In any case, my "Special Liberty" granted me the benefit of sleeping in this morning, as well as allowing for the comfort of wearing civilian clothes while I underwent the extremely intrusive process that constitutes any valid psychological evaluation. Although the clinical psychologist assigned to me could not have been more pleasant or professional, such a procedure requires answering questions about the innermost details of one's psyche, to include talking about all of the following topics as well as many others:
- sexual history
- sleep difficulties
- familial relationships
- gang involvement
- spending habits
- frequency, quantity, and purpose of having ingested various substances into one's body
- fears
- work ethic
- self-harming behavior
- nature of, and preferences about, one's social life
- grades in school
- risk-taking behavior
- hallucinations
- homicidal ideations
- changes in appetite
- physical, emotional, and sexual abuse history
- attention problems
- delinquent behaviors
- past mental health treatment
- marital history
- legal problems
Undergoing such a process myself was rather ironic in that it is the very task that the Navy has assigned for me to perform on those persons currently confined to the Navy's only boot camp, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. I found it very interesting to be the one on the proverbial couch for a change, and I can even say that I gained insight from the experience. Even better, at the end of the process, the doctor confidently pronounced that I am free of any psychiatric illnesses or personality disorders. She also assured me that in addition to explaining her diagnostic conclusions, she would express in her report that she found me to be very forthright, open, and honest in answering her questions. Additionally, she said that she would make clear her belief that I am sincere in my request to be classified as a conscientious objector.
With another box checked off the list, the next step is for an "Investigating Officer" to be assigned to my request and for that person to conduct an informal hearing. If you missed my earlier post on the process or just want a refresher, you can click on the link for Day 11 - A How-To Guide and scroll about half-way down the page to view all the information I have on what these next events will entail.
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