Professional Goal Statement

Personal, Academic, and Professional Goals/Personal Qualities

I am applying for the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Forensic Counseling program. Within the criminal justice system, there is a dire need for mental health counseling for individuals who are incarcerated. The suicide rate is high among jail and correctional facilities, as inmates are at risk during their 24 hours in custody. Many in custody tend to choose suicide as an escape (Roberts, 2008). In San Antonio, TX, there have been recent incidents of suicide within the Bexar County Jail. There are many risk factors to suicide which include the type of offense and the length of time served, history of suicide, mental health disorders, along with substance abuse and addiction problems (Roberts, 2008).

I am interested in pursuing this program, because I want to change the culture within the criminal justice system by providing individuals who are incarcerated the mental health counseling and treatment needed for them to cope, and make positive changes in their lives, despite them being incarcerated. I want to be an advocate for the individuals I serve within the criminal justice system by making sure their right to treatment is honored.

At the age of 9, a close family member went to prison for armed robbery. He served 20 years in prison in Wisconsin, and was released in 2016. During his time in prison, he attempted suicide multiple times by hanging himself due to depression and the attacks by other inmates. He received minimal counseling while incarcerated to cope, and later joined a prison gang for protection. He is currently incarcerated again at this time due to assault against his wife. My cousin’s story has influenced me to begin pursuing my career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling within the criminal justice system because I want work towards reducing recidivism. Proper counseling and treatment may have prevented my cousin from re-entering the system. Pursuing this degree right now is important because the criminal justice system needs professional leaders in the Clinical Mental Health Field who are passionate and want to make a difference.

After receiving my degree my plan is to pursue a career with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). I also intend to work on my professional development by doing research and developing new techniques on how to better provide counseling and treatment to individuals who are incarcerated. I am invested in helping people, dedicated, hardworking, and ethical when it comes to helping individual’s meet their needs.

Academic Experience

During my undergraduate program, I pursued a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management. During this program, I was most highly interested in the research courses that I took along with writing at a scholarly level. Majority of the professors I had wrote the textbook for the course which inspired me to take the necessary steps achieve that someday during my career path. One of my goals is to have my own business and open up a group home for adolescents and adults who identify themselves as LGBTQ. The media portrays the LGBTQ community in a negative way, and that negativity affects the lives of individuals who identify themselves as such. This causes individuals to develop mental health issues and commit suicide due to not being accepted by society, or fear of how their friends and family members will view them during the “coming out” process. Opening this group home will allow individuals to have a home environment where they have a sense of belonging, support, and receive the services they need to cope with daily stressors of day to day living.

 I also want to do private practice at some point my career in which I am providing clinical mental health counseling to individuals who have been released from prison. Once I received my Bachelor’s degree, I realized there was more I needed to do to further my education in order to get a step closer to becoming a licensed professional. I did some research prior to applying to Walden University for my Master’s degree to find the best school for my program. I have always had a passion for the field of psychology, but did not take the rights steps in the beginning. For my own professional development, I’ve read several books, watched documentaries, and attended seminar/trainings in the community to give me more insight about the psychology field. Selecting Walden University as my school to attend was the best decision I made, because I learned so much in the Forensic Psychology Program. I am more confident in the importance of validity and reliability when it comes to research and the assessments used with clients in therapeutic settings. I intend to take the information I have learned and utilize it to enhance my learning experience while pursuing the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.  I recently graduated from Walden in January 2017, and I am eager to return to learn more and become one step closer to my dream. My GPA during my last program with Walden University was a 3.0. I strived for a 3.5 or higher, but I had to balance school and a challenging job as a full-time case worker for The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Work/Other Experience:

My work has experience has always involved working with children and families who have been involved with Child Protective Services, or children who are ward of the state. Prior to working for The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, I worked at several emergency shelters, residential treatment facilities, and non-profit organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee where I interacted with youth and adolescents who experienced trauma, abuse and/or neglect. Majority of the children I interacted with had a form of a mental health disorder due to that trauma, abuse, or neglect they endured. This population of children and youth also came from low-income families where access to resources were limited.  I work closely with these children and youth and assisted them with getting into community programs to help them thrive. Many children were able to successfully cope with their trauma and mental health, and went on to finish high school, attend college, and live a normal life.