[Counselling Psychology Applicants 2022 CANADA]

25 minutes ago, wannabetherapist said:

Hi there - I'm a fellow applicant to grad programs, but I've worked in undergraduate admissions and have read a *lot* of essays for undergrad admission, so I feel I may have some helpful tips to share here.

Frankly, I wouldn't be concerned. Maybe it's different at the grad level, but what you found from your research seems right to me -- using a mental health challenge as an excuse for poor grades is never a great angle, but I think it's okay to disclose, and especially in this context! Let's be honest... most people wanting to become therapists have either had struggles themselves, or have been close to those who have, so you're hardly alone in this. I would venture that the majority of statements have some sort of personal experience, and I include myself in this - I'm recovered from anorexia and wrote about that in my statement. With my experience reading essays for admission, it seemed exactly right. At the end of the day, they want the right people for their programs, and folks who have "been through it" often care the most. 

And despite it all, if you've already submitted, it's done, and I would encourage you to accept that it's out of your hands now

Thank you for your response. I would agree with your thinking. A few schools also have asked for personal experience (among academic and work experience) in relation to the decision to pursue graduate studies in this field and I feel as though that would be my answer in that regard as well. Probably just overthinking it!

[Counselling Psychology Applicants 2022 CANADA]

I had finished writing my Statement of Intent and had a friend in a Clinical Psych masters program read it over for me. In my statement I had written about how I was inspired to pursue this line of work from a childhood experience with anxiety and the previous misunderstanding of how mental health could affect children etc. I touched on how CBT helped me and so forth. In short, I was building on the fact that my own experience inspired me to create a positive and lasting impact on children (the area I hope to specialize in). This was just a small section of the statement and I connected it to how I have gone on to work with children with special needs etc. When my friend read it, she said that in clinical psychology it is not okay to disclose a mental health issue in a SOI. I looked into it and it seemed this was more in relation to using mental illness as a "justification" for grades, showing that you are currently "unstable" or not dealing with illness appropriately, or coming across as if you are pursuing this education in order to support yourself or loved ones. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this subject matter and could steer me in the right direction. Thanks in advance

[Statement of Intent - Counselling Psychology]

I had finished writing my Statement of Intent and had a friend in a Clinical Psych masters program read it over for me. In my statement I had written about how I was inspired to pursue this line of work from a childhood experience with anxiety and the previous misunderstanding of how mental health could affect children etc. I touched on how CBT helped me and so forth. In short, I was building on the fact that my own experience inspired me to create a positive and lasting impact on children (the area I hope to specialize in). This was just a small section of the statement and I connected it to how I have gone on to work with children with special needs etc. When my friend read it, she said that in clinical psychology it is not okay to disclose a mental health issue in a SOI. I looked into it and it seemed this was more in relation to using mental illness as a "justification" for grades, showing that you are currently "unstable" or not dealing with illness appropriately, or coming across as if you are pursuing this education in order to support yourself or loved ones. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this subject matter and could steer me in the right direction. Thanks in advance.