personal statement for counselling psychology

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Counselling Personal Statement Examples

Looking for inspiration for your counselling personal statement ? Check out our collection of counselling personal statement examples to get a better idea of what to include and how to structure your statement. 

Counselling Personal Statement

With over 10 years of experience as a counsellor, I believe I am an ideal candidate for a Master’s in Counseling. I am a mature and compassionate counsellor with solid communication skills and a proven track record of helping clients navigate challenges and find resolve.

I want to pursue a Master’s to enhance my knowledge and skills and provide an even higher level of care. The programme will allow me to expand my repertoire of methods and problem-solving skills to better serve clients. The field of counselling is constantly evolving, and continuing education helps ensure I am utilizing the latest research and techniques.

I look forward to exchanging knowledge with peers and conducting research to strengthen my practice.

Through work with adult, elderly and mental health clients, I have developed expertise in areas like risk assessment, treatment planning, and progress reviews. I have a strong foundation as a caring and supportive counsellor and aim to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I welcome the opportunity to have my skills challenged and strengthened through practical experience in the programme.

I am an enthusiastic, diligent and motivated counsellor dedicated to helping each client achieve success. While the work can be complicated, I have the empathy, active listening skills and adaptability required to understand and convey even complex needs. I tailor my communication to meet the needs of each client and to collaborate with external partners like housing services or emergency responders.

My Muslim and ability to speak Spanish, Hindi and Punjabi allow me to provide culturally sensitive support to clients from various backgrounds. I believe an effective counsellor must commit to constant learning and development. A postgraduate degree in Counseling will provide the knowledge and competence I need to guide clients through difficult situations and choices.

I have a proven track record, relevant experience, and dedication to becoming an even stronger counsellor. I appreciate your consideration of my application and look forward to the opportunity to advance my education through your programme.

Recommended for reading:

• How to Write a Personal Statement for a Master’s
• How to Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out
• UCAS Personal Statement: A Writing Guide And Tips For Success

Counselling Personal Statement Example

I have always had the desire to understand human thoughts, feelings and behaviour. I am driven to answer not just why people act in certain ways but also how they can improve their situations and mental well-being. I aspire to become a therapist or counsellor, helping people overcome challenges and live happier lives. I believe an undergraduate degree in psychology or counselling would provide the necessary foundation, which I would then build upon through a Master’s in Counseling and Psychotherapy.

Through volunteering, I have seen both the psychological impacts of disabilities as well as the benefits of therapeutic activities. At a riding centre for disabled children, I witnessed the fear and anxiety experienced by both children and parents in their daily lives. However, I also saw the joy the children felt while doing horsemanship, an activity that allowed them to express themselves as freely as able-bodied children.

During my time shadowing a health visitor, I witnessed firsthand the emotional toll that postnatal depression and societal stigma can take on new mothers. I aim to help people overcome conditions that inhibit well-being and healthy relationships. My experience with equine therapy has helped me strengthen my skills in interpreting behaviour and finding solutions, which would serve me well as a counsellor.

I have studied sociology at the GCSE and A-level, gaining valuable skills in analyzing people and societies. However, this has inspired me to study individuals in more depth through psychology and psychotherapy . My coursework in sociology, English literature and history has also allowed me to strengthen my skills in essay writing, analysis and structuring arguments.

I believe I would excel in this program due to my ability to show both compassion and critical thinking on a subject about which I am passionate. While some may question why anyone would choose a career surrounded by distress, I see it as an opportunity to create positive change where it is needed most. Misery can only be overcome by facing it, and I appreciate the chance to do so as a counsellor.

With my relevant experience, skills and drive to become an effective therapist or counsellor. I appreciate your consideration of my application and look forward to the opportunity to advance my education in psychology and counselling through your program. 

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Psychology Personal Statement Examples

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Our psychology UCAS personal statement examples below will inspire you to write your own unique statement, and help you understand how students have successfully applied for a psychology degree in the past.

What is a psychology personal statement?

A psychology personal statement is a creative piece of writing that demonstrates your skills, experience and hobbies/extracurricular activities and how they relate to a degree in psychology.

Psychology has always been a popular and therefore competitive subject, so you need to make sure your statement stands out from the crowd and is as polished as you can make it.

How do I write a psychology personal statement?

At Studential, we always recommend students start by making a series of notes about themselves, which they can then use to put together a coherent personal statement. These should include:

• Specific aspects of the course that interest you
• Examples of coursework or projects you have completed
• Books, articles, etc. you have read related to the subject area
• Work experience or voluntary work in this area
• Conferences you have attended
• Personal experiences that sparked your interest in this subject
• What you hope to do once you have completed your degree in terms of your career
• Experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person, e.g. part-time job, small business enterprise, community and/or charity work, sixth form committee, helping out at school events, etc.

You also need to think about your interests and skills, such as hobbies, other languages you speak, etc. as well as your plans for a gap year (if you're planning on taking one).

Once you have written all these down, you think about your opening paragraph, and begin to get something down. It's a good idea to allocate at least one paragraph to each bullet point to make sure you've covered everything.

When you have your first draft in place, you can revise it and ask your family, friends and tutors for help. Incorporate any feedback, comments and suggestions they offer, and see if they improve your statement.

Keep redrafting until you feel it's as polished as possible - remember, you'll be facing some stiff competition!

What should I include in my psychology personal statement?

• The main aim of your personal statement is to show the admissions tutors why they should pick you to attend their course and university.
• Look at the course content and link it to your personal qualities, future goals and achievements. For example, you might have done some work shadowing at a counselling clinic or peer mentoring at your school or college.
• If you're applying for a joint honours, make sure you cover both subjects in the course.
• For those applying for a postgraduate course, draw attention to any clinical work experience you've completed to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge in the subject.
• Read our psychology personal statement examples above for inspiration on how to make yours a success (please don't plagiarise them!).
• Remember to avoid using cliches, over-used words or phrases, humour, jokes, or taking any political or religious viewpoints.
• Structure it with a clear introduction, middle and end. You only have 4,000 characters to sell yourself, so try to make every word count!

For more help and advice on what to write in your psychology personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

How do I write a psychology personal statement introduction?

We recommend starting your psychology personal statement with either a story about how you came to be interested in the subject, or picking one or two aspects that you particularly enjoy and why you find them interesting. For example, the following applicant has chosen to talk about their childhood, and the consequences of their behaviour:

"Psychology encapsulates every aspect of our lives. From childhood, the reasons behind why we do what we do has fascinated me; and when I was disciplined for the type of mischief that one commits at a young age, my reasoning for my actions were always “To see what would happen.”

My parents mistook this as an act of mindless disobedience whereas it was in fact my first attempt at social psychology. Then, as I further discovered the leading figures in psychology, my knowledge and love of the intricacies of the human and animal mind grew."

These introductory paragraphs explain why the candidate is keen to pursue a course in psychology at university, while at the same time relating an engaging anecdote from their past, which helps to draw the reader in and make them want to read on further.

Another applicant who has submitted their statement to Studential has decided to talk about their Uncle, who has Asperger's Syndrome, and how they wondered why he was so different from everyone else:

"It was the odd behavioural traits displayed by my uncle, who has Asperger’s syndrome that first generated from a young age my questioning about why he acted so ‘differently’ to the rest of us.

This was part of what led to my interest of studying psychology, as it made me question how and why humans are so disparate from one another, and what part the brain plays in running our everyday lives."

Again, this provides an interesting hook for the reader, while demonstrating why they want to study psychology at a higher level.

These two examples should give you a good idea of how you might go about writing your own unique introduction to your psychology statement, but if you feel you need further inspiration, take a look at our list of over 100 psychology personal statement examples for more ideas.

How do I write the conclusion for my psychology personal statement?

To round off your personal statement, we suggest a paragraph or two about your extracurricular activies and hobbies, and how they have helped you to develop skills that will aid you with your psychology course at university. You may also wish to include a short sentence or two about your future ambitions or career plans, and how a degree in psychology will help you achieve these.

For example, this applicant has chosen to conclude their statement by talking about their current work experience and how it has improved their communication skills, along with their desire to complete a PhD once they've finished their undergraduate degree:

"I currently help people who struggle with language barriers by being a Spanish interpreter in different fields. Observing people from different age and cultural groups gave me first-hand experience considering the effects of stress due to the inability to communicate. This has, in addition to improving my communication skills, taught me how to deal with people from different social groups. I believe these interpersonal skills are valuable in the world of psychological research, in order to build rapport with participants in certain contexts. It has also taught me tolerance for others and the ability to remain poised during stressful situations. To culminate, in regards to my future career plans I would like to remain in further education and do a Phd in psychology- a step forward in my desired career as a researcher."

As another example, you can see how a candidate below chooses to talk to about their work experience with elderly people that have dementia, and how they want to improve their knowledge of the brain and their problem-solving skills:

"Subsequently, I did work experience at St Peter's residential care home. During my placement, I worked with nurses and kitchen staff to provide quality service to the elderly. I assisted in serving tea and lunch and also interacted with the elderly during social activities. This helped me to know how to interact with elderly people with dementia and gain a different perspective on elderly people.

I want to study psychology to further develop my knowledge in the scope of the brain, its anatomy and how it works. I want to learn how to work through problems carefully and logically applying scientific principles. Furthermore, I want to expand my awareness in all the different fields involved in the course, so that I can master any situation that I am presented with in my chosen field."

However you decide to conclude your statement, always try to relate it to the course you are applying for, i.e. psychology, and end on a positive, enthusiastic note that will make the admissions tutor want to make you an offer.

For more inspiration on how to write a conclusion, please take a look at our psychology personal statement examples .

What can I do with a psychology degree?

For those with a psychology degree, there are many career options available, including:

•     Clinical psychologist
•     Counselling psychologist
•     Educational psychologist
•     Forensic psychologist
•     Further education teacher
•     Health psychologist
•     High intensity therapist
•     Occupational psychologist
•     Psychological wellbeing practitioner
•     Sport and exercise psychologist

Other career paths where a psychology degree could be useful include:

•     Advice worker
•     Border Force officer
•     UCAS Careers advice
•     Chaplain
•     Counsellor
•     Detective
•     Education consultant
•     Human resources officer
•     Life coach
•     Market researcher
•     Mediator
•     Neuroscientist
•     Play therapist
•     Policy officer
•     Psychotherapist
•     Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)

For more help and advice on psychology careers, please see Prospects and the British Psychological Society .

What are the best universities for psychology?

Currently the best UK universities for studying psychology at are:

For more information about UK university rankings for psychology, please see The Guardian and The Complete University Guide .

Related resources

How to apply for a psychology degree.

Find out more

UCAS Pyschology Guide

Psychologist Careers

Types Of Psychology Degree

Psychology Personal Statement Writing