Mental Health Personal Statement

Section 1: Professional Development Plan For most of my life I have been motivated to help people so when I made the decision to continue my education at Walden University, I knew that I was ready for the journey. I am currently seeking a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and I am expected to graduate in the winter of 2025. This paper was written on June 30th, 2023, with the intent of further understanding my motivations for seeking this degree as well as visualizing the type of counselor I want to be in the future. Throughout this paper, I also discuss what is expected of me throughout my degree program, counseling career, and overall professional development.

Students will complete an individual biopsychosocial assessment, including goal setting and implementation of a change strategy (e.g. therapeutic approach) for either a real or a fictional client. For students who are presently enrolled in a practicum, and if it is feasible and appropriate to do so, they will be encouraged to use a real client (names and personally identifiable information must be changed for the purposes of the assignment). If a real client is not practical, a fictional client from a television series (In Treatment) will be used instead. If using a fictional client, students will need to imagine, based on the presentation in the show, what the client’s goals might be and what change strategies the student social worker might

I remain positive and energetic because I always look forward to challenges in life. As ex professional athlete, I always set realistic targets and time scale for myself and others I teach. This method ensures that you concentrate on your targets and remain focused on tasks ahead step by step. I have a different way of training and teaching. I focus on psychology using mind over matter as I believe every person can do any given task.

I was fortunate enough to receive professional help and support from a counselor who helped me cope with my emotions, develop coping skills, and regain my confidence and self-esteem. Through this process, I realized the importance and value of mental health counseling and how it can make a positive difference in people’s lives. I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology from XYZ University, where I learned about the theoretical and empirical foundations of human behavior, cognition, emotion, and personality. I also gained practical skills in conducting research, analyzing data, and writing reports. I participated in several extracurricular activities that enhanced my interpersonal and communication skills, such as volunteering at a local mental health center, joining the peer counseling club, and attending workshops and seminars on various topics related to mental

My educational goal to pursue a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Trauma and Crisis Counseling is a result of my personal life experiences and my admiration for those who work in this field, dedicated to helping those who may feel dragged down by toxic cycles and heavy memories, like myself once did, to create a life filled with meaning. As a Sociology major in my undergraduate career, I’ve always been interested in other people and why they operate the way that they do. It wasn’t long after earning my bachelors that I came to the belief that my past experiences and mental health journey could become my superpower to help others, and that if I wish for society to collectively feel better, then the focus on

Journal #1: My Thoughts on Becoming a Mental Health Counselor The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the views of becoming a mental health counselor. Although there are many professions to choose from, I decided a mental health counselor with a specialized area in women’s health and domestic violence is my true calling. Tiffany Rush-Wilson Ph. D. stated, “That if we are in this field is because we have a true passion and the seed to do this type of work” (Laureate, 2012).

The human services field is where I want to contribute the most during my lifetime. Moreover, I learned a lot about myself, I have some experiences that will contribute to my professional growth and identity and I am certain there will be challenges in my future as a psychologist. Furthermore, this course has further validated my pre-existing values and revealed some of my blind spots.

Collaborating with Fellow Professionals As a mental health counselor, a vital role as a professional in this career is to provide therapeutic services to individuals in need. We will be helping mediums to several diverse populations, including cultures, sexualities, and religions. We should go into each session with an open mind and heart, seeking clarity while listening to clients and strive to come up with goals for their personal growth, bearing in mind the ethical and moral values we have learned. Through the years, the counseling identity has been looked at through blurred lines. We are constantly trying to figure out where we belong amongst a world full of social workers and psychologists.

As I learn more about counseling theories, I realize that it is important for a counselor to not act as an expert on a client’s life, rather, this role is solely

The student demonstrated their understanding of this in the psychoeducational and life-skills groups project, through integrating worksheets into sessions such as the artifact that examines the patients’ relationships to determine those that are problematic and unhealthy. This project contributed to the student’s learning experience because the student was challenged with overcoming their social anxiety. The student worked through the physical and mental challenges that arose from facilitating sessions, by adopting the skills they taught patients, which included techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy. The student also processed their experience with the clinical staff. The primary sessions, individual therapy, and trauma group project contributed to the student’s learning experience because the student was challenged with familiarizing themself with the patients’ dual diagnosis and their medications, because it was important to be familiar with that information when selecting the most effective interventions.

Jones ADATC has helped me develop awareness of my areas of professional and personal strengths and limitation. I was fortunate enough to have a sensitive field-site supervisor who emphasized my capabilities, provided positive and constructive feedback, and gave me a lot of encouragement. Her ongoing support and understanding of what I was going through decreased my anxiety level and self-doubts about my counseling skills. Practicum gave me an opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge and apply it to practical settings. By participating in intake assessments, psychiatric consultations, and by providing individual therapy and psychoeducational group, I improved my counseling skills, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and notes writing, which also helped build my self-confidence.

Not being able to cope with certain situations in my life, turned to many problems and made it hard to live, happily. After receiving therapy with a certified psychologist for almost nine years, my outlook on life has completely transformed. I have learned how to confront my emotions in a healthy way and how to have a positive attitude towards my day, regardless of the trials that life throws at me. I have been able to develop a character that others have called selfless, caring, and determined to help others. The influence of a psychologist 's help has exponentially heightened my interest in aiding people in dealing with difficult situations and inspired me to pursue a degree in

I believe my best ATL is self-management. Ever since I was young, I have always been on top of things and the ability to push myself. People would always tell me what I can and cannot do. I never listened to them. I learned to push myself over the limit until I reached my goal.

During my community health internship, I hope to grow personally and academically and be able to take the skills learned in class and apply them for future public health practice. Currently, I am interested in internships where I will have exposure to government policies, advocacy, and field research work. These are some categories of work where I have not had much exposure in and I would like to learn more about. In addition, I enjoy to work in a fast paced work environment that requires me to be a critical thinker and have direct hands-on experience. The specific work environments I am interested in are the federal workforce, research labs and public health consulting groups.

No matter what, science has always been one of my favorite subjects. Additionally, the human body has never failed to spark my curiosity. To elucidate, my interest in the human brain and mental health has encouraged me to look further into the schematics of the mind. In the same way, it has just been fascinating to see how one small thing can completely change the structure of someone's mind. In spite of everyone being unique in their own way, most people would assume everyone’s brain is wired the same way, nevertheless, that is hardly ever the case.