Career Goals and Career Essay

Total Length: 559 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

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Professional Membership Rationale

Rachel Faybyshev

Foundations of Mental Health Counseling

Dr. Mary Owens

Professional Membership Rationale

Joining a professional association in one's field of work is essential to furthering one's career. As a student, the author of this response holds that it is important to get a head start and garner an industry-standard affiliation in order to begin networking with other colleagues who have the same interests. Joining a professional association also gives one the ability to learn more about one's career field. For those reasons I have chosen to become a part of the American Psychological Association, or APA. While there are absolutely other methods and means to get a head start in one's career field, associating with a stalwart organization like the APA is an extremely advantageous early step.

Benefits of Membership

After graduating the mental health/counseling program, the author of this report plans to continue her education with a doctoral degree in clinical child psychology. With that being said, the author chose to join the American Psychological Association rather than the American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA). The author did this because she believes that joining the APA would be a better fit for her in the long run. The APA will be a great place for gaining professional relationships as well as professional development.
Before completely committing to joining the association, the author wanted to see what kind of membership benefits were offered. To the author's surprise, there were many benefits that caught her attention. Within the general association, there are 54 topical divisions. For graduate student affiliates, there are discounts to be had when it comes to membership dues and these discounts exist within many of the divisions. There are many fields of psychology. As such, joining a division is a great way to network with people with the same (or similar) interests as the joiner. Once the author is able to become a full member and join a division, that will be something on top of the author's to-do list. The author also saw that this association grants scholarships and awards, which is always helpful. Another great membership benefit is that there are offered discounts on car rentals, computers, other technology, hotels, banks and office products. One other benefit that stuck out to the author of this brief report was that there are reduced or free registration for annual conventions. Attending conventions is yet another great way to network and interact with people that have the same interests in you. The author of this….....

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"Career Goals And Career" (2016, September 28) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
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"Career Goals And Career" 28 September 2016. Web.4 June. 2026. <
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"Career Goals And Career", 28 September 2016, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/career-goals-career-2162040