examples of clinical psychology personal statement

Trainee Psych Scribbles

Doodles, thoughts and reflections from a Trainee Clinical Psychologist

DClinPsy Application Guide: the personal statement

This is part of a short series of blogs about applying for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy). For context, I’m currently a Trainee Clinical Psychologist who began training in 2019. Through this series of blogs I’m hoping to share the insights I’ve gained that might be helpful for prospective applicants.

This is a guide to the personal statement section of the DClinPsy application.

I remember finding it the hardest and most stressful part of the application. Summarising your reflections on such a broad question in 3000 characters (which works out to roughly 3-4 short paragraphs) is not an easy task. While it might seem daunting, it doesn’t need to be perfect and if you write a relevant, reflective piece, you’ll be increasing your chances of getting selected.

A quick disclaimer that these are my own opinions about what might be helpful from my experience.

I’ve attempted to summarise some helpful advice under the headings below.

What resources are helpful?

Below are some resources that I used to help me write the personal statement. An important caveat is that you will not be able to cover everything in these resources. You don’t have to read them all and be selective when thinking about what to include:

• The Leeds Clearing House website (which is a bible of useful information)
• The Core Competencies of a Clinical Psychologist (within the linked document <-)
• Some courses, but not many, publish their selection criteria. The ones I could find were Sheffield , Plymouth (2015) and Exeter (2018).
• The BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct

Where do I start?

I remember having total writer’s block before starting my personal statement! It can be so daunting and difficult to know where to start. Here are a few things I did to get the ball rolling:

• I thought about why I wanted to do this role and what was it about my work experiences that I really enjoyed.
• I thought about how I had begun to develop some of core competencies through my experiences. I drew out a mind map of how I had started to develop them and what I had learned in the process.
• I made a list of my values and personal qualities, where these had developed from and times they had come up in my practice (these could be related to the NHS constitution e.g. equality, or more personal e.g. creativity).
• I thought about times when I have applied ethical principles or where my experiences had taught me about how important they were.
• I listed what I knew about a Clinical Psychologist’s role, what is unique about it and how it fits in with changes and challenges in the NHS.

As you can probably guess, doing these preparation tasks could lead to loads of possible content! Please read on to see my advice on how to be selective.

What do I include?

If you look at the way the question is worded, it is wanting you to reflect on key aspects of your experiences, and how they prepare you for the role. So, in theory, any reflections in relation to this would be relevant. You could use some of the exercises and resources above to help guide you and inspire you about what to include.

How do I make it “reflective”?

No matter what you include, my experience has taught me that it’s important to be reflective . In my second, successful application, I had virtually no descripitve language (in X role I did Y), and instead took every sentence as an opportunity to show what I had learned. Here are a few generic examples:

“When supporting people who experienced X, I found that considering factors such as X & Y (within a X formulation model/theory), facilitated my ability to respond in an empathetic, person-centred way when met with ambivalence to change”.

“I found that my values of compassion and respect helped me build rapport, when faced with challenges such as X… I believe these values developed through my experiences of… ”

“Conducting X research project, I learned X about the research process… Through disseminating the findings to X and listening to feedback, I learned the importance of adapting my communication style flexibly to meet individual need…”

Feeling a bit stuck on reflection? Sometimes it can be helpful to think through an experience using a model like Gibbs’ (1998) Reflective Cycle. Then summarise the key message from this reflection in your personal statement.

How do I structure it?

There doesn’t appear to be any “set” way to structure the personal statement. However, it seems courses might want you to consider both clinical and research experiences. In my second application, I ensured that these experiences were more evenly balanced (roughly a 60:40 split). I reflected on what I learned from these experiences throughout. You could also include personal and accademic experiences.

How do I fit it all in?

You can’t and (please) don’t try to. I made the mistake of tying to include too much. I remember going through draft after draft, stressing about what to cut and keep. Although I was successful, looking back now, I think my application read as a bit disjointed as a result. From my experience, I’d advise by going through your reflections and thinking about:

• How unique or relevant is this skill to the (trainee) Clinical Psychogist’s role in the NHS today? (e.g. Clinical Psychologists tend to do less 1:1 therapy work with low intensity cases, and work more with complex cases, taking on roles in consultation/supervision and leadership)
• Does this show my values/qualities or motives for applying?
• Would this make me stand out (in a good way)?

Once you’ve written your statement, make sure your writing is clear and concise. Then check if you could comfortably fit in any additional reflections, or whether you might need to cut some out.

Well… that was much longer than I anticipated this blog being. I’m not sure if I’ve done a very good job at modelling being concise! However, I hope that there will be something of use to you in here. Keep an eye out for the next one!

– Trainee Psych Scribbles

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Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples: Psychology

Why Strong Personal Statements are so Important for Graduate School

In your psychology graduate degree application, the personal statement is crucial. It showcases your academic achievements, personal journey, career goals, and why you’re a great fit for the program. This is your chance to move beyond mere statistics—GPA, test scores, work experience—and tell your unique story. Crafting a compelling personal statement requires insight, precision, and guidance. However, finding quality personal statement for graduate school examples can be challenging. Magoosh is committed to supporting graduate applications with detailed analyses, specific feedback, and comprehensive support throughout the admissions process.

Spotlight on Successful Psychology Personal Statements

We’re excited to showcase two standout personal statement for graduate school examples covering two different psychology tracks. The first, used to apply to Columbia University, explores the therapeutic power of storytelling in the aftermath of trauma and the writer’s dedication to studying the pathways from traumatic experiences to psychopathology. This essay seamlessly weaves together the applicant’s academic pursuits and professional experiences, underlining a deep-seated commitment to understanding and fostering resilience and growth post-trauma.

Second, written for UC Berkeley, takes us on a captivating journey—from volunteering in Haiti to navigating the urban complexity of New York, and finally, to a meaningful role in tutoring across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. This narrative eloquently captures the author’s evolving insight into the significant role counseling plays in psychological well-being and the drive to effect change within the psychology field.

Examples with Expert Annotated Feedback

Our feedback on each personal statement highlights strengths, suggests improvements, and offers strategic advice to boost the essay’s impact and emotional appeal. This feedback reflects our thorough grasp of the admissions process and our dedication to helping candidates refine their narratives.

Now explore our personal statements and expert commentary for inspiration on your application narratives. Whether starting your essay or finalizing it, our resources, expertise, and support guide you through the admissions journey.

Finally, our aim is to help you create a personal statement that surpasses admissions expectations, compellingly showcasing your unique story. Explore our blog for further tips, inspirational success stories, and expert advice , and move forward in your graduate school journey with confidence. Our platform is your ally in turning your graduate school aspirations into achievements.

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Clinical psychology personal statement examples.

My passion for psychology is deeply rooted in my interest in philosophy, epistemology and the understanding of human happiness. I sincerely believe in the practical benefits of a life spent helping others, fully investing in the cultivation of empathy and compassion. With this end in mind I have always sought out challenging and rewarding opportunities to work with people and to study human relationships and problems. I have had a long history of psychology related work experiences. I was first employed at the Salt Lake City International Airport assisting physically and mentally disabled passengers navigate the terminal. Although the spectrum of mental illness I was exposed to at this job was small compared to a lot of my later positions, the airport served as a magnifying glass for human diversity and opened my eyes to the world beyond my local culture. There are few places on earth where you can find so much ethnic, cultural, religious and ideological diversity so densely packed into a single building. I was later employed as a Psychology, English and Math tutor for Weber State University working one on one with students by appointment. This job allowed for much more intimate, collaborative relationships and taught me a lot about the process of learning. At this point I officially switched my major from civil engineering to psychology and my general interest in philosophy and epistemology began to focus through psychology. I then worked as a Lead Staff at several different residential assisted living facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities. I worked closely with clients on a daily basis, often spending nights at the homes on sleep or waking graves or working doubles taking clients to company events and activities. This was not simply a job for me, but a subculture I was completely immersed in as many of my close friends worked for the same company and we served the same population of developmentally delayed individuals in the Ogden area. After leaving this job I later participated in community service through a company called enable that employed many of the clients I had worked with previously. Following avatar, I began employment as a Mental Health Worker on a youth sex offender unit at Benchmark Behavioral Health Hospital. I had...

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Writing Personal Statement for Clinical Psychology Masters

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Are you looking for examples of personal statement for clinical psychology Masters ?

A well-crafted personal statement is an integral part of the admissions process for many universities. It allows prospective students to explain why they are uniquely qualified for the program and why they should be considered for admission.

This blog provides some great examples of successful personal statements used in clinical psychology Masters applications.

What Is a Personal Statement for Clinical Psychology Masters?

A personal statement for clinical psychology Master’s is a written document that outlines your career goals, experiences, and qualifications . It is an introduction to a university or college admissions committee, highlighting your personality and why you want to be in their program.

The statement should also demonstrate field knowledge, highlight any research projects or extracurricular activities you’ve been involved in. It will show how your candidacy would be an asset to the school.

Why Write a Personal Statement for Clinical Psychology Masters?

A successful personal statement will give your application an edge over other candidates by demonstrating why you are the perfect fit for the program .

By highlighting your qualifications and experiences, writing a compelling personal statement can help you stand out from the competition. It is also vital to demonstrate your knowledge of clinical psychology and your enthusiasm for applying to the field.

Examples of Clinical Psychology Masters Statement

“As a recent graduate from an undergraduate psychology program, I am passionate about furthering my education in clinical psychology. I have participated in a variety of research projects that have given me insight into this field. This includes one project on mental health disparities among minority populations. I believe that my skill set and experience make me an excellent candidate for this Masters program. I am eager to explore the unique opportunities that it provides.”

“I am applying for the Masters in Clinical Psychology because I believe that this program will help me reach my career goals. With a degree in psychology already, I have gained a strong foundation in the theoretical aspects of clinical psychology. I am now ready to hone and develop further these skills. I am confident that my prior research experience combined with an advanced education in this field will be helpful. It will allow me to make meaningful contributions to the field.”

“Throughout my academic and professional life, I have been passionate about understanding people and their individual experiences. My experience working as a therapist has given me a better understanding of how mental health issues affect different populations. I am now ready to move further in my career by deepening my knowledge and understanding of clinical psychology. I believe that this program can help me reach my goal of becoming a well-rounded clinician.”

Templates to Try for Clinical Psychology Masters Statement

“I am applying for the Masters in Clinical Psychology because __. My prior experience and education have made me a strong candidate for this program, as I have gained a deep understanding of __. I believe that this program will help me to better understand __ and become a well-rounded clinician.”

“I am motivated to pursue a degree in clinical psychology because __. During my undergraduate studies, I became passionate about understanding people and their individual experiences. I am confident that this program will allow me to hone my existing skill set while developing new ones. This will ultimately help further my career goals in clinical psychology.”

We hope these examples have given you insight into what makes a successful personal statement for clinical psychology Masters’ applications. Writing useful personal information requires careful thought and preparation, but it is an integral part of any admissions process. Good luck!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Five Tips for Writing Compelling PsyD Personal Statements

“What should I include?” “How do I start?” “What will impress the admissions committee?” These are the most common questions PsyD applicants ask about their application essay. What makes this task even more confusing is that different programs refer to this same essay as a “personal statement,” a “statement of purpose,” a “graduate essay,” a “statement of goals,” a “personal history,” and even a “letter of intent.” Some programs might request two or three essays: one that is biographical,  one that addresses the issue of diversity , and perhaps one that serves as a more formal research proposal. As applicants prepare to write their essays, they’re often confounded by questions.

Making your personal statements more dynamic

As you prepare to write your PsyD personal statement, here are five tips to help you make it as persuasive and memorable as possible.

Tip #1: Understand the importance of the personal statement in admissions decisions.

Although your transcript(s), recommendations, and GRE scores (if required) all factor into your target program’s admissions decision, your personal statement is what can really “close” the deal. Adcoms read candidates’ statements very carefully. They use this submission to learn more about your disposition for studying clinical psychology; your educational background; your clinical, academic, and research experience; and your short- and long-term career aspirations. Here is where you have the opportunity to  highlight the strengths  and qualifications you possess that will set you apart from other qualified applicants. These might include the following:

• Your fit with the program
• Desirable qualities and qualifications
• Your ability to articulate your ideas in a clear and engaging way
• How your academic studies, human services experience, field research, and long-term goals have sparked your determination to pursue PsyD graduate studies
• Any influences that have inspired your decision to apply to a PsyD program, if applicable, such as an internship, job, community service experience, acquaintance who works in the field, or a research experience (Make sure you  provide short narratives  about the experience[s] or person[s], which will make you more memorable to the faculty committee.)

Many PsyD personal statement prompts will ask you to share personal experiences. As you relate these experiences, you want to demonstrate your self-reflection skills and that you understand the importance of clear boundaries. Remember that the purpose of this essay to is provide information to the adcom that will help in assessing your qualifications for the program.

Tip #2: Read the prompts carefully, and customize your personal statement for each PsyD program.

Programs can easily spot a template or generic personal statement and will, most likely, place such essays in the “no” pile. It is therefore important to  customize your personal statement for each program  to which you apply.

Each school provides a brief description of the information it is seeking in the personal statement. One program might limit this essay to 1,000 words, in which you must address multiple questions or topics. Another might specify two or three single- or double-spaced pages, while others might limit the number of characters (with or without spaces) with which you can cover certain topics. Pay special attention to each school’s directions. Not following the stated directives will, at the least, irritate the adcom and might even result in your application being placed in the “no” pile. PsyD programs are highly selective and competitive, and if you cannot follow clearly stated directions, it calls into question your ability to manage the academic rigor of the program. Carefully read the entire prompt, and be sure to respond to each part of it.

We suggest creating a spreadsheet that lists each program’s personal statement questions/requirements. This cross-checking tool will help you identify common topics among the programs you’re targeting, which might include the following:

• Academic objectives related to the curriculum 
• Prior research experience and graduate-level research interests (Some schools request a graduate research proposal.)
• Relevant community service, job, or internship experiences
• Short- and long-term professional/career goals

Tip #3: Identify the specific faculty member(s) with whom you wish to work.

Some PsyD programs ask applicants to note in the application the name or names of faculty members with whom they wish to work if they are admitted. Whether or not your target program requests this information, include it in your personal statement, naming the specific faculty members you have pinpointed. To identify these individuals, look at the faculty profiles on the program’s website to see whose work connects with your interests. Read journal articles that match your research and/or clinical interests. In your explanation of why you would like to work with a particular faculty member, clearly present your precise reason(s) (e.g., they focus on a certain population or clinical issue).

Tip #4: Check out the program’s website for special opportunities you could highlight in the “Why this school/program?” portion of your personal statement.

To make a convincing argument for why you are targeting a particular PsyD program, you need to identify aspects of the experience that relate directly to your needs and interests and then name them in your personal statement. These items could include the following:

• Clinical sites, including practica and internships
• Courses, specializations, and/or concentrations that you find appealing 
• Participation/presentations at professional conferences, including APA regional conventions
• On-site and/or off-site research centers
• Graduate student groups of interest
• Theoretical perspective or orientation of the program (e.g., a focus on social justice)

Avoid generic statements about the program’s “excellent faculty” or “strong academic reputation.” The adcom will likely view such statements as cliches or basic pandering. 

#5: Being detailed can help you stand out.

Faculty adcoms work hard to fairly review each candidate before making their admissions decision. As a result, they are seeking. They don’t need to “dig” through the application to find it. Avoid making overarching statements, such as “I did some research.” Provide the details: What was the research? With whom did you work? When did you do it? What did you learn? Was it published? Was it presented at a scholarly event or conference? If you are sharing information on a course you enjoyed, include the “whys,” “whats,” and “hows.” For example, explain why the professor was particularly inspiring,  what  specific course content added to your knowledge base, and/or how the course content reinforced your determination to pursue graduate studies and/or research in this field.

Are there particular populations or clinical issues that you are drawn to? If so, include an explanation of why these are of interest.

After completing your specificity check and before you submit your application, be sure to do the following:

• Conduct a spell/grammar check. Although it might not catch everything, running a simple spell/grammar check is an excellent first step.
• Read your entire personal statement aloud to yourself. You might be surprised by the number of errors and omissions you will notice that the computer-generated spell/grammar check missed.
• Check the word/character/page count to ensure that it conforms to the school’s requirements.
• Ask an unbiased person to read for grammar and spelling errors. A “fresh set of eyes” could notice issues you might have overlooked.
• Review your statement to ensure that its content complements – without duplicating or repeating — information found elsewhere in your application.
• Proofread your statement multiple times.

By Alice Diamond , former associate dean for career and community service at Lesley University. Alice has a BA from Colgate University, an MA from Bryn Mawr College, and an MS from Cornell University. She has more than 35 years of experience in career and admissions advising for undergraduate and graduate candidates. Alice’s clients have been accepted to top programs in a wide range of fields. Want to work with Alice? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources

• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Grad School Statement of Purpose , a free guide
• Graduate School in Psychology: PsyD or PhD, Which Is Right for You?
• Acing the PsyD Interview: The 3-P Plan

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Successful Personal Statement For Psychology At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Psychology applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Psychology Course at Oxford is a scientific discipline, involving the rigorous formulation and testing of ideas. It works through experiments and systematic observation rather than introspection.

Read on to see how this candidate demonstrates their academic interests and initiative.   

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Psychology comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

With our  Oxbridge Psychology Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Discover our Premium Programmes today to learn how you can enrol and triple your chances of success.  

Psychology Personal Statement

How does the mind work? The mind is a mystery housed within the most complex mechanism known to man: the human brain. My innate curiosity compels me to find out more about such a mystery through the study of Psychology.

I have long been interested in how our minds differ: for example, why have I always been a strong mathematician while my brother finds it challenging? Being a musician, I found Kathryn Vaughn’s research supporting a correlation between musical and mathematical abilities particularly thought provoking, while I have also wondered whether my childhood obsession with jigsaws helped me develop problem-solving skills, which are particularly relevant in Geometry: the area with the biggest rift in our abilities. Ann Dowker’s argument, in ‘Individual Differences’, that educational methods influence such differences was also particularly compelling. Therefore, in my gap year, whilst helping struggling learners in KS3 Mathematics at a local school, and, when I help educate children in Tanzania as an International Citizen Service volunteer with the VSO charity, I will evaluate the success of different educational methods. This will give me experience of carrying out my own research, and, will develop skills such as empathy, which is important in the more sensitive areas of Psychology. Furthermore, I recently assisted a University of Oxford researcher conducting follow-up assessments with children in local primary schools. These measured reading-age, language comprehension and numeracy level, and are used to gauge and refine the Catch-Up charity’s numeracy intervention programme. As some of the children being assessed were from a control group, my involvement also enlightened me to ethical aspects of research.

Differences that occur in the criminal mind are also of great interest to me. As an elected Student Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust, I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau earlier this year, where I learnt about Rudolf Hoess. Hoess exterminated thousands of families, yet lived with his own family just outside the camp. This ignited an interest in complex behaviour; therefore I read Stanley Milgram’s research into whether ‘the Germans are different’, and learnt about his Theory of Obedience. This developed an interest in Forensic Psychology, and I subsequently attended a Forensics course at Nottingham University, where I learnt about a Forensic Psychologist’s role, during Mental Health tribunals, for example.

Deterioration of the mind, and methods to counteract this, also interest me. Reading the Psychologist has given me an insight into how the effectiveness of such methods could be analysed using a high-resolution 3D brain atlas; while a presentation from Claire Rytina enlightened me to useful cognitive treatment designed to rebuild and retrieve memory following her Viral Encephalitis. I have also voluntarily worked at a Nursing Home with some Dementia sufferers, and noticed that many sufferers enjoyed me playing music from their past, and sometimes, this triggered some of their memories. This made me wonder whether the music stimulated neurones which had lain dormant for years, similarly to when neurones are used for the first time, as Hubel and Weisel’s nature/nurture research has shown. Studying this in A level Biology gave me an interest in neuroscience, while Biology also stressed the importance of controls and fair tests, which are invaluable during Psychology experiments too. My mathematical skills in statistics will also be beneficial when analysing empirical evidence; and, the deep level of analysis and evaluation used for varying sources in A level History will be useful when studying case studies, while my essay techniques will help me when writing reports, and when considering issues from different perspectives.

Overall, I feel that my broad interests and skills will enable me to thrive as a Psychology student at a demanding University, where I would also make a positive contribution to University life.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This statement is powered by a broad range of academic interests — all of which the candidate has explored to a deep and commendable level. They are able to articulate how these interests came about, why they are important and how they intersect. In so doing, the candidate clearly demonstrates their ability to think independently, undertake independent projects and foster a wide-ranging curiosity. Furthermore, they clearly illustrate how their academic interests have had a bearing on their actions outside of the classroom; activities that require a substantial amount of initiative and endeavour.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

While the consideration of a range of different areas of psychology is illustrative of a consistently curious individual, this statement would have benefited from greater cohesion as an overall piece. The candidate could have also found a less rhetorical way of opening their statement; their tone at this point is not a mode of speech that they return to elsewhere, and as such, it seems somewhat like a non-sequitur. Their prose thereafter is much more engaging, and it seems unfulfilling and irrelevant to include such mystifying text at the start.

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This candidate maturely presents their academic interests and particular areas of personal pursuit. As a result of this, they are able to demonstrate moments at which they have taken impressive amounts of initiative, and have really gone out of their way in order to experience their academic interests outside of the classroom. They are thereby able to fashion themselves as a curious, energetic, academic individual, who is able to think independently and develop their own work. There are potential areas for stylistic improvement within the statement, but they do not hinder the overall impression given of a capable and committed candidate.

This Personal Statement for Psychology is a great example of demonstrating academic interest and initiative. The candidate’s interest and passion are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

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Postgraduate psychology personal statement example 2.

Although I have only studied psychology for a relatively short period of time, I have enjoyed the subject thoroughly and have been engaged in intriguing topics such as memory and infant attachment. I originally intended to study psychology during my college years but, unfortunately, my university didn't have a psychology department.

So, I studied French language and literature at Damietta University , from where I graduated with honors in May 2012, and was among the top 10 ranked students. In the fourth year, I did a research project in which I made a comparison between the French Revolution, which occurred at the end of the eighteenth century and the 25th of January Egyptian Revolution. My project was highly rated.

After graduation, I decided to take three years off from studies to narrow my interests and think about my future. During this time, I participated; in volunteer work, I volunteered in “Resala” Charity Association to teach children and orphans, volunteered in TEDx in my city, helped the elderly and children with special needs, taught French and English language to Secondary and Preparatory school students who do not have money.

In 2015, my mother was hit by illness depression, when I began reading in Psychology and its concept; and the more I learned about it, the more I became passionate. I realised that psychology is the tool that can impact people and life as a whole.

Ultimately, I realised that I want to dedicate my life to this field .Having the desire to change the world and make it better, in order to be satisfied with life and with myself, I reckon that I need to do something significant and my work must affect other people in positive manner.

The specific area of psychology that I am interested in pursuing is Clinical Psychology. I feel that studying psychology would provide me with the answers as well as highly transferable skills such as comprehension of the human mind, effective team work, and the ability to help others when needed, which would be valuable on a day-to-day basis.

Everything we do involves psychology; the natural techniques we use to develop our strengths and the ways we learn to surpass our weaknesses has been an interest of mine since high school.

By watching others gaining their characteristics and personal skills I have been attracted towards psychology ever since. I find it fascinating how the study of a language, culture, and behavior can overlap to provide me with a more in-depth understanding of humankind.

Sigmund Freud - “Dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy.” There are few other things that arouse greater fascination than the human mind itself; its complexity and the mystery which enshrouds it has always appealed to me, which is why it is my dream to study psychology at university.

I read the works of Oliver Sacks, namely 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat'. The 'characters' within this book were each equally enthralling; each revealing unique stories and emotions, considered as the 'norm' in terms of attitude and behavior.

I enjoy various novels and works by psychologists to expand my knowledge of the subject such as 'The Interpretation of Dreams,' which was an excellent extension to my previous knowledge of Freud. 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest' was particularly inspiring as it gave me a fictional insight into the lives of people in an asylum, principally concerned with the ways in which society applies pressure on an individual to conform to what is ours.

I find psychological case studies and accounts absorbing such as 'Malignant sadness' by Lewis Wolpert and television documentaries.'

Additionally, the entertainment programme 'Big Brother,' which the British Psychological Society labelled a "public concern," regarding its "deliberate creation of tension and conflict," gave me an insight into psychological disorders such as Tourettes Syndrome, anorexia and Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and increased my awareness of the ethical guidelines concerned with research.

Psychology has made me realize that in order to help someone, I have to first understand them. I want to be able to explore and investigate different theories and approaches, I want to begin to answer the fundamental questions surrounding the human consciousness, and I want to use this knowledge to help others to mend and develop.

Studying psychology will be the beginning of my journey to a challenging, fascinating and gratifying career, so when considering where to go, I feel that Korea would be the best choice.

Furthermore, I am enthralled by the Korean educational system: its flexibility, individual approach, and passionate teachers eager to provide their students with both theoretical and practical knowledge and who would motivate me to go beyond my limits.

So, I am applying to the master's degree at Sungkyunkwan university, Sungkyunkwan University (SSKU) is one of the oldest and best universities in South Korea. . The literal meaning of "Sungkyunkwan" is "an institution for building a harmonious society of perfected human beings".

The international communities of Sungkyunkwan University aim to meet this goal by creating an environment where students can thrive in cooperation with our staff and grow together in a positive way. SKKU offers an orientation session for exchange students to help them adjust into a new life in the campus environment.

SKKU International Officer also organises cultural activities and social events for all exchange students. Through these events they aim to increase our students’ sense of globalisation and multicultural understanding. because I believe that I will make an outstanding undergraduate student who will appreciate having the ability to study and expand my knowledge in a reputable learning environment.

It will allow me to greatly broaden my knowledge and understanding of psychology, I am also very optimistic about the challenges that I will face at the university, such as being more independent and being challenged academically and socially.

And in the future I am hoping to be able to offer help to those suffering from incurable disorders, in order for them to function as best as they can.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLE Psychology Personal Statement

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Psychology Personal Statement

Psychology has drawn me in since I began studying it at GCSE. For me, the fact that there is so much that is still unknown is so intriguing to me. I find it fascinating that by using psychology, we can understand why people act the way they do and how the brain processes information both neurologically and cognitively. I especially enjoy the clinical aspect of psychology as well as the research side of the subject.

My appreciation for clinical psychology stemmed from learning about psychopathology at the beginning of my A level course. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing different brain abnormalities and mental illnesses, such as depression, and I found it incredible that through using psychological research it is possible to develop treatments and therapies that are helpful for sufferers.

I would truly love to study for a BSc in Psychology at university as I believe that by expanding my knowledge of psychology to a degree level, it will aid me on my career path of becoming a clinical psychologist. I have found a great interest in the subject of clinical psychology such as how different mental disorders come about and how they can be treated. This has further motivated me to go into this field of work. It inspired me to study psychology in more depth so that, hopefully in the future, I could help people who are suffering find a treatment or potentially develop one myself. In the future, it would be my dream to become a qualified clinical psychologist as I feel that this career would be perfect for me.

My attentive nature, passion for helping others and my ability to remain calm means that I would really thrive in this profession. In the summer of Year 12, I had the opportunity to experience work in a clinical setting first hand. I took part in a work experience programme with the NHS in which I shadowed nurses on the vascular ward. Although I believe that this ward wasn't particularly relevant to my future career, it did give me an insight into work in a clinical setting and what it entails. During this week, I spoke to professionals about their experiences of the rewards and drawbacks of the work. This week of experience confirmed that I really want to work in a clinical setting in particular where, rather than take the role of a nurse, I would apply psychological knowledge to help others.

Also during the summer, I attended a programmed called Next Step York at the University of York . In this programme, we stayed at the university for a week long residential and took part in various university related activities. I attended three mini lectures on psychology, sociology and law and in these sessions, we learnt about the different topics within each subject. I found them all interesting but the psychology lecture more so. I also got to experience student life activities which were to give us an insight into the various societies at university. The whole week taught me what staying at university would be like and how to manage living independently away from home. I feel it really helped me to realise that university was definitely the route for me.

Currently, I am a subject ambassador for the subject of psychology at my sixth form. This means that I help out with events such as open days and we also run a revision club for current Year 12 that are studying psychology. In this revision club, we review AS content and discuss them so that the Year 12s, and we, understand the content fully.

I really believe that this course will be perfect for me as I have an incredible passion for the subject and really enjoy learning and reading about recent events in the psychological world. I feel that this course would inspire me to pursue my dream career as a clinical psychologist and would make me fall in love with the subject even more, if that's possible.

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Case Study Research Method in Psychology

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

Case studies are in-depth investigations of a person, group, event, or community. Typically, data is gathered from various sources using several methods (e.g., observations & interviews).

The case study research method originated in clinical medicine (the case history, i.e., the patient’s personal history). In psychology, case studies are often confined to the study of a particular individual.

The information is mainly biographical and relates to events in the individual’s past (i.e., retrospective), as well as to significant events that are currently occurring in his or her everyday life.

The case study is not a research method, but researchers select methods of data collection and analysis that will generate material suitable for case studies.

Freud (1909a, 1909b) conducted very detailed investigations into the private lives of his patients in an attempt to both understand and help them overcome their illnesses.

This makes it clear that the case study is a method that should only be used by a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist, i.e., someone with a professional qualification.

There is an ethical issue of competence. Only someone qualified to diagnose and treat a person can conduct a formal case study relating to atypical (i.e., abnormal) behavior or atypical development.

 Famous Case Studies

• Anna O – One of the most famous case studies, documenting psychoanalyst Josef Breuer’s treatment of “Anna O” (real name Bertha Pappenheim) for hysteria in the late 1800s using early psychoanalytic theory.
• Little Hans – A child psychoanalysis case study published by Sigmund Freud in 1909 analyzing his five-year-old patient Herbert Graf’s house phobia as related to the Oedipus complex.
• Bruce/Brenda – Gender identity case of the boy (Bruce) whose botched circumcision led psychologist John Money to advise gender reassignment and raise him as a girl (Brenda) in the 1960s.
• Genie Wiley – Linguistics/psychological development case of the victim of extreme isolation abuse who was studied in 1970s California for effects of early language deprivation on acquiring speech later in life.
• Phineas Gage – One of the most famous neuropsychology case studies analyzes personality changes in railroad worker Phineas Gage after an 1848 brain injury involving a tamping iron piercing his skull.

Clinical Case Studies

• Studying the effectiveness of psychotherapy approaches with an individual patient
• Assessing and treating mental illnesses like depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD
• Neuropsychological cases investigating brain injuries or disorders

Child Psychology Case Studies

• Studying psychological development from birth through adolescence
• Cases of learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD
• Effects of trauma, abuse, deprivation on development

Types of Case Studies

• Explanatory case studies : Used to explore causation in order to find underlying principles. Helpful for doing qualitative analysis to explain presumed causal links.
• Exploratory case studies : Used to explore situations where an intervention being evaluated has no clear set of outcomes. It helps define questions and hypotheses for future research.
• Descriptive case studies : Describe an intervention or phenomenon and the real-life context in which it occurred. It is helpful for illustrating certain topics within an evaluation.
• Multiple-case studies : Used to explore differences between cases and replicate findings across cases. Helpful for comparing and contrasting specific cases.
• Intrinsic : Used to gain a better understanding of a particular case. Helpful for capturing the complexity of a single case.
• Collective : Used to explore a general phenomenon using multiple case studies. Helpful for jointly studying a group of cases in order to inquire into the phenomenon.

Where Do You Find Data for a Case Study?

There are several places to find data for a case study. The key is to gather data from multiple sources to get a complete picture of the case and corroborate facts or findings through triangulation of evidence. Most of this information is likely qualitative (i.e., verbal description rather than measurement), but the psychologist might also collect numerical data.

1. Primary sources

• Interviews – Interviewing key people related to the case to get their perspectives and insights. The interview is an extremely effective procedure for obtaining information about an individual, and it may be used to collect comments from the person’s friends, parents, employer, workmates, and others who have a good knowledge of the person, as well as to obtain facts from the person him or herself.
• Observations – Observing behaviors, interactions, processes, etc., related to the case as they unfold in real-time.
• Documents & Records – Reviewing private documents, diaries, public records, correspondence, meeting minutes, etc., relevant to the case.

2. Secondary sources

• News/Media – News coverage of events related to the case study.
• Academic articles – Journal articles, dissertations etc. that discuss the case.
• Government reports – Official data and records related to the case context.
• Books/films – Books, documentaries or films discussing the case.

3. Archival records

Searching historical archives, museum collections and databases to find relevant documents, visual/audio records related to the case history and context.

Public archives like newspapers, organizational records, photographic collections could all include potentially relevant pieces of information to shed light on attitudes, cultural perspectives, common practices and historical contexts related to psychology.

4. Organizational records

Organizational records offer the advantage of often having large datasets collected over time that can reveal or confirm psychological insights.

Of course, privacy and ethical concerns regarding confidential data must be navigated carefully.

However, with proper protocols, organizational records can provide invaluable context and empirical depth to qualitative case studies exploring the intersection of psychology and organizations.

• Organizational/industrial psychology research : Organizational records like employee surveys, turnover/retention data, policies, incident reports etc. may provide insight into topics like job satisfaction, workplace culture and dynamics, leadership issues, employee behaviors etc.
• Clinical psychology : Therapists/hospitals may grant access to anonymized medical records to study aspects like assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans etc. This could shed light on clinical practices.
• School psychology : Studies could utilize anonymized student records like test scores, grades, disciplinary issues, and counseling referrals to study child development, learning barriers, effectiveness of support programs, and more.

How do I Write a Case Study in Psychology?

Follow specified case study guidelines provided by a journal or your psychology tutor. General components of clinical case studies include: background, symptoms, assessments, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Interpreting the information means the researcher decides what to include or leave out. A good case study should always clarify which information is the factual description and which is an inference or the researcher’s opinion.

1. Introduction

• Provide background on the case context and why it is of interest, presenting background information like demographics, relevant history, and presenting problem.
• Compare briefly to similar published cases if applicable. Clearly state the focus/importance of the case.

2. Case Presentation

• Describe the presenting problem in detail, including symptoms, duration,and impact on daily life.
• Include client demographics like age and gender, information about social relationships, and mental health history.
• Describe all physical, emotional, and/or sensory symptoms reported by the client.
• Use patient quotes to describe the initial complaint verbatim. Follow with full-sentence summaries of relevant history details gathered, including key components that led to a working diagnosis.
• Summarize clinical exam results, namely orthopedic/neurological tests, imaging, lab tests, etc. Note actual results rather than subjective conclusions. Provide images if clearly reproducible/anonymized.
• Clearly state the working diagnosis or clinical impression before transitioning to management.

3. Management and Outcome

• Indicate the total duration of care and number of treatments given over what timeframe. Use specific names/descriptions for any therapies/interventions applied.
• Present the results of the intervention,including any quantitative or qualitative data collected.
• For outcomes, utilize visual analog scales for pain, medication usage logs, etc., if possible. Include patient self-reports of improvement/worsening of symptoms. Note the reason for discharge/end of care.

4. Discussion

• Analyze the case, exploring contributing factors, limitations of the study, and connections to existing research.
• Analyze the effectiveness of the intervention,considering factors like participant adherence, limitations of the study, and potential alternative explanations for the results.
• Identify any questions raised in the case analysis and relate insights to established theories and current research if applicable. Avoid definitive claims about physiological explanations.
• Offer clinical implications, and suggest future research directions.

5. Additional Items

• Thank specific assistants for writing support only. No patient acknowledgments.
• References should directly support any key claims or quotes included.
• Use tables/figures/images only if substantially informative. Include permissions and legends/explanatory notes.
• Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information.
• Provides insight for further research.
• Permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations.

Case studies allow a researcher to investigate a topic in far more detail than might be possible if they were trying to deal with a large number of research participants (nomothetic approach) with the aim of ‘averaging’.

Because of their in-depth, multi-sided approach, case studies often shed light on aspects of human thinking and behavior that would be unethical or impractical to study in other ways.

Research that only looks into the measurable aspects of human behavior is not likely to give us insights into the subjective dimension of experience, which is important to psychoanalytic and humanistic psychologists.

Case studies are often used in exploratory research. They can help us generate new ideas (that might be tested by other methods). They are an important way of illustrating theories and can help show how different aspects of a person’s life are related to each other.

The method is, therefore, important for psychologists who adopt a holistic point of view (i.e., humanistic psychologists ).

Limitations

• Lacking scientific rigor and providing little basis for generalization of results to the wider population.
• Researchers’ own subjective feelings may influence the case study (researcher bias).
• Difficult to replicate.
• Time-consuming and expensive.
• The volume of data, together with the time restrictions in place, impacted the depth of analysis that was possible within the available resources.

Because a case study deals with only one person/event/group, we can never be sure if the case study investigated is representative of the wider body of “similar” instances. This means the conclusions drawn from a particular case may not be transferable to other settings.

Because case studies are based on the analysis of qualitative (i.e., descriptive) data , a lot depends on the psychologist’s interpretation of the information she has acquired.

This means that there is a lot of scope for Anna O , and it could be that the subjective opinions of the psychologist intrude in the assessment of what the data means.

For example, Freud has been criticized for producing case studies in which the information was sometimes distorted to fit particular behavioral theories (e.g., Little Hans ).

This is also true of Money’s interpretation of the Bruce/Brenda case study (Diamond, 1997) when he ignored evidence that went against his theory.

Breuer, J., & Freud, S. (1895).  Studies on hysteria . Standard Edition 2: London.

Curtiss, S. (1981). Genie: The case of a modern wild child .

Diamond, M., & Sigmundson, K. (1997). Sex Reassignment at Birth: Long-term Review and Clinical Implications. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , 151(3), 298-304

Freud, S. (1909a). Analysis of a phobia of a five year old boy. In The Pelican Freud Library (1977), Vol 8, Case Histories 1, pages 169-306

Freud, S. (1909b). Bemerkungen über einen Fall von Zwangsneurose (Der “Rattenmann”). Jb. psychoanal. psychopathol. Forsch ., I, p. 357-421; GW, VII, p. 379-463; Notes upon a case of obsessional neurosis, SE , 10: 151-318.

Harlow J. M. (1848). Passage of an iron rod through the head.  Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, 39 , 389–393.

Harlow, J. M. (1868).  Recovery from the Passage of an Iron Bar through the Head .  Publications of the Massachusetts Medical Society. 2  (3), 327-347.

Money, J., & Ehrhardt, A. A. (1972).  Man & Woman, Boy & Girl : The Differentiation and Dimorphism of Gender Identity from Conception to Maturity. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Money, J., & Tucker, P. (1975). Sexual signatures: On being a man or a woman.

Further Information

• Case Study Approach
• Case Study Method
• Enhancing the Quality of Case Studies in Health Services Research
• “We do things together” A case study of “couplehood” in dementia
• Using mixed methods for evaluating an integrative approach to cancer care: a case study

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