1 MY CAREER

1 MY CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY
My Career in Psychology: Psychotherapy and the Treatment of
Autism Spectrum Disorder
in Adults

Learner’s Name
Capella University
PSY5005: Foundations of Theory and Practices for Master's
Psychology Learners
My Career in Psychology
July, 2020
Copyright ©2020 Capella University. Copy and distribution of
this document are prohibited.
Abstract
The practitioner-scholar model is useful in planning a career
path toward the goal of becoming a
psychotherapist who treats autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in

adults. This goal requires the
development of competencies such as critical thinking and
knowledge of the ethics relevant to
psychological practice. Apart from a master’s degree with a
relevant specialization, accreditation
from institutions like the American Board of Professional
Psychology and the Behavior Analyst
Certification Board might be taken into consideration. These
goals are steps to actualize my
vision of a society in which the needs of adults with ASD are
met.
Keywords: practitioner-scholar, accreditation, competencies,
vision, goals, ASD

My Career in Psychology
Psychologists can be said to be engaged in the betterment of
society by facilitating the
growth and well-being of their patients. Aside from their role of
helping individuals with
psychological and emotional difficulties, psychologists also
contribute to the field of psychology
by producing research that assists in evidence-based practice
(American Psychological
Association [APA], 2006). My goal is to become a
psychotherapist engaged in the treatment of
autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among adults. I will provide
therapy to adults with ASD while

also contributing to the psychological literature on the disorder
and learning about its most
effective treatments. In my journey toward achieving this goal, I
will use the practitioner-scholar
model.
Application and Research Vision
ASD is a set of developmental disorders characterized by early-
onset difficulties in social
communication and interaction. Individuals with ASD might
also exhibit repetitive behaviors,
and some struggle with intellectual disabilities. While support
(in the form of early intervention
programs) is easily available for individuals with ASD when
they are children, support for adults
with ASD is limited (Lai, et al., 2014). From my interview with
behavior analyst Dr. Julianne
Lasley, I was able to confirm that this is true even in 2019. My
vision is of a society in which the
needs of adults with ASD are met. This vision will be actualized
by training and developing the
skills necessary to become a psychotherapist who uses applied
behavior analysis in the treatment
of ASD in adults.

Achieving a vision becomes a realistic possibility if smart
goals, which are specific,
measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound, are created.
Creating smart goals also helps one
remain steadfast on the right course of action. My first smart
goal is to complete my master’s in

MY CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY 4
psychology with a specialization in behavior analysis within the
next two years. This is one of
my important goals as it gives me a strong base to build my
career. The master’s degree will help
further my knowledge of the fundamental concepts of
psychology. My second smart goal is to
develop a new practice in treating ASD or improve upon an
existing one. As a practitioner-
scholar, I will study the current practices and suggest ways to
improve them or even propose new
ones. This requires that I explore and familiarize myself with
the different practices
(interventions or treatments) employed for the treatment of
ASD. In addition to studying
scholarly literature, I will apply for an assistantship with a
psychotherapist who specializes in the
treatment of adults with ASD. My third smart goal is to set up a
specialized ASD forum in the
next 10 years that is dedicated to the active research and
development of effective treatment

practices for adults with ASD. The forum will also be dedicated
toward organizing knowledge
sharing conferences for practitioner-scholars.
Influence of Research on Vision and Goals
By focusing my literature review on identifying the most
effective treatment practices for
adult ASD patients, I concluded that there is no best practice
that is universally applicable to
patients of all age groups. A treatment practice that may be
effective for one person may not be
effective for another person in the same way. Using my findings
from the literature review, I will
categorize patients based on the treatment mode most suitable
for them to ensure positive health
outcomes. I will also ensure that I judiciously train myself on
the findings and carry out several
trials before adopting them as part of my professional practice.
An aspect of research that influenced my vision and goals is the
social impact of ASD in
the life of adult patients. The psychological pain adult ASD
patients goes through because of the
difficulties they face in social interaction has inspired me to
pursue clinical psychology to

Commented [A1]: Hello Course Developers, I would apply the
distinguished category in several ways for Describe a vision for
your
career, including three specific goals.
14% Here is the first place this category was met, and met well.

become a psychotherapist committed to the treatment of adults
with ASD. Another aspect of
research that influenced my vision is the disparity in the quality
of health care services available
to ASD patients based on sex, race, socioeconomic status, and
geography (Bishop-Fitzpatrick &
Kind, 2017). The gravity of the issue calls for increased
education among ASD specialists and
health care organizations to ensure fairness and equality in care.
This need for impartiality in
care has influenced my aim to become a psychotherapist who is
accessible to patients across all
identities. My literature review has led me to develop an
interest in conducting future research on
the social impact of mental disorders on patients’ lives, the
relationship between culture and the
rise of specific mental health conditions in different societies,
and the impact of behavioral
interventions in the management of symptoms in adults with
ASD.
Application of Research in the Acquisition of Professional
Competencies

Extensive reading has helped me gain a deeper insight into the
responsibilities and the
requirements of an ASD expert. With my one-month internship
at the Samson Health Institute,
which specializes in the treatment of ASD in adults, I aim to
develop a practical hold of the
functions and responsibilities needed of an ASD expert. In my
interviews with practitioners and
scholars in the area of ASD, the ethics of practice was a
common topic of discussion. Dr.
Julianne Lasley, an acclaimed behavior analyst, emphatically
stressed the necessity of taking the
approval of adults with ASD on treatment practices (Lasley,
personal communication, August
15, 2018). Lasley argued that the mere gesture of taking the
approval not only ensures shared
decision-making and patient-centered care but also has a
significant bearing on the treatment
results because of the trust and confidence the gesture generates
(Lasley, personal
communication, August 15, 2018). Further, the information
available at Capella University’s
Commented [A2]: For Criterion 2 Explain how your literature
review and research on career information affected your vision.

14% This would also meet the distinguished category, as would
the
following paragraph.

career path resources and Sternberg’s (2017) presentation
helped me map out a full-fledged plan
for a career in psychotherapy with a special focus on the
treatment of adult ASD patients.
Role of the Practitioner-Scholar Model in Professional
Development
The practitioner-scholar model, also known as the scientist-
practitioner model, has been
used for decades in the field of psychology. The model is built
on the idea that the field of
psychology should have professionals that have a foundation in
science, are trained in the most
effective methodologies, and are constantly engaged in the
development of the field through
concrete empirical evidence (Weiss, 2018). Keeping my vision
of contributing actively to the
development of effective treatment practices for adult ASD
patients in mind, I think the model is
a perfect fit for my professional development. The model
assumes that treatment practices for
adult ASD patients are informed by research and that scientific
solutions will be pursued by a
clinician trained in research (Weiss, 2019). The assumption
makes sense because, unlike a

practitioner, a practitioner-scholar relies on a combination of
both experience and scientifically
proven research, better positioning the professional to find
effective solutions to problems.
Professional Competencies and Responsibilities
Some of the core competencies framed in the professional
competency framework of the
Association of States and Provincial Psychology Boards are
critical thinking, cultural
competence, conflict resolution, interpersonal relationship,
problem-solving, and evidence-based
decision-making (Hunsley et al., 2016). These competencies are
also applicable to the
practitioner-scholar model. However, other refined
competencies such as thorough knowledge of
scientific literature on empirically validated treatments, a
comprehensive understanding of
empirical evidence and the methods involved in practice and
research, and the capability to
differentiate one’s cognitive and emotional biases from the
subject are also required by a
Commented [A3]: This learner brought the reader back to his

vision here and discussed the practitioner scholar model. This to
me
also demonstrated critical thinking.
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practitioner-scholar (Gonsalvez & Crowe, 2018). The
significance of a few competencies is

enunciated below:
Critical Thinking
Facione (2015) states that the process of critical thinking
involves six cognitive skills
(interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and
self-regulation) along with a
disposition of critical spirit. Facione’s work is applicable to my
primary goal in two ways. First,
critical thinking will help me determine the reliability,
credibility, ethics, and the value of the
literature I engage with. As a future psychotherapist practicing
applied behavior analysis, I will
need to categorize evidence-based literature according to its
credibility. Determining whether the
author of a resource is credible involves applying the cognitive
skills of analysis and evaluation.
By using my critical disposition, I might be better able to
understand ASD and the interventions
that benefit adults with ASD. A critical disposition is defined as
“a probing inquisitiveness, a
keenness of mind, a zealous dedication to reason, and a hunger
or eagerness for reliable
information” (Facione, 2015, p. 10). This disposition will

enable me to engage critically with the
works of credible authors to ensure that my own work is
reliable. Further, developing a critical
disposition allows me to engage with information that is beyond
the purview of my
specialization and inquire about the characteristics of adults
with ASD, which broadens my
understanding of the disorder and makes me better equipped to
develop new practices.
Cultural Competence
Cultural competence can be understood as an individual’s
ability to understand,
appreciate, and interact with people from diverse cultural
communities without belonging to
them (DeAngelis, 2015). Cultural adaptation in treatments,
basically the modification of
evidence-based treatments to suit different cultural groups
(DeAngelis, 2015), has an important
Commented [A4]: A good discussion of critical thinking which
meets criterion Discuss how to apply critical thinking and
effective
decision making as a psychologist.
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~-
bearing on the efficacy of treatment. Breland Noble, the director

of African-American
Knowledge Optimized for Mindfully-Healthy Adolescents,
emphasizes the contribution of
culturally adaptive psychology treatments toward increasing the
willingness of people to access
the treatments (DeAngelis, 2015) which, in turn, allows the
practitioner to work with informed
and receptive patients.
Ethical Competencies
I should ensure that the studies I base my research (and
practice) on are ethically sound.
Psychologists and psychology researchers often work with
information that is private, and they
are required to ensure that this information is collected and
treated with confidentiality. When
obtaining consent from participants in a study or experiment,
researchers are also required to
consider their capacity to give consent. When working with
participants with ASD, a disorder
often accompanied by social behavior impairments, a researcher
must go beyond just confirming
that the participants have consented to the study. Additional
permission must be sought from the

family or guardians of these participants.
As a practicing psychologist, I will be privy to the intimate
details of my patients. I will
need to observe a strict code to ensure their well-being and
privacy. The APA and the BACB
both have ethical guidelines for practitioners to follow (APA,
2017; BACB, 2016). These
guidelines provide a protocol to ensure the well-being of
patients and the legality of
practitioners.
Professional Requirements
The first professional requirement is to acquire my master’s
degree certification from
Capella University. From my interview with Lasley, I have
gathered that the accreditation board
for applied behavior analysts is the BACB. The interview also
helped me understand that
Commented [A5]: Excellent demonstration of a critical thinker
and practitioner-scholar.
Commented [A6]: Most learners don’t include a separate
ethics section so this leaner would earn marks for this, cultural
competence and responsibilities discussed well. A distingui shed

for
the category Analyze the functions, responsibilities, and ethics
required of a psychology professional.
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behavior analysts apply the fundamentals of behavior analysis
to the different populations they
work with. The process of being certified by the BACB involves
a test to assess the practitioner’s
knowledge of applied behavior analysis (BACB, n.d.-b). Thus, I
have added the goal of receiving
my accreditation as a behavior analyst because this certification
is necessary to treat autism in
adults (BACB, n.d.-a).
Action Plan
Duration Goal/ Milestone Skill/ Gains
July 2019 Begin master’s in psychology at
Capella University
Develop knowledge base of general
psychology principles
July 2019–June
2021
Study additional resources on

ASD produced by scholars
(review at least 2 per month)
Stay up to date with the current
practitioner scholarship
April 2020–July
2020
Assistantship with a
psychotherapist who specializes
in the treatment of ASD in
adults
Experience of what it means to be a
practitioner and the pragmatic
hurdles in working in the field
June 2019–July
2021
Study different approaches to
ASD apart from behavior
analysis (such as the

Widened scope of knowledge on best
practices
Commented [A7]: For Create an action plan to achieve your
goals that includes most of the required elements.
13% this was a well developed action plan and I would give it a
distinguished.

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developments in neuroscience
related to ASD)
January 2021 Study for and write the BACB
exam
Accreditation for becoming a
behavior analyst
June 2021 Completion of Capella program Master’s degree in
psychology
Conclusion
Adopting the practitioner-scholar model in my journey toward
becoming a
psychotherapist helps me chart out an action plan that takes into
consideration the limits of my
present knowledge while also preparing me for my career ahead.
My vision is of a society in
which the needs of adults with ASD are met. Throughout my
research, I have found that

behavioral interventions are effective in the treatment of ASD.
Thus, I have chosen to specialize
in applied behavioral analysis during my master’s in
psychology. Additionally, I wish to be a
psychologist who is not restricted by a specialty. My approach
will include understandings
derived from other specialties that are relevant to the mind and
behavior. Thus, I will also
explore the scholarly literature produced in the field of
neuroscience that is related to ASD in the
hope of developing new practices. Commented [A8]: For
Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone
and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to
organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
10% The proficient and distinguished categories are clear, and I
appreciate the change in language to the rubric. It will be easier
for
learners to understand.

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References
American Psychological Association, Presidential Task Force
on Evidence-Based Practice.
(2006). Evidence-based practice in psychology. American
Psychologist, 61(4), 271–285.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.4.271
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles
of psychologists and code of
conduct. https://apa.org/ethics/code/ethics-code-2017.pdf
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2016). Professional and
ethical compliance code for
behavior analysts. https://bacb.com/wp-
content/uploads/2017/09/170706-compliance-

code-english.pdf
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (n.d.-a). Board certified
behavior analyst.
https://bacb.com/bcba/
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (n.d.-b). BCBA
requirements.
https://bacb.com/bcba/bcba-requirements/
Bishop-Fitzpatrick, L., & Kind, A. J. H. (2017). A scoping
review of health disparities in autism
spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders, 47(11), 3380–3391.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3251-9
DeAngelis, T. (2015, March). In search of cultural competence.
Monitor on Psychology, 46(3),
64. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/03/cultural-competence
Facione, P. (2015, January). Critical Thinking: What It Is and
Why It Counts.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251303244_Critical_T
hinking_What_It_Is_and
_Why_It_Counts.
Commented [A9]: Apply APA style and formatting to
scholarly writing.
10% Again, the proficient and distinguished categories are

good, and
I love the grading rubric.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.4.271
https://apa.org/ethics/code/ethics-code-2017.pdf
https://bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/170706-
compliance-code-english.pdf
https://bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/170706-
compliance-code-english.pdf
https://bacb.com/bcba/
https://bacb.com/bcba/bcba-requirements/
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3251-9
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/03/cultural-competence
hinking_What_It_Is_and_Why_It_Counts
hinking_What_It_Is_and_Why_It_Counts

Gonsalvez, C. J., & Crowe, T. P. (2018). Evaluation of
psychology practitioner competence in
clinical supervision. The American Journal of Psychotherapy,
68(2), 177–193.
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2014.68.2.177
Hunsley, J., Spivak, H., Schaffer, J., Cox, D., Caro, C.,
Rodolfa, E., & Greenberg, S. (2016). A
competency framework for the practice of psychology:
Procedures and implications.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(9), 908–918.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22296
Lai, M.-C., Lombardo, M. V., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2014).
Autism. The Lancet, 383(9920), 896–
910. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61539-1
Weiss, M. J. (2018). The concept of the scientist practitioner
and its extension to behavior
analysis. Education and Treatment of Children, 41(3), 385–394.
https://doi.org/10.1353/etc.2018.0021
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2014.68.2.177
https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22296
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61539-1
https://doi.org/10.1353/etc.2018.0021Conclusion

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4Replace With Your Title
First Name MI. Last Name
Capella UniversityAbstract
Replace this text with your own abstract. The text is already
formatted for you. The abstract must be double-spaced and in
block format with no left indentation. The seventh edition of the
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(the APA manual) stipulates that an abstract should not exceed
250 words. The abstract is not an introduction to the subject. It
is a summary of every main point in the paper. For more
information about the abstract, see Section 2.9 in the APA
manual.Replace With Your Title
Use this space to create an introduction to your paper that
explains your passions and interests in psychology and how they
relate to your previous personal and professional experiences.
You may use your introduction from your Unit 6: Literature
Review assignment as a starting point. For more information
about the introduction and body of your paper, see Section 2.11
in the APA manual.Application and Research Vision
Use this space to develop a description of your future career

vision as a psychology practitioner-scholar. Be sure to include
individuals you wish to impact, the setting in which you would
like to practice psychology, and specialized areas for research
and scholarship in psychology. Also, use this space to formulate
personally meaningful and relevant educational, career, and life
goals to achieve your vision.
Discuss how you would apply the findings from your literature
review to your future professional practice in psychology.
Analyze how your work this quarter will help you accomplish
the functions, responsibilities, and ethics required of a
professional in your specialization. Describe how your vision
was affected by the information in your readings from your
Career Paths in Psychology text and your exploration of the
Career Center and other resources.
For more information about organizing your paper with
headings, see Sections 2.26 and 2.27 in the APA manual.
Remember to integrate your scholarly references throughout
your paragraphs. For more information about citing references
in text, see Chapter 8, “Works Credited in the Text,” in the APA
manual. Delete this comment before submitting your
paper.Professional Competencies
Use this space to describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes
necessary for success in your career path. Be sure to include
common skills critical to success within psychology, such as
those related to critical thinking, decision making, problem
solving, evidence-based practices, cultural competence, and
conflict resolution. Also, include ethical competencies related
to your specific profession. Finally, include any key
responsibilities associated with positions related to your future
career.Professional Requirements
Use this space to outline the requirements for your future career
including high-level Capella program and specialization
requirements, credentialing, certification, licensure, and
accreditation practices and standards, additional training, et

cetera.Action Plan
Use this space to create an action plan to achieve your goals.
This means translating the requirements for your profession and
the development areas you identified into specific, measurable,
achievable, realistic, and timed steps to achieve your vision.
Conclusion
Use this section to explain the benefits of becoming a
practitioner-scholar in the field of psychology and explain the
importance and relevance of your vision and goals to your
personal and professional aspirations. References
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Title of
article. Title of Periodical, volume#(issue#), xx–xx.
Sternberg, R. J. (Ed.). (2017). Career paths in psychology:
Where your degree can take you (3rd ed.). American
Psychological Association.
Your references for this paper should be scholarly articles but
may include practitioner sources. Follow this template for the
reference list. Be sure to alphabetize your references here, and
remember to use in-text citations where you use them in your
paper. For more information about references, see Section 2.12
and Chapter 9, “Reference List,” in the Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association. Delete this text before
submitting your paper.
Your Career in Psychology Worksheet
This document helps you on the path to transforming your
future career vision into a reality by translating the critical

competencies and requirements for your career into a step-by-
step action plan. Each week, you will complete a section of the
guide and draft that section of your paper to improve the clarity
of your descriptions and action plan.
Remember to consider this a snapshot in time. This will be a
cornerstone for your professional development and you will
want to come back to your career plan regularly to make sure
you make progress towards your future in the field of
psychology.
Applying Critical Thinking SkillsResearch: Identify
Professional Competencies
Throughout the course, you have worked toward establishing a
vision for your future career in psychology based on your
passions, interests, and aspirations in the field. You have also
covered a wide range of competencies relevant to your success
as a psychology professional and graduate learner.
Workplace competencies are capabilities needed to accomplish
tasks that are central to one's profession. They comprise critical
skills, knowledge, and attitudes. Understanding the
competencies that are critical to your success is essential for
preparing yourself to become a practitioner-scholar in your
specialized field. You may know that education in such
competencies is fundamental to Capella's mission and
philosophy. The syllabus of each course lists the competencies
that learners will acquire and demonstrate in the course. At the
levels of programs and specializations, these competencies are
generalized as learning outcomes.
Investigate the following resources to identify the competencies
needed for the specialization you are most interested in:
Review the program learning outcomes for psychology and
clinical psychology listed below:
· Determine the scientific merit of the professional literature.
· Apply theoretical and research findings from the discipline of
psychology to professional and academic activities.
· Apply ethical principles and standards of psychology to

academic and professional activities.
· Embrace, respect, and respond to individual differences and
diversity in the practice of psychology.
· Communicate psychological concepts effectively using the
professional standards of the discipline.
Find the outcomes for a specialization:
· Go to the Master's Degrees in Psychology web page.
· Click the Explore program button for your program.
· Go to the Specializations section and select a specialization.
· Review the learning outcomes listed under What You'll Learn.
Find full learning and career outcomes for your program and
specialization:
· Go to the Master of Science in Psychology page or the Master
of Science in Clinical Psychology page of the Capella Learning
and Career Outcomes site.
· Select a specialization to see potential employment settings
and common job titles and positions.
Visit the Psychology Jobs website and browse job openings by
category or search with keywords related to a specialization.
Make note of the competencies, requirements, and qualifications
that employers desire for these positions.
From these sources, develop a comprehensive list of about 10
competencies you will need for the specialization you are
interested in, and enter them into the table below.
Enter the competencies and requirements for your specialization
that you have gathered. We have started these lists for you with
some critical competencies for everyone in psychology.
Continue this work in the table.
Be sure to note the sources of your information in the
References section below for use in your paper.
Use your completed work to draft the Professional
Competencies section of the Your Career in Psychology
Template.
Knowledge
Skills
Attitudes

· Evidence-based practices.
· Effective decision making.
· Critical thinking.
· Effective communication.
· Ethical integrity.
References
Put your references here.
Ethics in PsychologyResearch: Identify Professional
Requirements
Understanding the requirements that enable your specialized
practice and scholarship is critical to planning your future
career.
Outline the key requirements for achieving your future career
vision in these categories:
· Capella MS in psychology requirements.
· Capella specialization requirements.
· Additional education.
· Additional training.
· Licensure, credentialing, or accreditation.
· Work experience.
Investigate sources for this information:
Find the required courses for a specialization:
· Return to Master's Degrees in Psychology.
· Click the Explore Program button for your program.
· Go to the Specializations section and select a specialization.
· Click Courses.
· Review the sample courses and then click View All Courses.
· If applicable, visit the Association of State and Provincial
Psychology Boards to document any specific licensure or
certification or other requirements for your career vision.
Explore Professional Associations from the Career Center. Visit
the web pages of organizations related to your specialization
and document any requirements they list.

Search for additional information in the Capella library and on
the Internet. Refer to the PSY5002 & PSY5005 Research
Guide for guidance.
Fill in the table below. Be sure to note the sources of your
information in the References column for use in your paper.
Use your completed work to draft the Professional
Requirements section of the Your Career in Psychology
Template.
Category
Requirements
References
Capella MS in Psychology Requirements
Capella Specialization Requirements
Additional Education
Additional Training
Licensure, Credentialing, or Accreditation
Work Experience
Professional Associations
Ethical Codes, Policies, Laws, et cetera

Your Career in Psychology
Envisioning yourself as practitioner-scholar in psychology is a
great way to integrate the important competencies of connecting
the rigor of theory and the relevance of practice into the vision
for your future career in your specialized field. The following
activities will help you connect your vision to becoming a
practitioner-scholar. It will also help you create meaningful
goals to achieve your vision.
Refining Your Vision
Based on the knowledge you have gained throughout the course,
revise your vision for your final assignment.
Your Revised Vision
Reflect on how your activities in the course have affected your
vision.
Question
Reflection
How does your vision relate to being a practitioner-scholar?
You may want to reference these resources:Capella University.
(2003). Learning model quick reference and
examples.McClintock, C. (2004). Scholar practitioner model. In
A. DiStefano, K. E. Rudestam, & R. J. Silverman (Eds.),
Encyclopedia of distributed learning (pp. 394–397). SAGE.
How would you apply your findings from your literature review
to your future professional practice in psychology?
How will your work this quarter help you accomplish the
functions, responsibilities, and ethics required of a professional

in your specialization?
How was your vision affected by the information in your
readings from your Career Paths in Psychology text and your
exploration of the Career Center and other resources?
Use your completed work to draft the Application and Research
Vision section of the Your Career in Psychology Template.
Creating Meaningful Goals
Once you create your vision as a psychology practitioner -
scholar, it is time to translate that vision into specific,
measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely long-term goals to
create milestones for a plan of action. Review your narrative
and formulate personally meaningful and relevant educational,
career, and life goals to achieve your vision. Here are a couple
of examples to get you started:
Earn my master's degree in psychology in three years.
Develop strategies to stay up to date and evaluate scholarly and
professional literature and research related to key theories,
authors, and best practices in technology enhanced K–12
learning over the next three years.
Accurately select, administer, score, and interpret psychological
tests in the workplace in four years.
Complete the following:
Review the SMART Goals presentation for more information
about creating specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and
time-bound goals. Focus on the Long-Term Goal section at this
point.
Review your vision statement and use the table below to start
drafting goals to break down your vision into long-term
milestones.

Specific
What exactly should I be doing to help me achieve my vision?
Measurable
How will I know when the goal is complete?
Attainable
Is the goal reachable?
Relevant
Does the goal reflect steps needed to achieve my vision?
Time-Bound
Are there definite start and end dates and/or time for this goal?

As you complete your goals section, you may uncover new
elements related to your vision. Be sure to go back and add any
of those elements into your vision draft to ensure your goals and
vision align.
Review the following information as you draft your goals:
Purpose: The purpose of your vision is to create an inspirational
and realistic description for how you want to contribute to your
specialized field of psychology based on your passions and
interests.
Primary Audience: Because this is a personal vision statement
for your future career, you are your primary audience. Envision
yourself in a time where you are frustrated and want to throw in
the towel. What would help you remember your purpose and
inspire you to continue moving forward towards your vision?
Secondary Audience: Your vision should also be clear to other
people (such as family, friends, and your instructor) so you can
share it with others and receive support in achieving it.
References: Reference any supporting documents you used to
create your vision.
Use your completed work to draft the Application and Research
Vision section of the Your Career in Psychology Template.
Planning Your Actions
Now that you have all this knowledge of the competencies and
requirements for your field you are ready to plot your course to
make these aspirations a reality. This section helps you translate
the requirements for your profession and the development areas
you identified into specific, measurable, achievable, realistic,
and timed steps to achieve your vision.
1. Add your goals to the first column.

1. Review your work in the previous sections and draft any
additional long-term goals required to achieve your future
career vision.
1. Use the steps column to break down your long-term goal into
smaller steps to accomplish. Here are a couple of examples:
· Complete your Capella program, additional training, and
volunteer opportunities to overcome your knowledge and skill
gaps.
· Create opportunities in your current position to develop
additional skills through coaching or stretch assignments.
· Join Capella Community groups and professional
organizations for networking with others and completing
additional informational interviews.
· Stay current with the research and literature in the field by
reading specific peer-reviewed journals.
· Use Smarthinking and other support resources to improve the
skills required to successfully develop your writing and other
competencies essential to the profession and your role as a
graduate learner.
Use the support column to identify what you need to help you
achieve your goal.
Long-Term Goal
What should I be doing to help me achieve my vision?
Steps
What specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound
steps do I need to take to achieve the goal?
Support
What information, resources, and people do I need to achieve
my goal?

Even with the best intentions, you may run into barriers to
achieve your goals. Use the table below to outline potential
barriers to achieving your goals and solutions for addressing
them.
Barriers
What might get in my way of my goal?
Solution
s
How could I best address those barriers?

Understanding the benefits of achieving your vision, your
confidence in completing your outlined steps, and your
commitment to your plan are important to motivating yourself
to achieve your career vision. Use the table below to reflect on
these elements related to the steps you outlined.
Reflective Question
Reflective Response
What are the benefits of achieving your future career vision?
How confident are you about taking the steps you outlined
above to achieve your vision?
How committed are you to achieving your vision?
Hopefully, these exercises have helped you clarify your vision
for your future in psychology and your path to your desired
career. Use the table below to reflect on what you have learned
throughout this process.
Reflective Question

Reflective Response
What have you learned about yourself throughout this process?
How have your psychology interests, career vision, and
professional perspective changed from this process?
What are you most excited about related to your career plan?
Use your completed work to draft the Action Plan section of the
Your Career in Psychology Template.
Drafting Your Career in Psychology Assignment
Now that you have worked through preliminary exercises and
drafted some sections of your paper, you are prepared to begin
the remaining sections in the Your Career in Psychology
Template:
1. Review your notes from your interview with a psychology
professional and integrate any relevant information into your
paper.
1. After completing a draft of the previously outlined sections
of your paper, draft these additional sections in the assignment
template:
· Title page in APA format.
· Abstract: A concise summary of every main point in the paper.

· Introduction: A concise overview of the paper's content.
· Conclusion: A concise summary of important points of the
paper, explaining the benefits of achieving your future career
vision and becoming a practitioner scholar in the field of
psychology and the importance and relevance of your vision and
goals to your personal and professional aspirations.
· References in APA format.
Note: To maximize your scoring potential, be sure that you fully
address all assignment requirements and meet the criteria in the
Your Career in Psychology Scoring Guide.
At this point, your paper should be 6–7 typed and double-spaced
pages excluding the title page, abstract, table of contents, and
reference list. If you do not meet this requirement, go back and
add more detailed explanation to your paper. Use Times New
Roman 12-point font.
Your paper should also include a minimum of five references
with at least three of them from course readings. If you do not
meet this requirement, go back to the research you found
throughout the course and see how you may include some
insights into your paper.
Read through your draft with a fresh perspective and revise it to
improve the big picture elements:
The main ideas in your paper and how you explain them.
The order of your paragraphs and the logic behind the

organization.
Your purpose for writing and the way you speak to your
audience.
The focus of the sections of your paper.
The organization of your paper and the flow from section to
section.
Use Smarthinking: How to Submit a Writing Sample to submit
your draft for evaluation.
Be aware that the turnaround time for Smarthinking can be 24–
48 hours from submission to receiving the feedback report. Plan
accordingly.
Submit the assignment to SafeAssign for review of proper
citations and references. It is very important that you always
submit your work as a draft so you can make revisions before
submitting it to the assignment link. Refer to the courseroom
SafeAssign resources for guidance in accessing your feedback
from SafeAssign, interpreting your report, and improving your
writing and citations for your assignment.
Now that you drafted the components of your paper, revised it
to improve flow, and received feedback from SafeAssign and
Smarthinking, you are ready to finalize your assignment.
Review the feedback you received from Smarthinking and
SafeAssign and revise your draft as needed.
Submit your assignmentno later than Sunday, 11:59 p.m.

Central time. Make sure your submission is a Word document.
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