I was in a remote village in the Peruvian Andes conducting art therapy with prisoners when I realized this was the most meaningful experience of my life, and it should not be. The study and practice of psychology are the place where my humanitarian and intellectual interests align. I am applying to the clinical psychology program to fulfil the training I need to continue to make meaningful contributions to society and also contribute to the field of psychology through research. A family illness that is now happily behind me delayed me from doing so sooner. I hold a Master’s in Clinical Art Therapy from NYU. It was through that program, which provided me with the opportunity to determine what I needed to further learn, that my intention of returning to attain a PhD in Clinical Psychology was crystallized. As an undergraduate at Hunter College, I majored in psychology and religion, and minored in philosophy. Human psyche and behavior had always been my primary interest, and this focus quickly grew into a passion for psychology as I learned the complexities of human development in courses such as Personality Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Social Psychology. Likewise, I received a foundation for research in the courses Research Methods and Statistics, Psychological Testing, and Statistics for Psychology. Studying religion and philosophy complemented these courses with differing world-views and cultural awareness. During this time, I worked with special-needs children through the YMCA and with children diagnosed with autism through Special Sprouts. In doing so I found that artistic expression could facilitate therapy for people who did not have the vocabulary or organization of thought to communicate their feelings, or for whom... ... middle of paper ... ..., and interdisciplinary thinking because it aligns with my own vision as demonstrated by my past work both clinical and academic. My talents in working with diverse populations and settings drive my desire to attain a PhD. Ultimately my goal is to work in this field which I find rewarding and fascinating; specifically, to work with adults with psychopathology. I would also like to contribute to the broader field with research and teaching. I feel I have the makings of an empathic and dynamic psychotherapist with the capacity to work in alternative modalities. Based on your department's statement, I believe I will be an excellent fit based on my diverse educational background and experiences. In conclusion, I have taken the long path toward my goals, but it has made me absolutely certain of where I want to go, and I hope to be able to get there with your department.
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Show MoreOur society is in need of more individuals who wish to make a difference in their communities. Therefore, the obtaining of my degree in Mental Health Counseling, is my first step on my path of being able to give back to my community.
Ever since I was a child, I was entranced with psychology, but only saw it as a hobby. Now, my interest is in behavior and forensic psychology. The way people behave is fascinating for me to learn about, and any classes that I can take now that would help me in the future are always welcome. Psychology has always interesting to me, but I did not know what exactly it was until seventh grade when one of my friends told me how they had a therapist for her depression. At first, I thought that therapists only listened to people’s problems and then magically solved them, but I soon learned that that wasn’t the case. There were ups and downs with my friend, and she never really got ‘better’ in the sense of her being back to her old self, but therapy did help. When I saw her process, I was intrigued. I always knew that I wanted to help people, but knew no other way than community service. It was through my friend that I finally figured out the answer to what I wanted to do with my
Prior to working in my field, it seemed that I waited a very long time to be in the position I wanted to be in. When I first started working in my field I was very excited. Working as a Community support Worker, I often thought to myself that my current position would be the closest I would get to a social worker position. I was ecstatic about my achievements until I realized that I still was unsatisfied and I wanted more. When I realized my current career as a community support worker, was not enough for me I decided to advance in my field. I made the conscious decision to return back to school for my masters and obtain a master’s degree in mental health counseling. This process has been extremely rewarding and challenging. Although, I have been doing a wonderful job with my schooling, it has been very difficult to balance work, school, and family. While attending graduate school, I have been able to successfully complete my coursework and maintain quality grades however I have not been able to spend much time with my family as I would like. This transition has been extremely challenging, however it has taught me exceptional time management skills. It also has taught me how to deal with change. I am now open to change because I believe it is necessary for
The study of the mind, psychiatry, has in the last few years struck an interest within me. I wonder why we react differently when we face the same obstacles. For example, families with several children, raised by the same parents and in the same environment, yet turn out to be completely different individuals, sometimes very disturbed. The how, why and where of it all interests me. My immediate goal is to get my diploma and find out who I really am and what my soul desire truly is. I realize I have a deep desire to be of service to others. This is not a skill however, it's just me. I do feel one of my strongest skills is my artistic ability. I have a taste for and enjoy a diverse selection of movies, music, and reading material. I enjoy studying photography, biology, along with human behavior.
I decided to pursue clinical psychology for the professional development interview because it is very fascinating to
Throughout my undergraduate study of psychology, I selected challenging classes that were research oriented, in order to develop the skills needed for future careers in
In this small town, I teach Social Studies at the Charter School and will be an administrative dean next year. Upon completing my doctorate degree in Psychology, I hope to work as a mental health practitioner in that small town; however, because there is such a limited population of individuals, dual relationships could potentially emerge.
Lawrence gave a great example of what you can do with your psychology degree, whatever you want to do within that field, never give up and push toward your goals as a counseling psychology, social psychology, or even a Cognitive Neuropsychology. While doing the interview with Lawrence, he really does appreciate his job and the studies he had done changed him to have a better view of becoming a counseling psychology. I learned that here in Hawaii, it takes awhile to be licensed in psychology since you need the amount of hours; however, as what Lawrence said, sometimes you are not able to the hours if they are not many clients coming into therapy, and the therapist only cover a few hours a day or even once a
My first semester in college, I took a Psychology 101 course and immediately knew I wanted to work in this field. I was drawn into different theories and how individual’s minds work. I always believed I was born to help others and guide them to success in life. I desire to help others because of my own personal struggles with mental illness. My unique perspective on mental illness allows me to empathize on a different level with individuals. I desire to give back and support to the community the way it was there for me during my dark times. I was lucky to have known from the start that psychology was my interest. I am excited to continue my education in the counseling field and become a future Clinical Mental Health Counselor.
For some people, doing simple tasks may seem impossible because of a mental or physical disability that restricts some seemingly simple functions. These people can seek help from a recreational therapist to help achieve personal goals that may seem unlikely for them to accomplish. As part of my senior project, I had to research a career that I’m interested in and what it takes to obtain that career. I chose to research recreational therapy, and I looked at multiple websites to see if this career is a good choice for me. I had never heard of it before and didn't know that it was a career, but as I researched more and more, I realized that it could be a great fit for me. I also looked up some colleges in Pennsylvania to see what school I should go to to receive a good education that will prepare me for starting my life as a recreational therapist. I even emailed a professor, who used to be a therapist herself, of recreational therapy at the college I am interested in and conducted an interview. I learned a lot about this interesting career along this journey and I’m
As I have reflected on my life and what exactly I see myself doing in cases of a career I have always been destined to be a physical therapist and to help others. In this particular assignment I found out some things about myself that I didn’t know myself such as my interests, skills, and values. These three areas made me certain that now physical therapy was the career path for me. Through high school I didn’t have things all figured out as far as where my life would go but when I walked across the stage on the 11th day of June in the year 2016 reality set in. I began to ponder upon my own thoughts and question myself where do I go from here. Being that physical therapy has always interested me I said to myself, “it’s time to make a dream reality.” Helping others, working with others and finding ways to make one’s life more livable is something that I will never get tired of supporting the fact physical therapy is the career for me.
My interest in Psychology began in 2012, when I had the opportunity to research on my own about the subject. After I embarked on an introductory course in Psychology to relieve the boredom of working in a call centre, I then was motivated to continue with my studies. After securing my Higher and HNC in Social Science – I continued with the HND.
Why did I decide to study psychology? I have relatively been inquisitive why or how people behave the way they do, and they are, therefore, it always came out of the idea that I might help people. I wish to understand myself. I really enjoy what I am studying and what I feel is to do my best and consider if I made the ideal decision that I took. We act thoughtfully as an instinct by putting a lot of our energy on attempting to resolve other people’s problems and injustice, so, we truly often fail to take care of ourselves. We emphasize so much in problems and think about our future, that as a result, we become extremely sensitive.
My goal is to work in a mental health setting as soon as I graduate with my BSW. I would like to see if I should get my masters in social work or get my doctorate in psychology. Either way, I feel like I will be doing a great thing. As a professional, I want to help many people with their problems. I will encourage their opinions and ideas as well as help them form plans to better their
The complexities of the human mind, how it works, why it works, and why it deviates sometimes, were the factors that drew me towards the field of psychology. I was born in India and as I was growing up I realized that psychological problems were not discussed in public. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the disorders further instilled in me the need to understand them in detail. As I continue my academic journey I wish to delve into the depths of Clinical Psychology in order to understand psychopathology better and use my knowledge and skills to create customized intervention plans and to facilitate a harmonious living environment.