Joshua Dentley
Joshua Dentley is a Mental Health Counselor with Counseling and Psychological Services.
Twelve years ago, Joshua started his career in Pediatric Behavioral Health with the University of Rochester. In 2018, he transitioned to the Raise the Age Residential program at the Villa of Hope, a program serving youth involved with the Juvenile Justice System. In 2020—the RIT graduate—returned to his Alma Mater to join the team at Counseling and Psychological services.
1. HOW DO YOU TEACH OR EXEMPLIFY APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING?
Students often view me as an expert in my field. My education and training gives them the impression I might possess the answers they seek. They come to me and say, why do I suffer? But I have no reply. Each promptly comes to understand that my role in their life isn’t to think for them, but to facilitate a process of self-inquiry which guides them to the answers that already reside within. Engaging clients in this process of self-examination becomes the catalyst for change in their lives.
2. WHY DO YOU THINK APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING IS IMPORTANT IN YOUR DOMAIN OR ROLE?
It is through our belief systems that our realities are created. When we are unwilling to question our own thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs—we may inadvertently act out unhealthy patterns that negatively impact relationships and our occupations. Through a process of guided self-inquiry, clients can honestly and safely analyze and evaluate their deepest values and assumptions about the world, in hope of developing healthier ways of coping with the challenges they face.
3. CAN YOU SHARE A STORY WHERE QUALITY APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING WAS KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS?
In spite of the richness and diversity of experience encountered in my work, there are essential human elements that are customary to most problems of living. Students often attend sessions with concerns about academic performance, relationships, communication, fear, and a plethora of other issues causing them distress. In our exploratory alliance, we often find that it is how the student feels about themselves that has been the driving force behind their hang ups. It is their unexamined beliefs about their value, worth, likeability, and capability that often sustain their unhealthy patterns in relationships and academics. But in the light of an honest analysis of their perceptions, feelings, beliefs, actions and experiences, I have seen many students find that their meager self-assessment is often unjustified and irrational. From this alone—I have witnessed a new confidence emerge in many—and the journey through change truly begins for them.
4. HOW DO YOU USE CRITICAL THINKING IN OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE OF RIT?
Each of us exists in a context of family, education, religion, culture, economics, politics etc. All these structures have played a role in shaping and molding who I have become and how I view the world around me. In questioning and evaluating myself, I have also learned to be critical of the systems that perpetually influenced my life and way of being. I have come to understand that our problems of living don’t necessarily originate from intrapsychic causes alone, but are often products of systems that are broken and even hostile to our nature. An important question I have asked myself—is it us or is it the world as we know it that is maladjusted? Though the discovery and development of my own creative power, a decision was made to positively influence my environment in any way possible. A commitment was made to look critically at the world around me; and to contribute to the creation of a world where health, wealth, love, and fulfillment for all is supported by the systems we interact with.
5. ANY LAST CRITICAL THOUGHTS YOU WISH TO SHARE?
Our ability to think critically is an important aspect of what makes us uniquely human, and it is the catalyst to our personal and collective progress. Without using reason and logic to assess the utility of our actions, we run the risk of becoming prisoner to our instinct. It is in our nature to conserve the methods of operation we’ve linked to our survival. This principal applies in every area of human activity. It is comforting for us to know what to do—but it is equally important to know when to change. It is essential that we learn to effectively assess and evaluate what we are thinking, feeling, and doing on an individual and a collective scale, in a systematic way. This skill furnishes the gift of freedom and grants us the ability to transcend our present state of being.