To truly reflect what another person is saying and feeling, we have to mentally insert ourselves into their world. This means being able to put our own self to the side and consider a viewpoint that is not our own. Counselors cultivate empathy using much the same method as actors. Counselors imagine what it would be like to think, feel, behave, and experience the physiological symptoms of their clients. This internal imaginal experience involves all our senses and interoceptive systems. Cultivating accurate empathy through reflective listening ensures that the direction of the counseling will be deeply useful to the client. The direction of each counseling session is called the contract. It is this essential step that prevents the counseling from seeming to circle around and around, going nowhere.When asked “What is it that you would like to address in counseling today?” most clients will present what is most prominent to them. Just as the mirrored surface of a lake does not immediately reveal the life below, the surface reasons people bring to counseling often do not represent the unconscious core concerns that drive them to repeat uncomfortable behavior patterns throughout their lives. Clients often identify a change that they want in the world or in other people, rather than in themselves. Counselors look beneath that surface. They propose a contract for change to the client that identifies a broader personal change that may not have immediately come to the client’s mind. The Contract question is an influencing microskill consisting of two elements; asking the client what would be most helpful, and tentatively offering a speculation of what that might be. This starts the collaborative discussion and the work of the session.This week will focus on reflective listening and on developing the contract for change. This discussion requires Theravue practice of three microskills: Reflection of Content, Reflection of Feeling, and Contract Question. The first two are key foundational building blocks of reflective listening. The Contract question is an influencing microskill consisting of two elements; asking the client what would be most helpful, and tentatively offering a speculation of what that might be. Counseling requires mindful use of conversational skills. With practice counseling students bridge the gap from unconscious to conscious use of their communication. You have experienced reading about counseling skills, watching faculty demonstrate them, and have already taken your first steps in saying them out loud. In this discussion with classmates you reflect upon and share your experience of verbalizing counseling skills in a way that mimics real life responding to clients.To prepare:Review relevant classroom resources practice the two verbal reflective listening skills: Reflection of Content and Reflection of Feeling, and the influencing microskill: Contract QuestionSelf-reflect on your experience of practicing verbal responses.Share the results of your self-reflections with your classmates. Include the following six areas (be specific):Observations about the clarity (diction), tone, and the pacing of your speechYour strengths in using counseling skillsAreas that are opportunities for further growthStrategies to meet those opportunities

Historically, feminism is a theory that has identified as liberal, or even, radical politics. However, conservative women have played an increasingly important role in American politics. Read What's Wrong with Equal Rights for Woman? by Phyllis Schlafly on page 692. How do her views differ from the views represented by the proposed Equal Rights Amendment? Why would a woman fight against expanded rights for women?Present your response in at least 250 words. Provide at least one reference, cited and referenced in the proper format, to support your response.

The Supreme Court is made up of nine justices who are responsible for deciding whether or not laws are in line with the U.S. Constitution. These individuals serve life-long appointments once they are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. Below is a list of some of the most controversial decisions in the last few decades by the Supreme Court. These cases are often mentioned by politicians during campaigns because the issues are still debated, even after the Supreme Court’s ruling.Write an essay analyzing one of the following key Supreme Court rulings:National Federation of Independent Businesses v. Sebelius: https://www.oyez.org/cases/2011/11-393?page=3District of Columbia v. Heller: http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2007/2007_07_290Roe v. Wade (abortion rights): http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1971/1971_70_18Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2008/2008_08_205Obergefell v. Hodges: https://www.oyez.org/cases/2014/14-556Your essay must be at least 500 words long.Answer these questions to complete your analysis of your selected Supreme Court ruling.Tell the reader which of the five key Supreme Court ruling you selected to analyze.What was the law being challenged in the case?Tell me any of the states or government entities that were part of the case.Who was the Petitioner in the Case?What was the Petitioner’s argument?Who was Respondent?What was the Respondent’s argument?What part or parts of the Constitution were discussed in the case?Why were those parts of the Constitution discussed in the case?What was the final Supreme Court ruling byWhat was the final score of the case was (for example 5 to 4 or 7 to 2 or some other combo that, in most cases, adds up to 9)What was the date that the case was decided?Which side won, was it the petitioner or the respondent?What did it mean that this particular side won?This is the most important part of the assignment: how does this case currently impact your life and the lives of Americans? Explore the political and electoral consequences of the ruling. Don’t just say, for example in the case of Roe v. Wade, women can now have abortions because only a small percent of the population is of childbearing potential – how did the case impact everyone else more generally? Think about how even this current or most recent presidential election was impacted by the ruling you have analyzed.Provide a reference list.Please note: APA formatting and citations rules apply to this and all essays in this course.As with all weekly written assignments, submit your work as an attached file. Double-space your paper and use 12 point Times New Roman as your font.