Why I Want to Be a Mental Health Counselor

Delving into the heart of why I want to be a mental health counselor is an extension of my educational journey, which includes an impending graduation on December 15, 2018, with a Bachelor of General Studies. My academic pursuits in Mass Communication, Sociology, and Philosophy have laid a multifaceted foundation for my career aspirations. While studying General Studies I was able to take a various amount of courses, throughout completing my Sociology minor I have learned about different cultures, races, stereotypes, social connections, and the configuration of interpersonal relationships. In my studies of Philosophy, I have learned how to reason critically within decision-making or problem-solving. While studying Mass Communication I developed essential problem-solving skills and learned how the media work and leaves an impression on our society.

Transitioning into my eagerness to study Mental Health concludes family that goes through these issues. I have lost a family member to suicide due to depression, not only does it sadden me it allows me to want to gain more understanding of this serious issue. I also have another family member (who is also my roommate) that struggles with depression daily. My ability to help him by just listening and allowing him to feel the way he feels without judging makes him lean on me when he is feeling down. This alone is moving to me and started my journey on wanting to further my education within Mental Health Counseling. Who decides what is abnormal and what is not, who decides whether someone is depressed or whether someone is not?

In our society, there is an extreme sense of social stigma on Mental Health and the importance of it. Many individuals within our society do not take people nor signs seriously when dealing with someone who has Mental Health issues. My goals include becoming a graduate student at Georgia State University to further my learnings in professional and ethical practices, understanding people across the lifespan of cultural contexts, helping individuals build lives of wellness, health, and meaning, and social and cultural diversity. By the way, when it comes to students, I also recommend reading the excellent article on mental health for students, which provides useful resources.  Figuring out my purpose was hard for me but I always knew to put people before myself was something that came as second nature to me. I want to study Mental Health Counseling at Georgia State University because the university is diverse and prepares their students to be able to work with individuals, couples, and groups. I am open to change and I know that being at Georgia State University and obtaining my professional licensure as a counselor in Georgia would be a good fit for me in which I would want to practice and grow. In my spare time away from school, I have been determined to further my studies.

To this conclusion, I have gained a greater idea of existing developments within the field of Mental Health by volunteering with the Crisis Text Line Organization devoted to the subject. Combining some of the knowledge that I have acquired throughout being a trainee and with my personal relationship with the discipline, forged through those such as my family members around me, I have gained a good idea of the challenges and rewards that the field offers and my suitability to pursue it.

Being able to gain understanding by those around you, and through channels of individuals who are in need of support is important as well as moving. I am willing and ready to continue improving on my ability to make an impact by completing a graduate diploma and, ultimately, registering within the state of Georgia as a professional licensure as a counselor.

Works Cited

1. American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. Author.
2. American Psychological Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Author.
3. Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2015). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach. Cengage Learning.
4. Corey, G. (2016). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Cengage Learning.
5. Ghaemi, S. N. (2011). A first-rate madness: Uncovering the links between leadership and mental illness. Penguin Books.
6. Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2017). Abnormal psychology (13th ed.). Wiley.
7. O'Connor, R. C., & Pirkis, J. (Eds.). (2020). The international handbook of suicide prevention. Wiley.
8. Rollo, J. L. (2015). Exploring abnormal psychology: Clinical and biological perspectives. SAGE Publications.
9. Sue, D. W., Sue, D., & Sue, S. (2015). Understanding abnormal behavior. Cengage Learning.
10. Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. Basic Books.

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