Clinical Mental Health Counseling Personal Statement

My interest in pursuing a doctorate degree in counseling psychology has been influenced by a combination of life experiences and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Though the path which has led me to this destination is complex, the journey has provided me with the clarity and insight necessary to understand human behavior from a holistic perspective. As I approach the completion of my masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I am faced with the unsettling realization that I have more questions than I do answers. This has fueled my innate desire and motivation to continue challenging myself by attaining a doctorate degree from the University of North Texas. It is hard to pinpoint the exact moment I knew I wanted to become a psychologist because as previously stated, the journey is complex and dates back to my childhood. When I was four years old, my parents adopted my 14 year old cousin after both her parents passed away. Her father died of AIDS while in

Over the next two years, I will work towards completing 3,000 hours of post licensure internship while continuing my education in a doctoral program. After completing the doctoral program, I would like to hold dual licensure as a professional counselor and psychologist. In the next 10 years, I would like to work at the collegiate level as an educator in psychology and/or counseling. My ultimate career goal is to operate a program for at risk men and women ages 18 to 25. The program I hope to create will focus on the transition to independence process (TIP) model. My focus will be to provide psychological services for young people who are aging out of foster care, have a juvenile record, or are teen parents. The process of entering adulthood is often difficult, especially for those who struggled through their adolescent years like my