Written Personal Statement for Clinical Mental Health/Counseling Psychology Graduate Degree Programs

The written personal statement is an opportunity for applicants to communicate to the Division of Counseling and Psychology their level of self-awareness, their capacity to be present on behalf of another, their intellectual ability, their understanding of the responsibilities and obligations of a professional counselor, their understanding of the role of power, privilege, and oppression in the lives of people, and their readiness for the academic demands of graduate work in counseling and psychology. This personal statement is also evaluated in terms of the applicant's capacity for written expression and should be 900 - 1500 words in length.

Please respond to each of the following questions. Only self-disclose regarding particulars to the extent that is appropriate for you.

1. Address the following:
   • Discuss your skills as a critical learner, your ability to write research papers, and your ability to participate in experiential learning. (Use this as an opportunity to discuss your academic strengths and weaknesses.)
   • Discuss your ability to reflect on your life experience (developmental milestones and challenges, crises, losses, etc.).
2. In your personal life, when you are in a conflictual situation with another person, how do you manage the competing issues of being respectful of your feelings, thoughts, and interests, and those of the other person involved?
3. In imagining yourself as a counselor/therapist, what do you believe are the responsibilities you would have for the client's well-being, and how would you hope to meet those responsibilities (given your present understanding of the role and responsibilities of a counselor/therapist)?
4. We are each affected by the impact of power, privilege, and oppression (either through the having of power and/or privilege due to gender, ethnicity, race, class, sexual orientation, or other form of majority status; or through the experience of being oppressed by others because of ways in which we are marginalized). Summarize your exposure to these issues and how your understanding would be a benefit to clients with whom you would work as a counselor. Indicate the areas in which you would need to expand your understanding of these issues in your training as a student in the Division of Counseling and Psychology.