SOP Sample for MS Psychology in UK - Fresher with Internships

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

My determination to pursue a Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology stems from the kind of person I am - an empathetic individual who attempts to understand people's way of perceiving the world without a judgemental frame of reference, and choosing to see them for who they are internally.

I am currently pursuing my bachelors in Psychology from [COLLEGE_NAME] affiliated with [UNIVERSITY_NAME] as a third-year student. The first two years of my undergraduate were a mix of theoretical as well as practical exposure in Psychology. Although they have helped me gain knowledge about conducting experiments using interviews and questionnaires and their analysis, my undergraduate knowledge lacks an in-depth view of various research methods, whether qualitative or quantitative - the surveys as well as engagement in the analysis of these techniques. I am well aware of various qualitative and quantitative methods in research but wish to apply these methods in research in the specialized field of Clinical Psychology or Health Psychology.

In order to fill the gaps in my education, I decided to engage in various internships which have undoubtedly broadened my outlook and perspective in the field and have helped me build interest and see through my passion for the field of Clinical and Health Psychology. The work I have done revolves around acquiring a lot of theoretical and practical knowledge which has led me to deeply understand the field beyond the words of a textbook.

I have worked as an intern at the [INSTITUTE_NAME] at [HOSPITAL_NAME] based in [CITY] under the guidance of [PROFESSOR_NAME], Head of the Psychiatry Department. In my internship, I got a chance to take case histories, mental status examinations and observed patients seeking Occupational Therapy. I also learned about various mental health disorders as well as their interconnectedness to physical health. In addition to this, I worked as an intern at [COMPANY_NAME] for four months where I curated content on mental health disorders, positive mental health, self-care, therapy, and other related topics. This content was published on the social media accounts of the firm including LinkedIn and Instagram leading to spread awareness amongst a wider society to internally and externally destigmatize mental health issues. As I wrote about these topics with depth and meaning, I acquired plenty of knowledge about a variety of issues as well as reflected on my way of perceiving the world.

Apart from simply diving into psychology focused internships, I decided to take up work that involved working with different people to include an understanding of diversity and intersectionality. This openness to learning more about individuals led me to work as a volunteer as a teacher at [ORGANIZATION_NAME], a society aimed at providing education to underprivileged children as well as various NGOs such as [NGO_NAME], [NGO_NAME], and [NGO_NAME]. While volunteering at these organizations, I was given the opportunity to teach English and socio-emotional learning skills to primary government school students and adults from the underprivileged sections of society. During this period, I tried to observe and learn about the cognitive processes of children, which I found to be closely linked with what they felt and how they expressed emotions. This further intrigues me to gain knowledge from the course curriculum about child interventions that can be used for dealing with children in therapy settings.

The master's program at [UNIVERSITY_NAME] includes some interesting modules which are extremely insightful and informative. The module 'Facilitating Change' of the program interests me because of its focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other psychotherapy interventions in the diagnosis of mental health disorders. I have been seeking psychotherapy for quite a long time now, and the approach used by my therapist has been Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Being on the receiving end, I was fascinated and further wanted to learn the applications and practicalities of the approach on various populations with mental health disorders.

As an addition to my understanding of the field, I am currently studying Psychology of Disability as a Core Elective paper in the 5th semester. I am learning about the perceptions of disability in India and its implications for persons with disabilities and the role played by their families, socio-cultural factors, and social attitudes and beliefs around disability. This helps me understand the prospect for change that is required in my country as well as understand the profound impact the social constructs have on an individual's sense of self and their internal world as a whole.

With regard to this, my research interest in Health Psychology lies in studying how the perceptions of disabilities differ from illnesses and health interventions for people with disabilities. I am also keen to understand the personal experiences of mothers of children with disabilities through conducting qualitative research. [PROFESSOR_NAME]'s guidance can help me reach this goal due to her in-depth knowledge and experience in the field.

I am an individual who is open to all kinds of research exposures - however, my specific interests in the field of clinical psychology lie in researching the impact of codependency on the study of the self, involving concepts such as self-identity, self-esteem, self-worth, and self-blame and how these aspects manifest in future interpersonal relationships formed by people. It has always been an integral part of the human experience which has fascinated me and I believe diving into something so common yet personal can be a significant study to help individuals get a holistic understanding of their feelings and experiences. Moreover, as mentioned in my research proposal, I am also curious about researching the dynamics of sibling sexual abuse in various contexts in society.

The course at [UNIVERSITY_NAME] is equipped with an adequate amount of research opportunities throughout the year. I am extremely vested in the structured course curriculum. Particularly, the balanced focus on qualitative and statistical techniques adds to the richness of the course.

The excellent prospects of the program and the immense expertise of the faculty members in the Psychology department will help me in learning and applying the knowledge of psychology in counselling and psychotherapy as well as in understanding the perspectives of the patients from a holistic and empathetic approach. Moreover, I would be able to benefit from the research experience provided by the program, in the future, while going on to work on my own personal research to create change and meaning in the lives of others.