Reflection On My Thoughts On Becoming A Mental Health Counselor

Brilliant Essays
Journal #1: My Thoughts on Becoming a Mental Health Counselor
Tanya Mizell
Walden University Journal #1: My Thoughts on Becoming a Mental Health Counselor With great significance, my progression through the Walden University’s mental health counseling program will indeed impact my life both personally and professionally. The impact of my studies and training will assist me in making the changes and enhancements that are necessary for me to be a proficient, commonsensical and open-minded counselor, while putting into practice the variety of methods I am being trained to use when working with clients professionally. I will not only be benefiting my clients, but also myself. I classify this process as a fundamental confrontation that I must face in order to alter my own way of thinking and ultimately flourish as a mental health counselor. As a mental health counselor, my involvement in clients’ lives will essentially be to facilitate the transformational change. In the article, “What is transformational change?,” Gass calls the transformational change holistic, and goes on to say that it is an “approach, a philosophy and a methodology” that is powered “by attending equally to hearts & minds, human behavior and the social
…show more content…
It is my belief that the process of revealing my own dilemmas is essential for my journey to become a mental health counselor. This process will require me to first heal so that I do not carry my own scars and emotions into therapy sessions with my clients. Healing thoroughly will allow me to be connected to my clients by way of previous experiences while properly assembling indispensable boundaries, as I guide clients towards the progression of closure and maturity, among other things that are a burden to them (Laureate Education,

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    After reading the overview of Capella University’s Master of Mental Health Counseling program and speaking with one of your advisors, I understand that this particular program will help me get right to where I would like to be in my profession, which is a Licensed Professional Counselor. There honestly isn’t any population of people that I’m not interested in working with, after taking different courses in my undergraduate program, I found myself interested in working with all populations of people.…

    • 2003 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The main key philosophies of counseling professions are wellness, resilience, and prevention, which provide counselors the ability to evaluate, to form a connection between the concept and understanding of ideas, and to provide growth and wellness to develop a treatment plan for each clients. Wellness, resilience, and prevention are the three key philosophies that are constantly evolving as the years go by. According to Myers and Sweeney (2008), wellness is the paradigm for counseling that provides several strength-based solutions to limit dysfunction and increase growth in every aspect of the client. Wellness is the main results that every counselor want to reach with all their clients. Assuring wellness to all clients cannot only assure clients…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first goal of the program was to “Apply major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology to prepare for graduate study or careers in which psychological training is relevant”(). Two classes met this goal, Introduction to Psychology (PSY 111) taken at Anne Arundel Community College, and Introduction to Counseling Psychology (PSYC 432) taken at the University of Maryland University College.…

    • 953 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    As a young child, I witnessed my father struggle with addiction. After my parents divorced and we were removed from the environment I always knew I would work with that population in life, but I did not know in what kind of sense, whether it was legal or mental health. I was passionate for that population because it was close and dear to my heart. I have always had the mentality that if I could help or save one person than everything I ever worked to that point has been worth it. I wanted to give back to society as they did with helping my fad recover and lead a healthy and abstinent life before passing away. I believe that every person should have that right and choice. I don’t plan to be a popular mental health counselor, but to be skilled, competent, and empathetic with every client that I meet. My plan as a counselor is to always advocate for the well-being of each and every client of mine.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Counseling is a rewarding career path to choose. Counseling allows for an understanding of human behavior, emotions, and thinking. It is a great opportunity for individuals to discover support in a safe, nurturing environment. This journey is an on-going as the knowledge to gain is always changing. I address the numerous reasons I am seeking this counseling degree, characteristics of a counselor, application of characteristics in the field, transferable skills, and overall goals in the career.…

    • 1589 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As individuals are train to view the individuals emphasizing the human developmental process, cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual characteristics/process and so forth (p.299). Therefore, Gerig (2014) mentioned that, “the legislators, policymakers, and third party reimburses increasingly see the mental health counseling profession as an important part of contribution to the community. Certainly, there is a struggle in the profession due to the variance within specific status make it difficult to speak of the profession as a unified entity”…

    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    As a future counselor, it is essential to conduct an ethical autobiography to enhance ones profession in the mental health field. There are three contributing factors that make up my ethical autobiography, which include my influences, experiences, and legal issues involving counseling. My family members and professionals, who surrounded me as I developed into the person I am today, formed my moral and ethical development. The experiences I have encountered over the years through my education and profession have contributed to my personal and professional development. Legal and ethical issues regarding counseling have an immense impact on my ethical autobiography. Confidentially, boundaries, and transference/countertransference will be ethical…

    • 153 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    My choice to go to the School of Professional Counseling graduate program was also inspired through my interactions with therapists I have worked with, and realizing the importance that the profession has in society, to simply make a difference in the lives of other. The skills and knowledge from the program will aid in taking me to my professional goal as a LPCC, and help me use my experiences as a testament and an inspiration to assist those through difficult times. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor I would be able to reach a broad array of clients, and add a unique perspective into this field through my own tragedies, much as Viktor Frankl did in his…

    • 1177 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I first became interested in counseling when I was helping a friend with serious drug related problems and family problems seek help and counsel from advisors. Being just sixteen, I didn’t know how to help him efficiently and felt both powerless and helpless at trying to find adequate resources and services to help him deal with his problems. While I did eventually find counseling services and potential help for him, the effects of his psychological problems were so brutal that he committed suicide. This profound experience of losing a close friend to suicide forced me to develop a strong interest into understanding the role, guidance and motivations that leads people to such extremes. At this point, I had already cultivated the desire to…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Therefore, during this internship I want to learn how and when to appropriately disclose for the therapeutic benefit of the client. Modeling or being an example to my clients may become part of my counseling style. By remaining upbeat, friendly, and engaging on a personal level, I should not only help my clients but strengthen the therapeutic relationship. I believe I will be able to help my clients because I have an ability to meet them at a common level, which helps me to refrain from casting moral judgement and getting annoyed or abrasive when a client relapses. I want to have the strength of a sponsor while the clinical skills of a therapist to aid the client in their personal growth and their development of healthy positive choices.…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Counseling is thought of as a waste of money or a sign of weakness for some. Others think of it as a way of life and setting one’s heavy life burdens down in action of releasing. One way to advocate for view change, may be to target specific cultures or backgrounds and evoke change within those communities by forming groups and facilitating outreach programs. The biggest barrier is not breaking through the stereotype, counseling isn’t a show of weakness but in fact shows great strength.…

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    The aim of this essay is to explore two counselling theories or theorists in depth, comparing and contrasting their background, theory of personality, theory of problems in living and theory of change. It is also necessary to assess their strengths and weaknesses as you see them and to evaluate which counselling situation that they would be most appropriate for. The two theories that I am going to discuss are the humanistic approach of person-centred therapy and the cognitive behavioural therapy approach of cognitive therapy. Carl Rogers agreed with the same main assumptions as Abraham Maslow but added that in order for a person to progress successfully they would require an environment that also gives genuineness, acceptance and empathy. He…

    • 2431 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    These issues will resurface when a client’s personal situation hits a nerve. When this happens the counselor tends to focus more on what he/she is experiencing instead of what the client is dealing with. Because effective counseling require that we give the client our full focus, we need to find creative ways to deal with those issues and maintain focus throughout our sessions. This will never be easy because we are humans, but taking steps early in this program will help us when we get to the beginning of our…

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In my evaluation, this is related to his unresolved issues with his deceased wife. For example, he talked about how he and his wife met during the baseball game, and how he understood what it meant to be in love. Self-disclosing can be very controversial because in some way and for some clients, it can be very helpful and therapeutic, however in other cases, it can be seen as a setback and can potentially harm the clients or endanger the therapeutic relationship. In Will’s case, as an observer, I think Sean’s self disclosure had help will in a sense that Sean had become a role model for Will concerning interpersonal and intimate relationships. During the course of therapy, Sean’s self disclosure had been more beneficial than harmful, however, it is my concern that Sean giving self disclosure to will was in fact him trying to heal his own pain. Here I call into question Sean’s clear motive of self-disclosing. It is our ethical obligation to only self-disclose when we are certain that it will be beneficial to the client. Hence, I recommend that in the future practice, practitioners in this organization should be more mindful and cautious about self-disclosing and make sure that the reason they self-disclose is for the best interest of the…

    • 1534 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Who we are personally and professional are entwined together. Our personal life impacts our professional life and vice versa. As professional counselors, we have to find that balance with managing personal and professional boundaries and how our values and beliefs affect what we do professionally. The challenge of balancing life roles are essential in any career, as counselors we are asked to look honestly at ourselves and choose how we want to change. It is important that we are open, as we ask of our clients to be. As an effective counselor, we have to follow traits that enable us to have healthy working relationships with our clients. Therefore, we reflect on our uniqueness as a person.…

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays