GOALS ESSAY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

GOALS - Essay Example My academic pursuits were put on hold when I enlisted in the U.S. Army. My years in active service in Germany proved to be a turning point in my life. Not only did it inculcate in me a new-found self-respect, discipline and spirit of altruism, army life also heightened my awareness of the myriad individual differences in man and, above all, the basic goodness inherent in all humanity. I saw men battle not only their adversaries, but also their own fatigue, fears and attitudes, to rise to the occasion and triumph against all odds. I was now resolved to make a career choice devoted to working closely with people on a personal level. I believe that my past experiences, including my B.S. in Family Studies in Gerontology, have equipped me to contribute in my own way to the field of Counseling Psychology. I have seen, at first hand, the power of positive thinking which can make a man reach unthought-of levels of endurance and achievement. My interpersonal skills are particularly suited to the role of a psychological counselor. My career in the Army and the Postal Service has exposed me to a vast number of people of varying ethnic, economic and social backgrounds and heightened my powers of observation and communication. I consider the primary role of a psychological counselor to be that of a facilitator in the therapeutic process. In dealing with everyday stresses and the problems pertaining to careers, academics, marriage and family, the counselor can be the sounding board for the client’s thoughts and emotions, guiding him to a coherent understanding of his emotions and problems. My conception of an effective counselor is one who helps the client to help himself. In this context, I am confident that my interpersonal skills, powers of observation and my trait of being a good listener are resources I can draw upon in developing the client’s treatment plan. I believe that communication is the basic