Professional Identity and Ethical statements

After writing your Professional Identity and Ethical statements and creating your website, write a reflective paper to explain the following:
• your understanding of the ethical obligations of the professional counselor;
• your personal journey of learning, understanding, and identifying your personal beliefs and value systems along with how they influenced you as a professional; and
• your “trials and tribulations” related to building your professional website and marketing yourself as a future professional counselor.

Guidelines for writing the reflective paper:
• Write in first-person language.
• Use APA formatting (Include a cover page, but not a reference page).
• Write a minimum of two pages.

My Professional Statement:
Counseling is a profession that encourages and empowers individuals and families to achieve their goals and live happier lives. I am passionate about assisting others in understanding their life issues, seeing their potential, and living a more fulfilling life. I specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy because I believe that by changing one’s thoughts, one can change one’s behavior. I believe in a client-centered approach and in the ability of all clients to heal and grow. My role is to be a listening, empathic ear and to aid in that growth.

My Ethical Statement:
I care about you, your family and your story. I respect diversity and understand how nature and nurture help mold us into the unique individuals that we are. I vow to make a difference through counseling, educating and evaluation of those that I come in contact with. I am committed to understanding and validating the existing and emerging concerns of my clients. I am committed to fostering the development of each client in a way that is reflective of his or her goals and values. You can trust that I will treat you with respect, dignity and compassion in every interaction, while maintaining the highest standards for integrity and ethics.