Professional Identity Development Plan
(Note: A pdf of this assignment description is attached for your convenience)
According to Brady (2020), “Professional identity development spans the career of an individual and involves the integration of the personal and professional selves, in alignment with the mission, values, and philosophy set forth by the profession”. This process guides the counselor’s work and help ensure the provision of competent and ethical care to clients.
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The purpose of this assignment is to allow you an initial opportunity to consider to what degree your personal perspective aligns with your long-term professional objectives as well as to develop a plan to become a professional counselor. To meet this objective, you will write a 6-10 page paper comprised of three discrete sections.
Section I: Personal Perspective
In 1-2 double-spaced pages, please summarize your personal perspective of human nature and the potential impact of counseling. Within your statement, please describe:
- Your beliefs regarding human nature (in general)
- Your beliefs about the process of change
- Your beliefs pertaining to personality development and expression
- Your beliefs pertaining to the origins and expression of behavior
- How you would operationalize optimal psychological well-being and/or functioning
- Identifying factors you believe contribute to and/or prohibit optimal functioning
- Identifying factors you believe contribute to and/or prohibit meaningful change
- The role of the professional counselor in affecting a person’s change process
- Your beliefs regarding individual, systemic, and/or cultural influences on well-being and the change process
Professional Identity Development Plan
Please present this content in paragraph form rather than as bullet points. Due to the reflective nature of this content, no citations are necessary in this section.
Section II: The Counseling Profession
In 1-2 double-spaced pages, please explain the foundational tenets of the counseling profession as you understand them based on your review of course materials. Please also describe the professional activities counselors engage in as well as summarize the education, specialized training, and credentialing process that qualifies counselors to serve their clients (both, in general, and in your specific jurisdiction). Then, identify how professional counselors are unique from other types of mental health professionals in terms of foundational professional principles, focus of care, etc.. Citations should be included in this section of your paper.
Section III: Professional Plan
Review the licensure requirements table you completed in Unit #2 and describe your specific plans to meet all of the requirements to earn your counseling credentials. It is anticipated that you will need 4-5 double-spaced pages to complete this task. Within your description, please:
- Identify your desired counselor credential(s).
- Briefly summarize (1-2 paragraphs max) your long-term professional goals.
- Explain, in detail, how your graduate coursework will satisfy the education requirements associated with the intended credential (if there are specific types of content prescribed by the credentialing body, which courses satisfy the same, etc.?) (see attached Course of Study document to do this)
- Identify 2 potential internship/fieldwork sites in your area at which you might be able to complete the clinical hours needed to earn your initial credentials. Describe your preliminary goals for this experience and also indicate your rationale for pursuing placement at these sites, in particular. Finally, describe the application processes for pursuing placement at these sites. (Note for EdS students: please write about jobs/supervised practice sites post completion of your EdS). How, specifically, will you differentiate yourself from other candidates seeking this placement?
- Identify at least 2 professional development activities outside of your prescribed coursework that you may engage in during your graduate program that may enhance your knowledge and clinical competencies (e.g., attending and presenting at professional conferences, engaging in advocacy activities, writing, additional training, etc.). Be specific.
Professional Identity Development Plan
Please provide this content in narrative form and provide citations throughout, as warranted.
As always, all three sections of your submission should reflect graduate-level writing skills. A final reference page that includes the sources for all sections of the paper should be included at the end of your submission. The use of headings is STRONGLY encouraged throughout your submission.
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Brady, K. (2020), “The Development of Professional Identity and the Impact of Counselor Educators: Examining the Role of Observational Learning and Self-Efficacy” (Publication No. AAI28089400). [ ETD Collection for Pace University]. https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI28089400