Term Paper on "Self-Awareness Self-Analysis Know"

Quoted Instructions for "Self-Awareness Self-Analysis Know" Assignment:

I need a 6 page Self-Awareness Paper. This is a two part paper consisting of 4 pages in part A and 2 pages for part B. All information and details of the paper are listed below. This paper should be written in first person.

Part A:

Type a 4 page paper describing your strengths and weaknesses that may hinder or help you in your counseling and future burnout vulnerability.

Include the following areas:

 Listening Skills

 Empathy Skills

 Values

 TFA (Hutchen’s Model)

 Family Issues:

• Roles & Scripts

• Rules for conflict

• Rules about value of work

• Patterns of over functioning & under functioning

• Differentiation

• Need for appreciation & admiration

 Balancing your life

The following questions and answers can help the ***** generate thought for the paper:

What are your strengths in counseling?

My strengths include my ability to be very empathetic to others; my ability to put myself in other peoples shoes; my ability to be as unbiased as possible which includes respecting others cultural beliefs; and my ability to help others feel comfortable in a counseling environment. A lot of my strengths have grown due to years in the counseling profession.

What are your weaknesses in counseling?

My weaknesses involve my inability to stay focused as long as I should. This includes losing concentration during counseling sessions because I tend to start searching for answers or solutions before my clients are through telling their stories. Another weakness of mine is that I tend to be a perfectionist. I find myself trying to “save the world” and hold on to issues or problems that cannot completely be fixed. Finally, I also struggle with being a little too introverted than I would like to be. Sometimes I wish I would be more open in order to be a more effective counselor. This includes having a hard time confronting clients because I am worried about hurting their feelings.

Why are you attracted to the help giving/counseling profession?

My conscious attraction to the counseling profession began in college. I started my college career in the business field and found myself faultering due to lack of interest. I then reevaluated my interests and decided that I had to find something that would keep me interested, focused and motivated. I came to the conclusion that majoring in psychology would be my best fit. Ultimately, this would turn out to be the right choice.

What was your role in your family when you were growing up, and what impact does it have on this attraction?

My family history may also have played an unconscious role in my interest in the counseling profession. I was the youngest child of two boys in the family. I was considered the rebellious child that got into trouble all of the time. We would find out later that I was just the one that got caught all of the time. I turned out to be the athletic child that entertained the family in sports throughout our childhood. This aspect would be the only reason why me and my father would have any kind of positive relationship at all. My brother would be the one thought of as the academically gifted one following in my fathers footsteps as a defense attorney. Their relationship would turn out to be very good due to my fathers values of prestige and academic excellence. I definitely believe that this and the following aspects drove me unconsciously in the direction of the counseling profession. My father has been an alcoholic all of his life but you would never know unless you were in the family or very close to the family. We tended to keep things quiet and have never let much outside of the families household nor would any problems or issues within the family be addressed ever. My fathers alcoholism never effected his ability to practice law and he was and is still considered a very prominent attorney. Most of our family values were taught through him but not always followed. For example, he believed you had to go to a large ncaa division I school to succeed in life. Both me and my brother would prove him wrong here. He also stressed the importance of obtaining a prestigious job and making a lot of money. I also believe that this may be playin an unconscious role in me getting my masters degree and my recent decision to get my Phd. This actually will likely be a positive value due to the fact that I love my job and am very interested in this field. A Phd would definitely be in order for him to consider my career aspirations an accomplishment by his standards. I do believe that my family dynamics have driven my desire to be in the counseling profession but not forced my decision making.

Who are you as a person?

Over the years I have made some changes for the better as a person I have become very goal *****, motivated and self-aware over the past 5 years. Through 10 + years in the counseling profession I have become less judgemental and much more self understanding. My profession, my studies and my calling to this particular university has made me a much better person.

What wounds or unfinished business do you carry with you into the counseling room?

Some wounds and unfinished business that I may carry into the counseling room is my relationship with my father. Me and my father have never really gotten along ad he has a really good relationship with my brother. He has always looked down on my profession as a counselor due to it’s lack of prestige and has been very proud of my brothers accomplishments of becoming a successful attorney.

In what way are you healing these wounds?

It is hard to heal these wounds because it would not be the proper thing to do within the family dynamics to address something like this. My work, education and support systems from friends and other family members help me cope. I do understand that counseling is an option that I will take in the near future.

What do you notice or what do you think your work with clients will (does) trigger in you?

It helps me find ways to help others see things about themselves that I didn’t see in myself until later in life. Knowing that I have helped a client work through issues that I have had yet never understood gives me the strength to continue and gratification that I have made a difference in somebodys life.

Do you honestly believe you need to be a counselor or you want to become a counselor?

Yes, there was a time when I was unsure, but through years of experience I have come to realize that I was pulled in this direction for a reason.

Whom do you have unfinished business with?

My father.

How do you handle being in conflict? Being confronted? Being evaluated? What defenses do you use in these situations?

It’s funny because it’s different with my father than with others. With my father I become arguementative, upset and sometimes irrational. With friends and clients I am just the opposite. I am able to see others point of view, compromise and work through problems and conflicts fairly easily. With clients and friends I understand why I am being confronted or evaluated and it has very little affect on my emotions and feelings, with my father it is a totally different story.

What are repetitive or chronic issues for you? How might these affect your work with clients?

My issues with my father, his beliefs and my need to be appreciated and admired by him. I have a good understanding of counter-transference and am usually able to catch myself when my own issues get involved in a counseling session.

What do you see in other people that you consistently do not like? See whether you can find these same qualities in yourself and “own” them as also belonging to you.

Judgemental and controlling people is some qualities that I dislike in others. This may be an issue for me because I see these qualities in my father. I used to see these qualities in myself growing up because it was a learned behavior. My education, occupation and maturity has helped me overcome these negative qualities.

Part B:

Provide a 2 page professional development plan which will explain what you plan to do in order to prevent counselor burnout. Come up with a plan to work through your weaknesses listed above. Look at your strength and weaknesses and tell what your going to do to make weaknesses into strengths. For example, one way to prevent counselor burnout can be seeking counseling yourself as a counselor; another way can be through support systems such as your supervisor. The ***** can use these two plans among others to complete part B.

*Please double-space and use 1 inch margins for your paper. You may use first person format (“I”).