The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the writer presently perceives himself as a Counselor, 2) why the writer has chosen counseling psychology as a professional field of endeavor to pursue, 3) what skills and theories have been absorbed as a first semester graduate student in attendance at Cambridge College, and 4) what psychological concepts have most influenced or contributed to the writer’s approach via assigned readings, class discussions, interactive role modalities, in helping to construct a methodology that will be effective for potential patients / clients who may require professional psychotherapy services.
Psychologists study the human mind and human behavior, and apply their knowledge to a wide range of endeavors, including health, human services, management, education, law, and sports. Counseling psychologists use various techniques, including interviewing and testing, to advise people on how to deal with problems of everyday living. They work in settings such as university counseling centers, hospitals, and individual or group practices.
The writer has an avid interest in the field of counseling psychology / forensics, and the law, as such he intends to combine both disciplines in order to broaden his perspective of mental health care, behavior modification, and the application of rules of law as it relates to the social services healthcare field, and juvenile delinquents. The writer is an aspiring psychologist, and has an interest in direct patient care. Direct patient care is understood to be a form of counseling psychotherapy whereby the therapist may initially listen to the patient’s issues, examine the problems being discussed, and guide the patient through a means of reaching a resolution through self discovery.
There are various other techniques that a therapist may elect to utilize, predicated on what the therapist believes to be the most effective approach based upon the circumstances, time constraints, and the severity of the case at hand. Aspiring psychologists who are interested in direct patient care must be emotionally stable, mature, be active listeners, and be able to deal effectively with people.
Sensitivity, compassion, and the ability to lead and inspire others are particularly important qualities for clinical work and counseling, and these are some of the qualities that the writer possesses and espouses. These referenced qualities were thematic to a large extent in much of the readings and curriculum the class as a whole was exposed to, and more specifically detailed via readings in Carl Rogers book “On Becoming a Person” and via Irvin Yalom’s book “The Gif of Therapy. ” Both writers seem to use a similar theoretical framework of reference, where each approach appears more person centered or psychodynamic. The writer is a communicator and has an educational background in
English, American Literature, and a minor in philosophy. He has strong conflict counseling resolution knowledge, analytic abilities, and has been employed in a social service capacity with a focal emphasis on the legalize aspect of the mental health care industry. As a result, the writer brings a broader array of skill, maturity, case management practice, experience and understanding for the nature of counseling psychotherapy.
The writer has chosen to pursue the field of counseling psychology because he has some of the pertinent requisite skills required, and previously discussed, and he also has an interest to work with and help others. Being helpful to others is the real key here, because there is a personal satisfaction gained through aiding someone in need. Further, the writer also has an interest in working with juvenile delinquents, the criminal population, the field of law, and wanted to gain valuable deductive insight in counseling psychology, and perfect his problem solving ability.
As a first semester graduate student at Cambridge College the writer was given a reasonably fair exposure to some of the multitudes of psychological theoretical concepts. Psychological concepts and theories were presented as tools to better associate, provide exposure to, and distinguish the type methodical practice that would best suit one’s individual nature, interest and style. The initial theories that were predominant and central to Professor Taylor’s classes were espoused through readings by Carl Rogers and Irvin Yalom, in their respective books titled: “On Becoming a Person” by Carl Rogers, and “The Gift of Therapy” by Irvin Yalom.
The fundamental similarities in each work is pivoted on the clear cut humanistic approach each writer illustrated through the medium of their years of personal research and experiences with private clientele. The most important core concepts and values that may have emanated from Carl Rogers and that are germane to the writer’s understanding centers around his ideas of “client centered therapy” more commonly referred to as “personal centered therapy. ” Other key concepts that Rogers espoused are contained in some of the terms he coined such as “congruence” this terms seems to be defined or referred to as “genuineness” honesty with client.
“Non- judgmental attitude” refers to the stance one takes towards others related to their own personal conditioning and life experiences, and from this we learn not to judge others or reserve opinions by classifying behavior, but we should adapt an empathetic response and approach based on the whole person’s life experience and circumstances. Rogers’ famous requirements of the therapist. Rogers felt that a therapist, in order to be effective, must have three very special qualities: 1. Congruence — genuineness, honesty with the client. 2. Empathy — the ability to feel what the client feels.
3. Respect — acceptance, unconditional positive regard towards the client. The writer gained valuable insight in studying the concepts of Rogers, and found some of his ideas to be instinctive, inspire ring, socially intone with today’s vision of psychotherapy, reflective, and humanistic. Irvin Yalom is another competing psychotherapist whose work was given much attention throughout the course of the first semester.
His book seems to embody a collection of ideas and techniques which are presented in a humanistic model approach, but his focus seems more concentrated in the areas of existential dream consciousness, themed in the “here and now. ” In describing the practice of existential therapy, Yalom identifies the importance of content and process. “Content is concerned with the exact words that are spoken and process refers to the interpersonal relationship between the patient and therapist; it allows us to determine what those words mean. ” Yalom seems to suggest that a heightened awareness of the existential issues involved in a therapy session deeply influences the nature of the relationship between the therapist and patient.