at the outset, however it would not be unjustified as the
critical period for learning in case of children is also very important for their behavioral
development. I also find the aspect of behavioral disorder as a correlated disorder with other
mental health disorders a perfectly justified assertion. I have personally experienced instances
from my childhood where one of my friends had delusional disorder under DSM – V
category of Grandiose (APA, 2013) and he used to behave extremely rudely with almost
everyone except his father.
Regarding external factors affecting children’s behavior, it has been extensively
covered in chapter 4 of ‘Abnormal Child Psychology’ where the authors have rightfully
highlighted all the possible factors that can affect child behavioral development. I personally

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think that the systematic order in which the procedure for assessment and evaluation has been
addressed in the book(s) are well suited especially when we are concerning with children.
The most interesting aspect that I have found in these two books along with the book on
psychometrics is that all these texts are focused on the aspect of assessment. This indicates
that irrespective of the factors underpinning a mental condition, assessment plays the most
significant role when it comes to understanding the condition of the child behavior. On the
other hand, a faulty assessment can lead to faulty assumptions and formulations which would
be detrimental to the child.
Reflection 2
Title: Understanding children behavior – individualism vs culturalism.
1. Given that most children engage in activities or behaviors that are deemed wrong or
inappropriate by their parents, it becomes a difficult task to address their behavior while
facing the dilemma between confiding with the child or the parent. In this regard, I would like
to refer to another TED video where Sir Ken Robinson (TED, 2007, Jan 6) talk about his
interaction with choreographer Gillian Lynne. In the video, Sir Robinson mentions that when
Lynne was a young child, she never paid attention to schoolwork but would rather spend her
time dancing. It was in the 1930s, when ADHD was not identified as a disorder, she was
taken to a practitioner by her mother where the practitioner talked only with her mother about
her issues. Initially it would describe the discrepancy that lies between the patient – parent
and the professional. However, as the video progresses we get to know that Lynne was left
alone with music turned on in the chamber and as her mother and the practitioner observed
from outside, Lynne started dancing, to which, the practitioner explained her mother that she
does not have any disease, she was rather a dancer. In my opinion, as a practitioner, it is as
important to identify the children’s behavioral issues as it is to make sure that the parents are