Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Project Abstract (696 or 796 registration)
Degree Name
Master of Science in Counseling
Department
Graduate Studies
Committee Chair
Rikki Fischer
Keywords
personal identity, developmental trauma, family systems, counseling theory, professional growth
Abstract
Abstract
This paper examines the development of my personal and professional identity with the help of multiple counseling theories: Family Systems Theory, Developmental Trauma Theory, Adlerian Theory, and Existential Theory. By reflecting on my life experiences, I connect how childhood and family relationships, inconsistent caregiving, and emotional unpredictability impacted my development of self, the ability to cope, and function within various relationships. From my family dynamics, I became hypervigilant, had chronic self-doubt, and a persistent belief that something was wrong with me. My childhood contributed to my internalized shame, masking behaviors, and seeking external validation. Through theoretical integration, I was able to analyze how these childhood experiences were rooted and impacted my attachment patterns, worldview, and approach to relationships. The paper also reflects on how my experiences have played a transformative role in developing my counselor identity. Each experience has contributed to my skills of adaptability, resilience, intuition, and capacity for empathy. These experiences have given me a deeper commitment to creating an emotionally safe space for others, which is something I lacked growing up. As my master’s program comes to an end, I am aware of how my past has prepared me with the strength to support students who feel unseen, unheard, or misunderstood. In whole, this paper shows how personal history, theoretical understanding, and experience can come together to shape a counselor who leads with compassion, insight, and authenticity.
Keywords: personal identity, developmental trauma, family systems, counseling theory, professional growth
Recommended Citation
Neustel, Jill, "The Child I Was, the Individual and Counselor I am Becoming: A Theoretical Self Conceptualization" (2026). Dissertations, Theses, and Projects. 1112.
https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/1112