My fascination with human behavior developed amidst the deep uncertainty and abundant change I experienced as an adolescent immigrant making my way from my birth home in Eastern Europe to the housing projects of upstate New York. As a result, I became extremely observant of people I encountered from various cultures and languages to try and understand how to fit into this new and unknown world. I often reflected on the connection between mental health and human behavior and whether there are vast differences among people of different traditions. This fueled my passion for travel and as I embarked on my professional journey working in third world countries, I interacted with people from a wide variety backgrounds and experiences, including our military service men and women.
The theme that stood out the most to me throughout my travels is that no matter where you come from or where you live, mental health is a crucial aspect of living a balanced life. Be it in my working environment or personal life, I was continuously confronted with social issues that required specific time and attention. Often, the people I encountered were in the greatest need for basic aspects of human connection that include respect, a sense of compassion, and empathy. These experiences reiterate that healthy human relationships are supported by even the smallest acts of kindness; the act of listening, taking responsibility for our actions, and making amends; all of which begin with open communication through expression of self.
The pursuit of a social work degree serves as the common thread in my experiences. My passion is to relate to the stories of other people and guide them towards healing. Understanding clients requires an understanding of the bigger picture before creating a plan of action. I find that social work provides the necessary platform and training that will help me successfully work with clients on their journey to healing.
Out of the major therapeutic approaches, I hope to harness my training in Transpersonal Psychology that builds on existing knowledge concerning human behavior with a stronger focus on spiritual dimensions of human existence through varying therapeutic methods. Through both my personal and professional experiences with immigrant families and military service men and women, I would like to focus on this population and support them on a deeper level. I believe training in this area of Social Work will enable me to have this positive impact.
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