There are many children in general that have endured a major crisis; this crisis could incorporate trauma-based incidents such as sexual or physical abuse, death of a family member, or even a serious medical illness. Despite the fact that children tend to be resilient, they may need psychological help in order to cope. Therefore, if I could provide counseling services to these children, it would be a very meaningful career path. This is an important job because the children may “act out,” engage in risky behaviors, or internalize their issues due to lingering effects of the trauma. Essentially, my role would be to help children process their emotions or thoughts, identify environmental stressors that may contribute to psychopathology, and initiate treatment if necessary. Consequently, children would become more secure with themselves and hope to lead normal lives without fear or anxiety.
To become a trauma counselor, various steps would need to be taken. First, a Bachelor’s degree is imperative. Once a degree is earned, the next step is to pass the GRE’s with a strong score so that applying to graduate schools would be less difficult. Once those goals are accomplished, I would be able to research universities that gear towards the areas I’m interested in. These particular steps would lead me closer to my dream job. A point to consider, however, is that an excellent application for graduate school should include relevant experience, recommendations from professors or employers, and laboratory participation. These activities illustrate a student that is well-rounded.