1) Humans are a combination of genetic predispositions along with environmental factors such as family, social support, education, culture, access to health and community resources, etc… Although everyone is born with certain predispositions based on genetics and environmental factors to have certain likes and dislikes, skills, talents, etc… I believe everyone has a certain skill set or quality that is “innate” and unique to us independent of genetics and environmental factors. We are constantly changing and developing who we are throughout our lives.  We are constantly changing and seeking growth, though we sometimes get stuck and need help along the way.  Counselors can help facilitate growth by helping people gain insight into faulty thinking and behavior patterns, cope with past grievances, to gain hope for the future and move in a positive forward direction.  I would define counseling as setting a goal or desired outcome and helping an individual move towards it.
2) Since I was young, I have always been the person people come to when they need someone to listen to them or needed advice and have always felt a “calling” to work in a helping profession helping people. When working in retail positions people would always tell me their life stories and my bosses would get upset that I was spending too long with the customers (and usually listening to them discuss their personal lives and not selling products). When beginning college I decided to take a course in Psychology as an elective and it was the first text book I could say I would have read for fun, so I thought, “ok, I might as well major in this.” After graduating with my BA in psychology I wanted to make sure I was on the right path. I worked as a substitute in some rough schools which scared and completely confused me. I then worked some customer service positions and feeling more sure than of anything that I did not belong in the business world, I found a job working with dually diagnosed mentally ill and intellectually challenged adults. I knew I loved reading about the subject, and had always felt a certain nudge in the direction, though I was scared. While accepting the position with a slight hesitation, I immediately fell in love with the field and the clients. I enjoy going to work every day to help others, love that no two days are the same, and feel a satisfaction that what I am doing may positively impact someone’s life.
3) The parts of me that will make me an effective counselor are that I am empathetic, a good listener, has a positive outlook on people, am easy to talk to, am patient, and perceptive. I believe that everyone is dealt with different situations and have unique ways of coping (some maladaptive) and if given the chance all people are capable of change. I have a laid back, easy going demeanor which makes it easy for people to open up to me, as well as making it easy for me to think in times of high stress.  Something that I have been working to develop and strengthen in order to be a more effective counselor is learning to be more firm and assertive. I tend to look for the positive in people which may lend itself to making excuses for others. I have had individuals that have thought they can take advantage of my easy going demeanor. While acceptance, nurturing, and understanding are all important, it is also important for a client to learn to gain insight and feedback when they are acting in ways that are non-conducive for their well-being.
4) While working in the past as a Substitute Teacher, it wasn’t all the teasing and commotion that scared me, rather it was seeing kids that had so much potential, and knowing that because of their environment a majority would never make it past high school and would have extremely hard lives. I have since learned that although I may not have a positive effect on every student (or client), even if I had a positive effect on a handful that is good.
5) If I were to see a counselor I would choose a cognitive behavioral therapist. Although I believe the best therapists are able to use an eclectic style and take something from each model and make it their own, I am a believer in the importance of first learning to identify faulty thought processes and be able to replace them with new ones, and then following by replacing the faulty behavior patterns with adaptive ones.
 I believe a therapists excellence is made by their ability to connect with a variety of clients, understand their background, and help them to facilitate change by allowing them to gain insight into themselves and make positive choices and growth that reflect who they are.  A bad counselor does not have insight into others yet thinks that everyone should feel as they do, does not allow self-exploration for the client yet tells them the direction they should take, is not able to put themselves in others shoes or situations, and forces their values and opinions on others.  A mediocre counselor is able to see a clients perspectives and values though they guide the direction that they feel is best for their client rather that allowing the client to develop their own sense of meaning and direction.  An outstanding counselor, is one who has empathy, understanding of the clients values, contexts, and challenges the client to think and grow on their own without imposing their own views and allows the client to produce change in a positive a supportive manner.
6) For me a sense of meaning in my life is through serving God and others. I feel by being able to do this in my everyday life gives me a sense of fulfillment and purpose.  By helping others I gain a satisfaction that what I am doing is important and gives me motivation to take my job seriously and want to excel. While working in past positions that were not related to helping others I did not have the same sense of responsibility.7) I chose a helping profession for many reasons. First, I believe my natural talents (easy going, friendly, warm, etc…) lend me to do well in a “helping” field.  I enjoy working with people and feel a genuine burden when I see others struggling and feel privileged that they would allow me to be a part of their journey of growth and healing. I enjoy working with Helping others and being able to give back gives me a sense of self-worth, accomplishment, importance, and purpose. Helping others allows me to feel that I am giving back to society and allows me to grow by facilitating the growth of others.
8) I feel self-actualization is an ongoing life process. Through different stages, changes, and overcoming struggles, I learn who I am and am becoming, as well as continue to create and develop myself.  I am passionate about wanting to help others and feel I have the traits, natural talents to excel in the counseling field as well as the motivation and determination to work on challenges that I will face in my career.