PSY6045 - Personal Development: Reflecting on a Psychology Career Path

This essay discusses a student's personal development journey and career aspirations within the field of psychology. The student reflects on the importance of empathy, listening skills, communication, boundary setting, and business management for a successful career as a psychotherapist. The essay highlights the student's decision to study sociology at Birmingham City University to enhance their socialization and communication skills. It also addresses the challenges and potential stressors associated with the profession, such as dealing with patient trauma and maintaining self-confidence. The student aims to contribute to society by addressing the mental health needs of individuals, particularly teenagers, and fostering healthy relationships. The essay concludes with a cover letter expressing interest in a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist position, emphasizing the student's qualifications and experience.

Running head: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
name of the student:
name of University:
Author's note:

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Career path essay
Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
This is a famous quote by Albert Einstein that defines education in the best way possible. I
am a very big follower of this quote, and I believe that one has to stick to the values rather
than the mere lessons that one has been taught in school. I have studied psychology and I
want to make good use of that subject in my practical life I don’t just want to stick to the
bookish lessons that I have been taught. I will make sure that my education is of some good
help for the society and the people living in it.
As has been said by Carl Rogers, “The Good Life is a process, not a State of Being”. I
will make sure that I am being patient enough to deal with all mental or social problems that
people suffer from. I believe that One of the major reason why I have chosen this field as my
career path because I have seen many people suffering from man y different kinds of
problems. Those problems are either mental or are social. Often these problems are so severe
that the patients are not able to solve them on their own. So being a psychotherapist I will be
able to listen to the grievances or the problems that these people have. I will perhaps be able
to also solve their problems. I know that I have to be very patient in this process. So, I will
also make sure that I am developing all the relevant skills that I think I will require in this
aspect (Edelstein, 2014).
There are many skills that I will need to instill within myself for becoming a good and able
psychotherapist. I know that this is a very sensitive profession and the first and foremost
thing that I need to develop in this profession is a trust between me and my patients. The
skills that I will be requiring are-

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Empathy
I think that I will have to nurture this quality as I am already quote developed in this field I
will be trying to understand the emotions of the patients. I will keep it in mind that I am being
able to stay in tune with the facts and the stories that the patients are sharing with me. Even if
I do not find any such reality and do not agree with them, I will make sure that I am listening
to them patiently and trying to resonate with them.
Listening skills
This is one of the most important skills that I will have to develop while pursuing this as my
career path. There are many patients who do not really feel comfortable in sharing all their
necessary details. For assistance this is a very common feature with a child. A child who has
been suffering from any bullying at school is unlikely to share his personal details with a
counselor or a psychotherapist at the first go. So, I have to read in between the lines and I
have to make sure that I get those details that the patient is not telling
Communication and social skills
This is one the skill that I will develop from my learning of the social science subject. I will
have to develop the quality of socializing and communication properly with my students.
This will help me to make sure that my patients are not really feeling uneasy. I will try to
develop many communication skills and I will also have to create a good networking system
that will help me to give my patients with proper referrals that will help them to talk and open
up easily.
Boundary setting

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I will also have to maintain a strict code of conduct and some strict rules as well. I will make
sure to not indulge in any romantic love relationship with any of the patients. This is not
ethical and I will have to convey this to my patients as well.
Business management
This is another important skill that I need to develop if I am becoming a private practitioner. I
will have to keep a track of the money, maintain the records of then patient, keep update an
out their wellbeing. I will also have to maintain some online blogs where I will be advertising
about my services, visiting hours, visits and other such examples
As per the opinion of Pennebaker et al. (2015), Psychology is a very useful branch of
science as it helps in delving deep into the minds of human beings. There are many
developments that have been created by science in the modern-day scenario. However not all
the developments and advancements are useful for human beings. There are concepts like that
of war, manmade famines, bullies in schools, sexual assaults and other such aspects. Often
people get attacked by these ideas and they fall prey to these evils. As a result of this they
often end up causing several mistakes. It is for this reason that I have chosen to study this
course, so that I can understand what is actually going on around within the minds of people
and can also find out the areas of their weakness.
As per the opinion of Aboujaoude and Starcevic (2015) psychology helps in
understanding the emotional abuses that people are actually suffering through. There are
often harms that are seen only on the physical basis that is they have a physical existence or
can be seen. They are any accidents, theft or any other such incidents however on the other
hand, I find that in the modern-day scenario, all the people are actually suffering from much
emotional abuse as well. They are suffering from some emotional abuses and this is actually
leaving a huge impression on their brains. This impression in turn is making them mentally ill

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and they are behaving abnormally. So, being a psychologist, I will be able to deal with these
kinds of problem and make sure that these patients are able to find a very easy way of sharing
the same.
As I will be working as an Assistant Psychotherapist, I will be able to make sure that I
am gaining both the theoretical and the practical knowledge at the same time. I have decided
to do my study sociology at the Birmingham City University. This will also help me
immensely as I will be able to learn the skills of socializing and communication. One of the
most important utility of studying psychology is being able to make the lives of people very
easy. It helps a lot in building proper relationships. As has been said by Voskoboyniko
(2016), relationship building is one of the most important means by which the people in the
modern-day society have to live by. There are often many tensions, misunderstandings that
take place among different people. Often it leads to severe depressions and anxiety. As a
result of this, I will try to help these people deal with their problem and start living a healthy
and safe life. This will also help me on my personal development as I will be able to work,
understand their problems and surroundings. I will be able to live in a proper harmony with
them. As has been stated by James Pennebaker, Psychology had a way that helps in the
calculation of a love or romantic compatibility between people. However, this is not always
as easy and peaceful as it seems. As has been stated by Murphy (2018), there are high
chances of a huge stress on the psychologist itself. While doing the therapy, I might discuss
several details of the patient. I will have to ask them the incidents that had happened with
them in the past. In this course I might get to know some other incidents from the patient’s
life that will create a huge stress on me. I will thus have to find out the best means of dealing
with such harsh truths and deal with all the cases of the patient.
As per the opinion of Marcia (2017), one of the basic utility of psychology is that it
helps in the construction of self-confidence. This is because as I will be studying and dealing

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with many different patients at the same time this will help me to work on my self-confidence
a lot. I will be getting the chance of speaking with so many different patients. I will it only be
able to help them deal with the work pressure but at the same time it will also help me to
make the patients stay at peace. However, there are also chances that I might gradually lose
my confidence as the patients start sharing their stories. This can have a bad impact on my
thinking capabilities and I might doubt my own abilities.
As said by Robertson (2016), this will be of a good use to the society as a whole as I
will be able to solve the mental problems that the teenagers or the young children suffer from.
They are the future of the nation and they must be given a very happy and peaceful
environment to grow. However, there are often many dark truths that are hidden in the past
and they get submerged under the time. By studying psychology, I will be able to deal with
these patients properly and will be able to find out the roots of the problems that they are
suffering from. This is a very common feature that I will be facing while dealing with the
children. However often I have to carry on these practices in some isolation. This is because
the children are often very vulnerable and they do not like to share any details in front of all
the people being present. So, this isolation might make me and my patient quite stressed. I
might have to take the patient to some other isolates place and this might have a very bad
impact on my mind as well. So, I will have to make sure that I am not taking this isolation by
heart.
As per Ellis and Beattie (2017), I will be able to develop a good relationship between
me and my patients by communicating with them freely. I will always try to develop a very
peaceful relationship between me and my patients. This will help me in making the process of
treatment fast, easier and also very effective. However, Motz (2016) has suggested that there
are chances of patient violence as well. This is b because many of the patients are not in a

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proper state of mind and they might feel threatened by my presence. So, it is possible that
they might also attack me.
So, I will try to gain the best possible knowledge from this course that I will pursue. I
will try to maintain all the securities and thus provide a good life for the patients.
Cover letter
25/7/2018
Kieran Green
Managing Director Randstad Student & Worker Support
367 Trymore street
78451269915
[e-mail]
Respectfully,
I am writing to express my interest in a position of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
in your organization which can offer me the challenges of high environment to grow my
potential. Currently I am preparing for graduation of the Undergraduate Program from
Birmingham City University with a degree in Psychology.
I am quite certain that the extensive education which I have gained in the university
along with my personal skills and work experience make me the most fitting candidate for the
position. I am quite accustomed with the method of successfully working with multiple
priorities as I have worked for two years’ experience with the psychosocial
rehabilitation, counseling, and behavioral analysis in different

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environment. In those working years I have achieved an excellent track record of
providing critical evaluation on the mental health issues.
The work experience that I have gained has been developed and nurtured by my
passion to serve people in this manner and energy to bring a positive change in the lives of
the patients. My aim is to serve of the basis of a solid ethic as well as professional integrity to
make a valuable involvement toward your organization’s overall success.
I am also excited to become a part of your institution to engage in providing a high-
quality treatment as well as good prognosis to the clients of psychological disorders.
Therefore, my aim is to learn all the new treatment techniques from your doctors in the
hospital where I shall be able to use all my present skills as well as knowledge, gained from
own experience.
If you are searching for a highly knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and articulate
Psychiatrist who will generate critical patient crisis intervention, provide Psychiatric inpatient
hospitalization and outpatient assessment crisis and family therapy, please contact me to
arrange an interview. I am eager to learn more about the challenges facing your institution
and discuss how I will make a difference.
I have a highly achieving work experience of 3 years as a part time psychiatrist. I
have positively handled a lot of psychological cases in my educational as well as professional
career. The detailed study in the undergraduate program in one hand and part time service
have helped me to guide the patients to prevent the relapse of disorders. This is due to the fact
that I have an extensive knowledge about different cultural and social background which has
helped me to judge the reasons of different behavior or mental disorder. I am successful in
the process of dealing with the critical cases of the diseases like schizophrenia as well as
bipolar disorders. I have experience in brining prominent changes in lives and behavior of

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these patients. I have also handled the pediatric cases and adult psychological cases as I have
been an expert to effectively diagnose and interact with my patients. Moreover, I have
experience in collating all the necessary information to treat the patients of mental illness. I
personally believe that the chief contributors to my success are my skills as a persuasive
communicator. With empathetic nature and proper understanding of business management, I
can serve you the best.
I have attached my résumé so that you can get a complete overview of the
achievements as well as qualifications for the review.
My personal mail id is [e-mail] and contact number is 4382302. You may
reach me any time. I would be obliged for your reading my resume as well as valuing all
credentials. Hope to meet your soon.
Yours sincerely

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CV
Personal Profile
A confident, responsible and hardworking individual, who is ready to take up any kind of
challenges. I have gained a good knowledge in the said fields of psychology. I am trying to
find a good environment where I can work and grow properly. I will enrich my knowledge
with the day to day experience that I get there. I have gained good knowledge about dealing
with the disabled, adolescent and other vulnerable people. The energy and the positive vibes
that I have will help in increasing the good will and the productivity of the company.
History of Employment
2017-Current- I am preparing to study a post degree in Psychology at Birmingham City
University. I am studying BPS licensure I have coaching in domestic violence, drug and
alcohol treatment, training obtained at my NHS role. I also have my own vehicle.
I am also currently in the process of finishing up my undergraduate course in the stream of
psychology.
2016-2017-there was a break a in my course as I fell severely ill. I was mainly concentrating
on the art of writing books to be released. I wrote a book and also co-authored some other
books with friends.
2015-2016
I was pursuing my undergraduate course at this point of time.
. September 2014 –July 2015 St. Xavier’s College
I have gained knowledge in studying the different aspects of psychology and also gained
good proficiency in leadership.

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 Mar 2013 to Aug 2014- British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
(BACP) Individual or Member of the British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy (MBACP)
I have learnt the methods of dealing with different patients and the ways of handling them.
2010 to Feb2013-Taken part in many other campaigns and workshops that have helped me a
lot. This has been very helpful in my grooming as well.
Current work experience
I am working as an assistant on part time basis for a Psychotherapist at the NHS.
Access to higher Education Teaching Diploma
2015 Sept –Current Birmingham City University
Psychology Undergraduate

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References
Aboujaoude, E., & Starcevic, V. eds. (2015). Mental health in the digital age: grave dangers,
great promise. Oxford University Press.
Edelstein, B. (2014). Frames, Attitudes, and Skills of an Existential-Humanistic
Psychotherapist. The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology: Theory, Research, and
Practice, p.435.
Ellis, A.W., & Beattie, G. (2017). The psychology of language and communication.
Routledge.
Marcia, J.E., 2017. Ego-Identity Status: Relationship to Change in Self-Esteem. Social
Encounters: Contributions to Social Interaction, p.340.
Motz, A. (2016). The psychology of female violence: Crimes against the body. Routledge.
Murphy, D., Irfan, N., Barnett, H., Castledine, E., & Enescu, L. (2018). A systematic review
and meta‐synthesis of qualitative research into mandatory personal psychotherapy
during training. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 18(2), pp.199-214.
Pennebaker, J.W., Boyd, R.L., Jordan, K., & Blackburn, K. (2015). The development and
psychometric properties of LIWC2015.
Robertson, S.I. (2016). Problem solving: perspectives from cognition and neuroscience.
Psychology Press.
Voskoboynikov, F. (2016). The Psychology of Effective Management: Strategies for
Relationship Building. Routledge.