Response post 1

· What interested you about these theories? 

The major aspect of these specific theories and readings for this week that resonated with me was in Facione (2015) article.  This article did not try to convince a reader on the idea by simply explaining a critical thinking definition.  This article dissected the components and elements of critical thinking and explained, defined, and described them.  Also, this article was set up so the readers used their own critical thinking skills which enhances retention, comprehension, and understanding at a deeper level. 

Blooms taxonomy (1956) describes in depth the different domains that help explain the difference between lower order and higher order thinking.  However, both orders have a specific purpose to developing, using, and accessing critical thinking skills. 

· How do they play a role in your professional life/How could you imagine using these models as a practitioner-scholar?  

I combined these two questions. Critical thinking plays an extremely important role in my professional life as an addictions counselor.  I am consistently utilizing my higher order critical thinking skills.  If I were to apply Bloom's taxonomy (1956) to a day as an addictions counselor, it would look like this while developing my skills in critical thinking to synthesize key principles, support my analysis, and ask the right questions: 

1. Knowledge: As a counselor, I need to utilize the cognitive domain to grasp psychological theories, coping skills, and basic signs and symptoms to appropriately assess and treat a client. 

2. Comprehension: I need to utilize cognitive comprehension to be able to describe and explain my assessments, conclusions, theories, evaluations, and recommendations for clients.  

3. Application: Every client has their own story and experience.  As an addictions counselor, it is my task to be able and competent to apply concepts to each individual, either the same or different situations. 

4. Analysis: At this higher level order thinking, my career expects that I am able to access my analysis skills to break down possible ideas, reasons, and experiences to addiction with different theories.  For example, is addiction nature VS nurture? or is addictions nature WITH/AND nurture?

5. Synthesis: At this level, the integration of experience, theory, ideas, and concepts are important to my every day practice when writing notes, conducting case conferences, making recommendations for after treatment, and etc. 

6. Evaluation: At this level, it is important to understand that therapy interventions will differ in effectiveness for different people.  For example, clients who have addictions and borderline, I would most likely use dialetical behavioral therapy opposed to cognitive behavioral therapy. 

· How do you see them applied to the world around you or current events? 

When I think of this question, I think of social media and how the news is released and depicted about our world and current events.  I feel that those with higher level order thinking skills are able to conclude their opinions and beliefs based on perspective and their ability to synthesize, analysis, and evaluate