MFT Personal Statement Asian Example

MFT Personal Statement Sample

By the time that I was in kindergarten, I began wondering why I lived with my grandparents rather than my parents.  At eight years old, my parents who had moved from Taiwan to Singapore when I was only three, returned to Taiwan to take me back with them to Singapore where they lived and were employed. At first, I did not remember my parents, I was even afraid of my own mother. I missed my grandparents and had to learn to communicate with my parents. The sudden loss of my grandmother particularly, the center of my world, left me traumatized. This is why I was drawn to the study of Psychology as a career, setting my sights while still an adolescent on becoming a Marriage and Family Counselor.

Years of missing my grandmother left a void in my heart, so, after finishing my sophomore year in college in Singapore, I decided to return to Taiwan to spend a year with my grandmother, even though it postponed my year of graduation.  I have always been thankful that I made this decision, especially because I would go on to lose her forever two years later.  My family dynamic had an enormous impact on my emotional and psychological health. The more I became aware of how my own life had been impacted by family dynamics, the more fascinated I became with the subject. Especially after my sister, with whom I have always been close, became a victim of domestic violence, I came to feel called to become a family therapist who is especially well versed in the dramatically negative effects of domestic violence and how victims can work towards a full recovery. I hope to devote the balance of my life to MFT, helping victims of domestic violence and children in foster care.

I first worked as a bilingual Behavior Therapist, in Singapore, English/Mandarin, helping immigrant Chinese families with special needs children. An avid student of the importance of family dynamics and communication, I searched for ways to help families with their children’s education. Later, serving as a Special Education Advocate, I helped parents learn to navigate the Special Education system and served as an advocate for their children.

My sister has survived domestic violence, separation, divorce, and online romance fraud.  I have been there for her, learning how to be her anchor, what works and what does not. As suggested by Susan Brewster, the role of the "anchor' is to help an individual to make informed choices. I took classes, attended seminars, read voraciously to learn all that I could about domestic violence, victim-witness programs, family law, divorce law, mediation, child custody, etc., so as to learn how to empower my sister and others like her to make the changes in their lives and outlook that were necessary to facilitate sound decision making. 

My sister's crisis experiences taught me the importance of self-care, taking time to care for myself first as a prerequisite to helping others. I had to learn that my sister’s own initiative was a critical factor, without which I was limited in the extent to which I could help her. I learned that I need to meet my sister where she is, acknowledge and accept her unique experiences, empower her by listening, along with guidance, support, and providing a space to share and be heard.   

MFT Statement of Purpose Example

Now in the USA, serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate has been challenging and most rewarding. I have learned a great deal about the foster care system, the courts, child abuse, and medically fragile children. Based on a careful observation of all aspects of the child’s life, I try to make a positive contribution by advocating and making recommendations to the court that will support the child and ensure that the child is in a safe environment where they can thrive.  I am convinced that if I give my all to the task, my advocacy can indeed result in great improvements in the lives of those children that I seek to protect and empower.  

I see ____ International University as the perfect springboard for further personal and professional growth, furthering my education in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy.  I especially enjoyed attending the MFT Preview Day, learning about theories and the professors who teach students how to apply those theories in real life settings.  I am especially excited by the onsite ____ Counseling Center where MFT students can gain clinical training, with supportive academic coaches and staff answering questions and concerns regarding the MFT program.   

I am especially curious concerning ways that the Christian faith can serve as a source of guidance and wisdom to make wise lifestyle decisions that are conducive to mental health and positive behavior. I look forward to learning strategies for the incorporation of faith-based resources into therapy. 

Thank you for consideration of my application to study towards the master's degree with a focus on MFT at ____ International. 

MFT Personal Statement Asian Example