Graduate / SOI - Masters of Counselling Psychology "My Commitment to the field of Mental Health" [4]

Earning a Master's in Counselling Psychology degree will prepare me, both professionally and academically, with the necessary competencies to aspire towards my goal of becoming an educator, practitioner, and researcher in the field of counselling psychology.

The counselling psychology program at the U of C is uniquely equipped to guide me toward these objectives. While searching for a graduate school that would accommodate my interdisciplinary interests, I was thrilled to find a program that approaches counselling psychology with a cross-disciplinary focus, recognizing that the culmination of research, theory, and practice are fundamental entry points for personal awareness and scientific inquiry. I appreciate the programs rigorous acceptance process, with the small amount of applicants entering the program yearly, I can trust that I will receive the best quality of graduate training possible. The program's flexible course selection options are very valuable to me as it gives me a chance to start developing my professional identity through specialized training and interests. Most of all, because I eventually plan to pursue a Ph. D, having the option to stay in Calgary to pursue this goal gives me the opportunity to build long-term relationships with other students, professors, and potential employers within the community.

For my graduate thesis, I am open to many possibilities. At this point in time, I am strongly learning towards research in the area of developmental health promotion and prevention. I would like to build on some of the undergrad work that I have completed on mental health promotion programs that focus on increasing individual's emotional resiliency through multifaceted interventions that focus on a variety of factors such as physical activity and health maintenance, emotional and physical self-identity, and life and coping skills training. I have been in brief contact with Dr. Shelly Russell-Mayhew and she has expressed interest in supervising me as it seems her current research interests include a focus in these areas. Dr. Russell-Mayhew's research on weight-related issues, reflected in the qualitative studies conducted by her supervised students and her own publications on body dissatisfaction and mental and physical well-being, are aspects of her research that I'd love to learn more about. Previous graduates of Dr. Mayhew have looked at psychosocial and environmental approaches to prevention of eating disorders and obesity - both topics of great interest to me. I look forward to building on my understanding of team-based, collaborative approaches to mental health wellness and resiliency through the course on Interprofessional Education and Practice (EDPS 693.43).

Altogether, I believe my undergraduate academic and professional experiences have reinforced my desire to unify therapeutic and preventive healthcare, and prepared me to take the next step forward as a graduate student at the University of Calgary. Because of the trust and reliance that society places on counselors, I recognize the challenges, rewards, and requirements that a profession in counseling entails. After obtaining a Master's in Counselling degree and registering as a psychologist, I aspire to work in a clinical or educational setting to facilitate programs that target people with specific risk factors; promote positive emotional development; and build on family, school, and community resources.

Hey guys, would appreciate some feedback on my content and general grammar. I excluded information about my past and jumped right into my research interests, and why I wanted to attend this particular school, and what my goals were. What do you guys think!

Thanks a ton