Counseling has not always been my passion. Since a young girl, I wanted to be a nurse because of my desire to help others. After getting my medical assistant certification, I realized nursing was not for me. It took me several years to determine the direction my professional life would take. Through a pastoral assistant position, I discovered a passion for counseling, even though I had no formal training I enjoyed listening to others and trying to help them find a path to wholeness. Even though other factors contributed to my pursuit of a counseling degree, ultimately, this experience was beginning of my journey. Another factor in my decision was my family’s history of mental illness. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I observed various family members struggling with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Watching them suffer in silence gave me a desire to help people who view mental illness as a stigma. My desire increased and compelled me to pursue a counseling degree. Several years ago, I received counseling because I was struggling with depression. Not only did I find help for depression but I learned to deal with my emotions in a healthy way and developed self-awareness. Counseling was life-changing for me, which further strengthened my desire to help others. …show more content…
It has been challenging but life-altering as I learned new things. One of the most exciting things was exploring the different counseling theories, such as person-centered, Adlerian, rational emotive behavior therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy. It has been a challenge to choose a theoretical framework from which to counsel. I am looking forward to learning more at the graduate level and seeking the help of the professors as I continue to discover a personal counseling style that reflects my personality. Learning about the different theories was eye-opening but so was other aspects of