MCMI-III interpretation and culturally relevant counseling goals

MCMI Interpretation

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory- III (MCMI-III) is a self-report psychological assessment tool. It is intended for adults. It seeks to provide information about psychopathology. It is not intended for use in the normal population, but is geared towards people seeking mental health services.

Validity

The MCMI-III contains internal measures of validity. The disclosure scale measures the amount of self-disclosure and willingness to admit symptoms and problems; the subject's BR score for disclosure was 67. The subject's BR score for desirability was 43; desirability measures the subject's tendency to answer items that make one look favorable. The subject's debasement score was 75; debasement measures the subject's tendency to exaggerate problems.

Scales

The clinical personality pattern scales measure the following personality patterns: schizoid (70), avoidant (66), depressive (96), dependent (65), histrionic (44), narcissistic (75), antisocial (66), aggressive (62), compulsive (57), passive-aggressive (68), and self-defeating (60). The severe personality pathology scales measure the following pathologies: schizotypal (69), borderline (63), and paranoid (75). The clinical syndrome scales / Axis I Symptom Scales measure: anxiety disorder (83), somatoform (73), bipolar (36), dysthymic disorder (82), alcohol dependence (63), drug dependence (71), posttraumatic stress disorder (79). The severe syndrome scales measure: though disorder (70), major depression (93), and delusional disorder (95).

Article Summary: Setting Culturally Relevant Goals by C.R. Ridley

In Setting Culturally Relevant Goals, C.R. Ridley discusses the role of goal setting in the counseling process. There are two types of goals set in the counseling process: process goals and outcome goals. It is important that the goals be tailored to a client's specific needs. Furthermore, it is important that the goals be achievable. Ridley not only discusses goal setting in the chapter, but also discusses how culture must be considered when setting goals in the counseling process.

Because the article being summarized is a book chapter and not a specific research article, it does not contain all of the components of a traditional research article. It does not have a hypothesis, introductory research findings, methodology, or results. However, the article does have a purpose: explaining how and why counselors need to consider individual culture in the goal-setting process. In addition, the chapter has an extensive discussion process, which specifically addresses culturally relevant goals for minority clients that should be added to the counseling process. The author believes that the process goals discussed in the chapter are relevant for every minority client, but that the outcome goals will vary from client to client.

The article is relevant to the interview process because goal setting is one of the main reasons that people enter into therapeutic relationships. Moreover, through the interview process, the counselor gains an understanding of the client's cultural background, which is essential knowledge for counselors who need to consider the client's cultural background when engaging in goal setting. Not all minorities of the same race or ethnicity share a cultural experience, and knowing the client's individual cultural background is the key to appropriate goal setting. The author makes the point that the clients are experts on themselves and that it is through communication that a counselor can share some of that expertise.