Moral Reconation Therapy - Essay Example

How Moral Reconation Therapy Works According to Emergence, Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is a systematic treatment strategy that seeks to decrease recidivism among juvenile and adult criminal offenders. This is achieved through increasing individual reasoning. MRT is a cognitive-behavioral approach. It will help individual shape their personality. According to California Institute of Mental Health, MRT has been used in correctional environments. MRT is also implemented in other places like schools. This systematic strategy is also used in job training and similar programs. As a cognitive behavioral approach, it will help individuals to know the impact of their decisions. It aimed to enhance their reasoning skills in order to improve their moral judgment. MRT training has been proven to reduce recidivism rates, according to the research conducted by the Federal Correctional Institute in 1979 to 1983. Moreover, according to Emergence, MRT is conducted in a form of individual counseling. This can also be in a form of group treatment. It uses structured group exercises. After the session, they will be given homework assignments to test the improvement of their moral reasoning. Likewise, the MRT program is completed within three to six months. During the period of training, participants meet in groups. They may be asked to meet twice a week. Some of the counselors conducted weekly sessions to complete the workbook. As stated earlier, the entire workbook is focused in developing moral judgments and decision making of each participant. Several people abused their health because they do not know the real consequences of their actions. They might think that drinking liquor can help solve their problems. Some teens or adults choose to take drugs to run away from their problems. During each session, their personality is being shaped by the moral values that will eventually help them make right decisions in their lives. Their moral reasoning is enhanced using Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development. Moreover, MRT is widely used treatment strategy in changing the lives of many offenders in the United States. MRT program is being implemented by 40 states. Several countries outside the US are using this cognitive-behavioral approach, as well. On the same manner, the MRT workbook has 16 steps to complete within 3 to 6 month. Boston et al. (2001) presented the 16 steps. Honesty and trust are the first two steps of the program. In this particular process, the participants are required to show honesty and trust. According to the MRT Freedom Ladder, honesty and trust are at the lowest point of behavioral stage individuals can function. The people lie and cheat. This is more about emotions and anger – the inner feeling of people. In order to step up, the therapist would understand the level of disloyalty of their clients. The third step requires the acceptance of the rules. The participants are tested if they can follow procedures. They are obliged to complete the treatment requirements. Acceptance belongs to the third ladder. People in opposition have a big resemblance of disloyalty, however, unlike hiding the truth – they show it. They will oppose certain rules because they thought that the unfairness of the society is the reason why they are pushed to use drugs and the likes. They manipulate their lives that oftentimes caused conflicts. Step 4 talks about awareness. When the participants are already taught the consequences of hatred, of cheating the husband or wife – when they are informed why people tend to oppose the rules and regulations of the society – it’s time to help build a genuine and exhaustive self-awareness. Victims of drugs are somehow not aware of their decisions as their rational and moral reasoning are not yet developed. People are rational by nature. And by nature all individuals are norm-conforming – but because of disloyalty and opposition, one might be blocked from using his true decision making capability. Awareness falls into the fourth ladder – uncertainty. It is said that people in this stage may lie. They me cheat or steal. But they are not sure of doing these misconducts. They are not certain if they should steal. A husband, for example, is not sure to cheat her wife or not – but because his colleagues, he might consider cheating his innocent wife just to please them. But this stage basically won’t last long. In order to overcome this, the therapist should help the individuals to be conscious of their actions. Why people say “no” to a certain situation? Without genuine awareness of why individuals say “no” – they might fall into shortcomings again. Furthermore, the fifth step is about recollection. The participants are asked to make a written summary with their past relationships. How my girlfriend ended up our 6 year relationship because of my drug addiction? One might ask during the process. What should I do to overcome the traumatic experience? This will lead to a written plan on how to deal with the sad realities in their lives because of drug addictions and the like. In this stage, people begun to accept and realize that they hurt other people. A husband, for example, finally accepted that he hurt his wife by cheating her – and it would lead him to find a way to fix his relationship with her. On the same manner, step six is helping the clients addressed the real causes of happiness and unhappiness. Step seven is helping them set a long term goal. Why people isolate themselves from others? Why people feel that they are not part of the society? Based on the MRT Freedom Ladder, people may feel that they do not exist. They feel that they are here for no reason – that is why they take no responsibility of their actions. But helping them set goals would eventually help them realized that they are special – that they are part of the society. In this stage, the therapist would help their clients develop the sense of identity. Teaching them that they are unique and special individuals would help. Somehow, they may disregard themselves because they feel less valuable compared to other people in the society. Helping them build their identity could eventually develop their sense of responsibility. The next step is exciting for the participants. This is about breaking the goal into pieces. In the previous steps, they have developed their own identity – giving them the chance to live in harmony with the norm of the society. However, in order to fulfill the long term goal, one must refine his actions. What should I do next? What should I do to help me get rid of my alcohol addiction? As earlier stated, MRT helped decrease recidivism, by helping an alcohol addicted teen, for example, he need to set short term goals in order to completely get rid of the alcohol addictions – this would simplify the process that would eventually lead him to his ultimate goal – to live life to the fullest without the trace of addiction! This step is not just applied for the offenders – students, workers or even people who seek for a job can make use of the concept. In order to achieve an annual goal, for example, one should create an action plan into a timetable. Moreover, step 9 is about commitment to change. In order to completely stop the drug addiction, one must be committed to achieve his goal. In this stage, the therapists would help their clients evaluate their timetables. Have they achieved their weekly plans? By continually assessing the action plan or timetables, an individual can be notified of his progress with the entire process. Developing a sensible commitment might be hard to achieve, if an individual is always motivated and inspired to achieve his timetables – success is within reach. Based on the MRT Freedom Ladder, this step fall into “Danger” – this is a step higher with nonexistence. While people in nonexistence do not have goals, people at this stage have long term goals. But they feel the risk of dangers that lead them to find the company of friends and other people. An individual may fall short to the lowest level reasoning. But as one can respond to the requirements of the situation quickly, one may overcome right away. Step 10 is about maintaining the positive change. Individuals are guided on how to assess their moral values and actions as a person in general. Aside from achieving the time tables, individuals have social responsibility, as well. By helping the offenders assist the elements of their lives – they can better gauge their actions in order to conform to the moral standard of the society. Furthermore, step 11 is keeping moral commitments. In this stage, you can see a significant improvement of the lives of the participants! In this stage, they feel the urgency of completing their goals in time. But what amazed you is that – in this stage, individuals are not self-serving anymore. If in the previous stages – people set plans to build their own identities – to feel that they are no less than human! But when individuals can start to keep their commitments, he would feel the urgency to complete each task – people are already genuinely aware of their actions and that they want to fulfill their goals not just for themselves! Right this time, they consider other people, or the society as a whole in making decisions. Along the process, they have developed higher and idealized ethical principles. They might slip into the lowest level of reasoning – they will quickly respond to rectify it. Getting closer to the finale, participants who will successfully complete the step 11 of MRT workbook would step the “Normal” stage of the ladder of freedom. Lessons in life already incorporated into one’s life. Commonly, they will achieve their goals effortlessly. They developed the genuine concern for others, and their identity often involves the welfare of other people. People of this state would do their best to become and loyal. They feel more accountable for the lives of other people, especially their love ones. A husband chose not to cheat his wife despite of the temptation because he is aware that cheating is morally wrong. He is aware that it is not acceptable in his society and it is ethically wrong. A teen, who is pressured by his peers to take illegal drugs, will refuse them because he knows that it will ruin his life. He will refuse to take illegal drugs because he knows that it will hurt his family. He will swear not to take drugs because it is against the norms. How about the rest of the steps? Steps 13 and 16 involves in understanding more awareness of self. The MRT program will basically end on step 12, but participants can always dedicate oneself to a greater cause. While steps 1 to 12 can be achieved in a 6 months session, steps 13 to 16 are a lifetime stages. People who reached this level are completely not self-serving anymore – most of the times – they achieve things for the welfare of other people and the society as a whole. On the other hand, there are a lot of evidenced-based interventions on how to help juvenile and adult criminal offenders. Each one of them has advantages and disadvantages of each own. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a contextually focused form of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. This uses mindfulness and behavioral activation in order to stay positive despite of difficult situations. Another intervention is Cognitive Behavioral, Social Skills Training (CBSST). This is designed for middle-age and older clients. This aimed to help clients’ aid neurocognitive impairments. Another program is called Seeking Safety. It focused on helping individuals get rid or lessen the history of trauma and substance addiction. There are several lists that are being used by different institutions to help solve the problem of their clients. Based on the given list above, MRT works better as I’ve studied each one of them. While other focused into solving and enhancing the power of each individual respond based on their moral values – the steps used to Moral Reconation Therapy can solve the root cause of the problem. Lastly, according to According to Behrens, C. (2009), while MRT and other inventions are proven helpful based on statistics, says “…due to the complex nature of juvenile offending it seems naïve and disadvantageous to believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to intervention.” Therefore, MRT work well in some cases, but other inventions are program designed to excel in different circumstances. Considering all of them would maximize the results. Work Cited Adams, N. (n.d.). Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT). California Institute for Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.cmhda.org/go/portals/0/cmhda%20files/committees/sc/1210_oct/1210_cimh%20flyer%20mrt.pdf Emergence. (n.d.). Moral Reconation Therapy. Retrieved from http://www.4emergence.com/evidence-based-practice/moral-reconation-therapy Behrens, C. (2009). Evaluating the effectiveness of Moral Reconation Therapy with the juvenile offender population. Digital Repository @ Iowa State University. Retrieved from http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2099&context=etd Boston, C. M., Meier, A. L., & Jolin, A. (2001). Changing Offenders Behavior: Evaluating Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) in the Better People Program. Better People. Retrieved from http://www.betterpeople.org/docs/evaluation.pdf Illinois Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Justice. (n.d.). Evidence-Based Interventions. Retrieved from http://www.illinoiscenterofexcellence.org/index.cfm?metasection=ebp&metapage=ebp-interventions National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. (n.d.). Moral Reconation Theray (MRT). Retrieved from http://www.ncjfcj.org/moral-reconation-therapy-mrt Read More