Application Essay: My Experience As A Direct Support Professional

One of the proudest accomplishments of my life was earning my college degree. Although toward the end of my undergraduate studies in Criminal Justice, a major life event pointed me in another direction. That direction had lead toward counseling and I began independently studying psychology and behaviors. Moreover, I became fascinated with the human mind and it’s abilities. The knowledge I acquired during that time became useful in my home and in the workplace by helping my step-son and gaining the trust of my clients.
At the age of three, Child Services removed my step-son from his mother’s home and placed him in mine. Having suffered from abuse and neglect, he appeared to have socio-emotional difficulties. Instead of interacting with his brother and other children, he often played alone. Furthermore, he used non-verbal communication and struggled with emotional expression.
After a few weeks, therapy appeared to be a logical solution in the matter, nevertheless his father disagreed, believing therapy may create more problems. Therefore, I viewed this as the perfect opportunity to apply the knowledge I had acquired to see if the counseling profession was right for me.
I assist intellectually disabled individuals with becoming self-sufficient as well as providing instruction in behavior management and problem-solving skills. When an individual is struggling with completing a task, I assist with finding a solution to complete the task. When an individual feels conflicted or angry I offer coping or anger management skills to resolve the issue at hand. I have been successful in teaching different behavior management techniques and problem-solving skills that fit the needs of each individual I serve. I believe my professional experience as a Direct Support Professional has provided me with the “building blocks” needed to be successful in my graduate