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Examining Hawthorne’s Christian Faith and Moral Critique

There has always been a debate centered on the profound nature of Hawthorne’s Christianity. Several literacy experts have questioned whether indeed Hawthorne was a Christian or whether he was just a moralist who wrote exciting short stories in his time. According to (Lynch 2010) the relationship between Hawthorne and Christianity is clear in all his writings but mostly in the Scarlett Letter.  John cline wrote an unpublished thesis that centered on categorizing the Christianity of Hawthorne as per the use of the bible in his writing. He shows several similar quotations in the bible as well as the short stories written by Hawthorne. However, his thesis has often been critiqued as lacking much substance and reference to become an academic authority.

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Hawthorne was born during what many historians have termed as the second rebirth; this is an era when there existed extreme religious awakening.  Churches were being built at a fervent speed; revivals began to be held almost daily. Hawthorne was exposed to this fever and therefore it is reflected in his writing. He criticizes the lack of faith and morals that are depicted in the judgment of others such as found in the scarlet letter short story. Further, one can identify several characters in his stories that are named after biblical characters.  However, unlike the majority of the Christians during his time who were more interested in the hype, Hawthorne attempts to show a deeper meaning to Christianity. He heavily critiques what he terms as puritans that are, religious fanatics who seem to think they are above others simply because of their faith, instead he portrays Christianity as a Unitarian religion where all people can come under the worship of one God and faith.

(Means 2006) cites that majority of the critiques have failed to see and show the importance of the bible to Hawthorne personally. He states that it is only on this basis that one would understand the basis of his work. The short stories that have entertained the world for decades cannot be separated from the life of Hawthorne. (Turner 1980) states that Hawthorne often quoted the bible with the frequency of one who was more than familiar with the scriptures. In his personal life, he showed his devotion to the Christian faith. He attended regularly the Sunday service and his own family often engaged in the study of the bible and evening prayers together, a sign that Christianity was taken seriously in the Hawthorne household.

Hawthorne wrote the story, Young Goodman Brown, at a time when he was insecure about his own faith and questioned the existence of true Christians. The story of the young man who loses his faith is actually considered to be a reflection of his own feelings at the time. According to (Reynolds 2001) Hawthorne is through this story trying to re-establish the morals that come with Christian faith. Through the story, he shows how the puritan era had corrupted Christians making the religion one be avoided rather than admired.  His work tended to be fixated on morals not because he was some kind of moral judgment but rather because he took his Christian faith seriously.  Without faith, as shown by the majority of his characters, human beings become lost in evil deeds whereupon they are unable to seek and find God’s mercy even when they need it most.

References

Lynch, J. (2010). Nathaniel Hawthorne. Pasadena, Calif: Salem Press

Means, R. (2006). Nathaniel Hawthorne. Toledo, Ohio: Great Neck Publishing.

Reynolds, L. J. (2001). A historical guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne. Oxford [England: Oxford University Press.

Turner, A. (1980). Nathaniel Hawthorne, a biography. New York: Oxford University Press.

5/5 - (4 votes)

Conquering Fear and Building Confidence: My Journey to Swimming Success

If you know how to swim, then you know how exciting it can be especially during summer. Growing up I did not give much thought about swimming, although I accompanied my friends to the pool and beach. I would watch as children are taught how to swim, some would scream, and this whole experience seemed very scary to me.

I decided that I must learn how to swim before going to college since Swimming is an important skill not only for leisure, but it can help save a life. Also, since I wanted to keep fit, I thought swimming would be the best exercise for me. I also realized perhaps swimming would make me more confident as a person.

 

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I had seen and visited a pool several times and for every visit, I was still nervous for my first lesson. I was shown the direction to the changing room, where I changed into my swimming attire. The instructor had not arrived yet I took time to touch the water and imaging how deep the pool is, what if I can’t swim? So many thoughts crisscrossed my mind at that moment. The instructor then showed up together with three more people two perhaps my age and the other a bit older. I looked at the older student who smiled back I noticed he did not feel embarrassed for not knowing how to swim at his age, I felt more at ease. The instructor introduced herself and asked us to get into the pool. I hesitated, and she had to hold my hand and help me into the pool. The instructor asked us to put on some wing-like things she explained that they would help us float. The instructor then asked us to hold onto the side of the pool as we kicked in the water for breaststroke. Next, individually, the instructor asked us to hold onto the kickboard as she pulled it through the water and we kicked. The other two students, Tom, and Mary seem to find it easy and were already beginning to swim by themselves in the shallow end of the pool.

I, on the other hand, was finding it very difficult since my legs got tired very fast, and I had to stop and rest for sometimes. The instructor was very patient with me all she did was smile and encourage me to go on. She suggested that with constant practice, I would catch up. I had to concentrate on my arms and legs since they were not coordinating. Giving up was not an option. I practised every day after school and was able o float and swim by myself. I was very happy the swimming feeling felt like I was flying across the water.

I must say this was the hardest thing that I have ever tried out. My first swimming class was not easy, I was, however, persistent and at last, I was able to conquer my fear for water. I learned a few things about the swimming experience that when I want to learn something new I should not give up. It may feel uncomfortable at fast but with constant practice, it feels very normal. It is also not too late to learn something since it all from the mind and we can achieve anything we put our minds and focus on. Today, I am an even better swimmer; I swim for both leisure and physical fitness. I am more confident in my body. I feel great for achieving my goal.

Through my journey of overcoming fear and learning to swim, I have gained much more than just a new skill. Swimming has become a symbol of conquering my doubts and embracing challenges head-on. It has taught me the importance of persistence and dedication in achieving personal goals. Beyond the physical benefits of swimming for fitness, it has instilled in me a sense of confidence and self-belief that transcends the pool. This experience has shown me that with determination and a willingness to push past my comfort zone, I can achieve remarkable things. As I continue to swim with confidence, I am reminded that the greatest victories often come from the courage to face our fears and take that first leap into the unknown.

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Deployment’s Effects on Military Families: Children, Spouses, and Servicemen

Introduction

As a soldier, deployment comes with a sense of prestige in representing the nation and having the weight of the nation on their back. It’s hard to ignore what their families go through during this period. The level of stress that they go through usually hits the roof with issues; like single parenting when a mother is left home or a husband is left home with the children. Moreover, there is also the aspect of anxiety, loneliness, fear of the safety of the member of the family that has been deployed added family responsibility, and many more. According to Mcguire .et.al (2016), the veterans are always respected and appreciated for their service to the nation but the sacrifices that their families made during the period of deployment are usually forgotten and less appreciated when it comes to their families and the sacrifices that the family.

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Contrary to the Norm, in September 2011 a different approach was taken on how the military men were treated before being reintegrated back to the community after deployment. The families of the deployed soldiers have also been taken care of in a more honorary manner by the country, and more support has been provided during and after the hectic and stressful periods of deployment(Mcguire .et.al, 2016).

This thesis looks into the breast cancer. Ann has been a staunch Christian since childhood just like the rest of her family that is left behind and try to demonstrate that the fact that frequent deployment leads to adverse effects on the children’s behaviors as well as the marital relationship with their spouse.

Children

According to the study conducted by Mcguire .et.al (2016), deployment is linked to behavioral problems of children as it was discovered quite a number were hyperactive, had peer issues and some were in an extreme fear majority had peer issue this may be because parenting had overwhelmed one partner. Mcguire finds a relationship between this study and the one conducted by Chandra et al. that showed that some children whose parents were deployed started causing trouble in school in regards to school work and peers.

According to the study, it has also been proved that deployment affects gender differently. Girls have more difficulties coping than boys when the parent is deployed. Having support groups, friends and people that understand and talk to the children about deployment has been proven to be useful and necessary (Barbee, Correa&Baughan, 2016).

Barbee, Correa&Baughan, (2016) also noted an increase in anxiety symptoms amongst the children whose parents were deployed .they also link it to the rise of anxiety to a drop in performance at school for the said children.

This research is essential as it shows the effects of deployment to a family as a whole include the children who are below six years who can barely express themselves but are still negatively affected by the absence of their parent because of p[aren’t is deployed.

Spouse

The spouse of the servicemen is not left behind. They have to take the responsibility of being both the father and the mother in the house. Feeling the roles left by the partner is not an easy task, and also the thought of being separated itself is stressful putting into consideration the thought that there is a chance they won’t meet again.

The study shows that during deployment, the spouse often finds solace in the support group and besides that, they are always faced with a lot of responsibilities to the extent they forget about themselves. (Cafferky&Shi, 2015)

The story goes further to show the roller coaster of emotions that the military wives usually go through during the period of deployment. They are always curious and anxious about updates and news to give them comfort and emotional security during this time. According to Lester et al. the longer the period of deployment the more it affects the marital relational as separation anxiety will grow and hence the negative impact on the relationship (Lester .et. al, 2010).

This research highlight the plight of military wives and the significant level of stress which may impact quality of life. Arthur should be educated during the discussion with the doctor and also his family negatively and to some extent it may lead to family segregation.

Servicemen

The extraordinary sacrifice that the military servicemen face during deployment is one of the hardest things one can do, a sacrifice of putting carrier first before the loved ones. The increased time that the servicemen spend in war zone example in Afghanistan and Iraq affects their mental health this is according to McGuire .et. Al (2016). He demonstrated that the servicemen usually experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with the frequent deployment and this disorder affects their relationship with the close family members.

McGuire .et.al. (2016) Noted difficulty in re-enlistment, he observed that reenlistment decision is based on how the first deployment was and the ability of the poverty on America’s families:Assessing our research knowledge. Journal of family to cope with the situation. Though it’s cumbersome for the servicemen to live a normal civilian lifestyle, they find it hard to live outside the military lifestyle.

This research is vital as it shows the degree to which deployment affects servicemen and how they make decisions when it comes to reenlistment.

Conclusion

The study has proven that the deployment does nothing but negatively affects the working environment. The worker needs proper shelter, transport, medical attention, and time for their family relationship. The poverty on America’s families:Assessing our research knowledge”. Journal of family bond between the spouse, members of the armed forces, and children weak about the time they stay away from each other. Studies have shown that children are the ones that are largely affected by the frequent deployment, though the spouse and the servicemen deal with the predicament differently having support groups and trained caregivers who could find out any stress-related emotions in both the children and their parents helps maintain the family order and reduces fear.

The support system has really changed, and nowadays it’s easily accessible to the families whose spouses have been deployed. All studies conducted have had a significant impact on the reintegration of the families that faced the deployment effect. We must appreciate the sacrifice that the military makes to keep us safe and live happy with our families. This should never be taken for granted.

References

Barbee, E. K., Correa, V. I., &Baughan, C. C. (2016). Understanding the Effects of Deployment on Military Families: Implications for Early

Cafferky, B., & Shi, L. (2015). Military Wives Emotionally Coping During Deployment: Balancing Dependence and Independence. American

Childhood Practitioners. Dimensions Of Early Childhood, 44(3), 4-11.

Journal Of health research in primary care. Family Therapy, 43(3), 282-295. doi:10.1080/01926187.2015.1034633

Lester, P., Aralis, H., Sinclair, M., Kiff, C., Lee, K., Mustillo, S., & Wadsworth, S. M. (2016). The impact of deployment on parental, theory suggests that suggests that poverty is hereditary passing from one generation to another due to genetic upbringing. A child brought up in a poor family and child adjustment in military families. Child Psychiatry And Human Development, 47(6), 938-949. doi:10.1007/s10578-016-0624-9

McGuire, A. L., Kanesarajah, J., Runge, C. E., Ireland, R., Waller, M., & Dobson, A. J. (2016). Effect of multiple deployments on military families: A cross-sectional study of the health and well-being of partners and children. Military Medicine, 181(4), 319-327. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00310

5/5 - (4 votes)

Overcoming Academic Challenges: Strategies for Improved Performance

I fully understand that class attendance is essential to academic success. The past semester, I missed two classes, Business Calculus (MTH 129) and English 200, resulting in poor performance. The reason for missing the classes was the past spring semester; I was severely ill and could not attend or focus on my tests. Furthermore, I was also dealing with many family and personal issues. The doctors put me on medication because I was clinically depressed. My sickness also caused me to be weak, have seizures, and lose 30 lbs. I never thought my sickness would interrupt my studies completely. Last semester, I managed several days in the hospital and between classes. A month into my homestay, I was not fully recovered yet but began to strive to catch up with my lessons. I was not severely affected by depression but had to deal with depressive symptoms at home. I had the time to read at home, attend doctor’s appointments, and work out. When I registered for the units at the beginning of the semester, I had high ambitions of passing my exams at the end of the semester. I later understood that it is possible to leave in the middle of a semester when having illnesses associated with depression compounded with personal family issues.

 

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My out-of-class study approach is well-planned, and I always follow it to the letter. First, I have a timetable where I go to the library for 2 hours in the evening to read or do some assignments. Moreover, I take notes during class lectures and rewrite them in the school library or at home. During My home study, I also use abbreviations to summarize major points from what I have read. I also have study group meeting meetings in the day in between lessons, for example, every Tuesday and Thursday, where we discuss and ask each other questions.

To get answers to my questions in every registered unit last semester, I participated in class and group discussions where I asked questions and made my contributions. Similarly, I could consult my unit teachers after class, research at the school library, or use internet sources.

Upon my last semester’s reflection and evaluation, the outside classroom factors hindered my work and full academic engagement, including mental health issues. As stated earlier, I was diagnosed with depression due to personal and family problems, which made me lose focus on my studies. My father lost his job, and he had no way of paying his loans, my school fees, my other siblings, our upkeep, and my grandparents. It was a big family problem that also led to my depression and also my siblings. I could not imagine dropping out of school because of the lack of school fees at the university level.

I felt I was not generally prepared for most of the exams, given that I missed some of my lessons and could not understand some concepts. Moreover, given that I had read some of the books, attended group discussions, and consulted my teachers, some areas were still unclear to me because of the vast areas in every unit, especially Business Calculus (MTH 129) and English 200.

I have reviewed my next semester’s course schedule and verified the number of hours for which I am registered, and they do not exceed the academic probation limit of 15.

To improve my GPA, I believe there is a benefit to retaking the courses in which I performed poorly. I will seriously consider Business Calculus (MTH 129) units and English 200 to improve my grades and GPA.

If the proposed units are offered next semester, I will be glad if Dean Wilbers recommends that I join the classes as soon as possible instead of postponing them. I will also be glad to continue with other units if there are no clashes in my class timetables and if it does not exceed the academic probation limit of 15 hours.

Have personal study time- I will draw a weekly study calendar and determine how much time I will have and when I will have it. I will fill in my class time, study time which will be mandatory, meals time, and allowance time for my walking and for games/exercise, sleep, fun, and personal time. This way, I can measure the hours I spend studying and attending my classes.

Have consultation time with teachers and attend group discussions- I will join my class discussions to brainstorm on some of the class or unit issues I have a problem understanding. Moreover, if I miss a concept, I will follow up with the teachers for a consultation or further explanation until I fully understand it. This section will be measurable with the number of times I consulted my teachers and the time I attended group discussions.

Participate in class throughout the next semester- at the beginning of the term, I will read the syllabus the teachers gave. I will also regularly attend classes to ensure I hear the crucial lectures, take notes and understand the readings and given assignments. Moreover, in class, I will take notes by paying attention and ensure I do and submit my assignments.

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Societal and Cultural Factors Shaping Feminism in Women

Men have dominated women for centuries. The social injustice and women stereotype has been perceived to be a state of order defined by nature which Simone de Beauvoir strongly disagrees with in her book, The Second Sex. Society oppresses and discriminates against women in every aspect, denying them their full rights as the human race. Society fails to acknowledge the uniqueness of both sexes and instead chooses to treat women as objects attributing them to everything inferior. Simone de Beauvoir believes feminism is imposed on women nurtured by external processes they undergo in their development stages right from birth, youth to adulthood in her opening statement of Volume II of the Second Sex that says, ‘one is not born a woman, but becomes a woman.’ This paper focuses on societal and cultural aspects that conspire against the girl child to nurture her feminism, which has defined her unfair place in society for ages. Everything they are exposed to teaches them to be women and to stay women.

 

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The roles of sexes (men and women) that resulted from divisions of labor in society are not naturally defined but rather have been culturally determined given that they differ from community to community and are passed from generation to generation. Women have the most boring jobs with household chores that define their worlds. They are confined and introduced to the kitchen at a tender age since they are made to spend time learning the practical skills of cooking and household management, as implied by Beauvoir (493). This definition of roles still exists in the twenty-first century since society is structured in a manner that a lady’s incompetence in house chores is a silent taboo as they are constantly scolded, while for a man, it is understandable, thus indicating the extent of expectation on women thus contribute to their becoming-woman.

Women’s education centers on their proposed societal primary destiny, which is to get married. They are taught to be submissive, yet in a real sense, no natural phenomenon made men the head of the family. The informal education prepares them exclusively for marriage since they are taught how to handle themselves around men and how to look pretty for men, with the actions of content and submission emphasized. That preparation results in a dream by women to get married into a reputable family to the extent that failing to be married makes them divested and earns them shame in the eyes of their families and society as a whole, as implied by Beauvoir (221). From my experience, unmarried women are not openly scolded but are sidelined and disgraced as society wonders about the cause of their ‘abnormality.’ In addition, women are blamed for broken marriages since society lament bitterly concerning their improper upbringing. One of their fundamental teachings is tolerance and perseverance, which a person needs to survive in an oppressive environment, thus indicating that feminism is nurtured.

Feminism is indeed cultivated. Currently, newborn babies’ sexes are distinguished by color. The girl child is assigned the pink color while the boy blue. The girl child’s room is decorated in pink, and she is dressed in pink. These colors are not naturally selected. Instead, they are cultural practices imposed on society. Thus, society initiates inequality right from birth. The blue and pink culture implies the boundary of the boy and girl child worlds. This initiation ensures that the girl child grows up knowing her limits and societal expectations of her, as Beauvoir implies (52). The pink color implies she is a doll and emphasizes that she is an object to be adored which defines her choices in life for eternality. Any attempt to redeem herself from the pink color is not taken kindly as society scolds her for going against culture and crossing forbidden lines, as she is branded unkind names like ‘tomboy.’

The toys kids are provided with do strongly reinforce masculinity and feminism. For instance, girls are given dolls and even directed to handle them with tenderness and care, thus preparing them for motherhood. Whereas boys are provided with machinery such as cars instilled in them at a tender age, their position is the society economically, creating that desire in them to own those things in the future. This decision on selecting toys and games arises from social evaluation of the toys and games as either suitable or unsuitable for a gal or a boy and not from the babies’ biological sex. Thus the games and toys selected for girls focus more on their future roles than just the purpose of playing. Beauvoir (53) associates gender differences not only with communication but cultural practices that create a clear distinction serving as a learning point for the world she will inhabit as a woman.

Society reinforces feminism and masculinity in every way, even through advertisements in the media and textbooks, and fairytales. Advertisements displayed on television and other media are notorious for fortifying gender injustice. They enforce the boundaries girls and boys can explore, creating the impression that the girl child is suitable for practical jobs while boys can go out into the world and be creative. For instance, a manufacturer advertising cleaning substances or sewing machines use women while those marketing cars use men, clearly creating a perception of their societal roles. Advisements remind the girl child of the world she belongs to, closed everywhere and dominated by men such that no matter how far she wanders, there is also a ceiling above her, as stated by Beauvoir (52); thus, feminism is cultivated, not inborn.

Feminism is nurtured even through professionalism. Women are associated with professionals requiring care like nursing and child care, where their motherly instincts are thought to be made useful, as implied by Beauvoir (387), and an attempt to redeem themselves from this line of work earns them respect but not as much as the men in a similar profession as they are considered confused and completely lost. Currently, women have adventured into different professions but have not sealed the gap between the sexes professionally. This is greatly contributed by the career choices available to women considering the career advice they receive. Moreover, in as much as education has been made mandatory for all, fathers still groom their children into their desired profession from a tender age by exposing them to a specific environment and constantly defining their capabilities; thus, De Beauvoir’s claim that equality is an illusion since women enjoy only what men allow them.

In conclusion, feminism is indeed nurtured, just as pointed out by Simone de Beauvoir in her book, the Second Sex Volume II. Every development stage of a girl’s child from birth is dominated by reminders of her role and position in society such that she grows up aware of her boundaries. The cultural practices imposed on the girl child at every stage of growth serve to foster and maintain feminism; thus, the notion that women are naturally born feminine is misguided and misleading, as its purpose is to sustain the dominant order created by men. The pink world the girl child is initiated into at birth defines the word she is expected to inhabit and reinforces her objectivity. Women are introduced into the world of motherhood at a tender age during the selection of games and toys such that their choices are limited to those regarding care. Advertisements, textbooks, and fairytales also contribute a lot to creating boundaries as they provide a clear picture of the world the girl child is expected to inhabit. In addition, the education the girl child is subjected to all incline towards her primary destiny, which is marriage and her fundamental purpose, motherhood, all making her submissive and inferior. Therefore as much as in the current society, girls are not directly told their place in society; all signals tell them they do not inhabit the same world as boys and thus tend to focus on becoming and staying women.

Work Cited

Beauvoir, Simone. The Second Sex. New York: Knopf, 1953. Print.

5/5 - (4 votes)

Strengthening Relationships through Sensate Focus Exercises

Sensate focus is a combination of sexual exercises that are designed to allow a couple’s relationship to become closer. The counseling system is specially designed for couples who are undergoing a difficult time or who have lost a sense of intimacy. The system was designed by Michel Johnson, on the belief that the intimacy of a couple and strength of their relationship could be re-established and made more effective by following the steps in sensate focus. The sensate focus however, must be guided by a counselor and not just any counselor but a sex therapist.  The program is designed to deal with doubts and fears that kill intimacy by slowly building towards positive reinforcement.

 

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Step 1: non-genital sensate focus

This is the first stage of the counseling program. The couple engages in light touching, with majority of the touch focusing on all visible body parts.  This stage involves several stages in itself. At the first session, the couple is allowed to disrobe to their underwear only. Focus is on areas such as face and arms. After a while, the couple is allowed to get more intimate moving on to the back and neck and finally groin area. Jongsma (2004) cites that This establishes confidence in each of the individuals and allows them a chance to know more about each other in terms of reaction to the touch. It is almost like an attempt to acquire as much knowledge as possible on the partner’s body.

It is important for the couple to avoid the obvious erogenous zones that they may focus on during the intimate sessions in their relationship. Further, full intercourse and achievement of a climax s not permitted. This is strictly a learning exercise.

Step 2: Genital Sensate

At this stage the options of intimacy are increased to include genitals and other vital parts of known as erogenous zones. Once again intercourse is not allowed, however the couple are required to focus their attention towards what the genitals and other parts feel, and the feeling it creates. (VandeCreek et al 2007) suggest that it is important to spend some time on this stage. The intimacy and level of arousal should be increased with each time. The aim is to ensure that each partner learns the response of the other with regard to particular stimulation techniques. As intimacy increases, oral stimulation can be introduced for both partners. However, this should only be attempted once all partners are comfortable. A common error for the couple might be the focus on generating an orgasm. Should an orgasm occur during this stage, it is acceptable. However, this is not the aim of the exercise.

Step 3: Penetrative Sensate Focus

This stage should only be attempted once the counselors are convinced that intimacy is growing with the couple. At this stage, penetration is allowed with the person being penetrated being the individual with the greatest fear, (O’Donohue 2003) . This is because they will enjoy maximum control of the situation. At the initial stage of this exercise, thrusting is not allowed. The focus is more on gentle penetration. Partners are also allowed to switch positions so that each one enjoys some level of control. After a while, thrusting is allowed, of course starting gentle then moving on to faster thrusting.

Conclusion

The important thing to note about sensate focus is that the focus is never on the orgasm but rather on the intimacy of the couple. It is ideal for treating sexual impotence, and allowing couples to reestablish intimacy and bring back pleasure to their relationship.

References

Jongsma, A. E. (2004). Adult psychotherapy homework planner. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.O’Donohue, W. T., Fisher, J. E., & Hayes, S. C. (2003). Cognitive behavior therapy: Applying empirically supported techniques in your practice. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.

VandeCreek, L., Peterson, F. L., & Bley, J. W. (2007). Focus on sexual health. Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press.

5/5 - (4 votes)