Personal Qualities and Skills of a Professional Counselor

Personal Statement
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Personal Statement
Before joining Liberty University, I had a great passion for becoming a professional counselor. People may ask what drives me to enter the field of counseling. The first thing that comes to mind is helping people. I have volunteered in a wide range of missions such as hospitals, children's homes, and other charitable activities. These missions have made me feel as though it is my life’s calling to be there for others, not just family or friends. How do I know? This is because it seems as though I am always at the right place at the right time when someone is in need. I usually serve as a confidant in people’s lives. I believe that everyone has a gift or talent in life, whether they have discovered it or not. I used to think I did not have a talent, but further on my journey called life, I realized that I had something special. I realized that I have the best talent that one can ever have, and that is love. Working as a professional counselor requires one to be loving, caring, and have a passion for improving the wellbeing of his/her client. A psychologist should have the capability to take on the emotions of others, and actually, be able to feel what they feel and understand them on a level which other people cannot. Having empathy to care for others is essential in being an effective psychologist. Moreover, compassion in me is very beneficial to the world of counseling if used wisely and with balance. In life, a person must be able to have control over his personal qualities since they influence how he relates to others.
A professional counselor must possess personal qualities that enable him/her to understand and relate well with others. Compassion has been one of the main elements that have guided my journey towards becoming a professional counselor. This has been one of my main personal qualities which have motivated me to cater to other people's needs. Over the years, I have witnessed helpless individuals who have been ravaged by various calamities. By human nature, it is normal for individuals to want to vent and seek refuge for their problems and emotions. An individual may lose hope due to the challenges that he is facing, and he may decide to turn to unethical activities to tackle his problems. I have had the opportunities of discussing with my clients about the challenges they are going through. Understanding their position has been instrumental in discussing the most appropriate options that are available for getting through their miseries. Understanding the position and situation of my friends have played an important role in counseling my colleagues who have been going through a variety of these problems. Throughout my lifetime, I have served as a source of counsel for friends, family, and adolescent girls throughout my community, helping them come to terms with a variety of issues.
The ability to mentor people and show them the bri...