Whether or not I must forget the past is immaterial, I know that I never will. As a recovering addict, I have committed myself to lifelong treatment. Moreover, through my eighteen years of work within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), I have become increasingly determined never to let my struggle to heal be in vain. I feel that my dedication to others and their pursuit of happiness can be traced back to my grandmother, a wonderful woman of color who stirred the embers of my empathy and compassion for others into a fire within me, giving me a great passion for helping others. Her humility as a homemaker belied the social engineer. This woman through various acts of community and family service verified her belief in the good that she saw in everyone around her.
Picking up where my grandmother left off, my late friend Dennis, a paranoid schizophrenia sufferer, consistently gave me the hope and courage I needed to never give in to the darkness that threatened to consume me. While I have had various difficulties over the years, studying to become a Mental Health Counselor will help me to maintain my perspective, inspiring and enabling me to help others. Mental Health Counseling is particularly exciting as it offers a multitude of paths from which to develop my specialization. The Mental Health Counseling Program will not only increase my abilities and value in the workplace, but it will also enable me to reach out to others at a higher level than ever before. Indeed, for two decades of dedicated service within the VA, I have seen a distinct and growing demand for quality Mental Health Counselors. My desire to fill that need has never been more powerful.
Earning my Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling will enable me to realize my goals and bring my dreams to fruition. I want to be primarily engaged in meeting the mental health and vocational rehabilitation needs of US veterans returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom within the Veterans Administration. I look forward to someday working as a consultant and owning and operating my private practice, specializing in several counseling areas. I also seek to inspire my son, who bravely deals with his mental illness.
I bring a solid foundation in Gerontology, Kinesiotherapy, and Physical Education to the Mental Health Counseling Program. Coupled with academics, I have extensive professional experiences, including direct patient contact as a Kinesiotherapy, treating patients with a multitude of disabilities including mental health challenges. While employed as a Residential Counselor, I strived to educate and support others in their development, giving me tremendous personal and professional satisfaction and confirming my compassion for others.
To prepare for the opportunity and challenge of the Master of Science Degree Program in Mental Health Counseling, I have joined the coaching and mentoring program at my workplace, improving my skill set as a mentee. Mental Health Counseling is a genuinely multidisciplinary profession, and I reflect this ideal through my diverse undergraduate and graduate experiences, while my professional work will bring excellent real-world examples to the classroom.
I appreciate how the curriculum at XXXX embraces an integrated approach, treating the whole person. I eagerly anticipate my time at XXXX and the chance to prepare myself to maximize the contribution that I can make to the US Department of Veterans Affairs and especially to the veterans of the US wars in Iraq.
Thank you for your time and consideration.