Jennifer Giles is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Argosy University. She volunteers facilitating art and domestic violence groups for children. Her goal is to obtain a Master's in Mental Health Counseling to help others gain control over their lives. She discusses how her education and life experiences have helped her develop communication, research, and counseling skills. She plans to continue learning throughout her career to best serve her clients.

1. 1 Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio Jennifer Giles Bachelor of Arts Psychology, 2010

2. Personal Statement I believe every person deserves to live their optimal life and I am passionate about being able to help people, as well as myself, obtain and sustain such a life. While growing up I did not know I had choices; my life was paved out for me. I was taught that fear and shame sourced from God guided my life. My family was in turmoil, we did not know we had choices. However, through my mother’s heroic actions, through which she left my dad, she showed me that in life I have choices, choices to have freedom. I soon discovered that life did not have to be about violence, shame, fear, pain, and secrets. I could talk through what I was feeling instead of reacting; I could go to sleep at night without worrying what would happen to me. I was beginning to live. Looking ahead and achieving my dreams meant continuing my education. I chose to enroll at Argosy University, where I am currently in my last undergraduate class to obtain my Bachelors in Psychology. From here, I plan on acquiring my Masters in Mental Health Therapy and become a mental health counselor. I plan on integrating the knowledge learned in the classroom as well as through life experiences as a means to help others. I want to help others see that they are worth more than what life has offered them, that they have choices, that they have strengths, and that there is more to life than being stuck. I currently volunteer at Broadview Transitional Housing and Shelter.

3. Personal Statement I help facilitate an art group for children eight years and older on Monday nights and assist a domestic violence (DV) affiliated group for children six to nine years old. In the art group, the kids get to be kids and be creative in a positive environment. In the DV group the kids learn alternatives to violence and why it is not their fault if adults become violent. A lot of the kids do not have boundaries for physical contact and often express themselves without a filter. I have learned the skills to set boundaries for hugs without making the kids feel rejected by reinforcing the gratitude of receiving a hug but reassuring that one per day is just as special as ten. The resiliency in these kids is remarkable and they have taught me the importance of play. I believe that support, empathy, and play go a long way in helping others. The old adage “life is what you make of it” holds truth, and I believe that everyone deserves the perspective that they hold the power of their life. The power and freedom of choice is an amazing gift. I plan to help people find and/or maintain the control over their own lives. I want to help people hone in on the tools they have to live their optimal life, to feel alive, and to celebrate who they are. I plan on doing this while keeping me balanced. I have learned that I am not capable of living my optimal life without taking care of myself. I cannot go to school, volunteer, work, and maintain relationships with others or myself without balancing my life. I have learned that eating healthy, working out, and spending time with friends and family keeps me sane when the whirl wind of responsibility surfaces. However, nothing is possible if I do not have faith in myself or faith in the belief that I have choices.

4. Resume Jennifer A. Giles 3210 SW Avalon Way| Seattle, WA 98126 | 206-434-5524 | 1lotus27@gmail.com Objective Graduate programs that will give me the tools to fine tune my approach to supporting others in a counseling atmosphere. An institution that promotes creativity, honesty and self-awareness. An atmosphere that encourages systems, humanistic and holistic trends Education Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Argosy University, Seattle, WA Expected December 2010 Major: Psychology Included Coursework: Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology, Developmental Psychology and Personality Theory. GPA: 3.79, anticipated graduation Magna Cum Laude Edmonds Community College, Edmonds, WA Associate of Arts Degree

5. Resume Continued… Skills & Abilities Nordstrom Espresso Bar Management 2002-Present Proficient computer skills including Word and Excel: Used for schedule formatting, completing daily orders and analyzing and forecasting sales. Hired, trained and reprimanded up to and including termination. Trained seven assistant managers and managers. Built relationships and network with purveyors. Encouraged and trained others to grow profitable sales, build working relationships and food safety Detailed-oriented, hold strong communication skills, and team-oriented. Tutor/ Volunteer 2010 to Present Help children build confidence in school work. Co-facilitate an Art Group for Children aged 8+ years. Gave children normalcy and a creative outlet. Assist a counselor in running a Domestic Violence Group for Children aged 6 to 9 years old: teach lessons on what is ok, talk about feelings and make emergency plans. Maintain a positive, encouraging environment, set boundaries and encourage creativity. Facilitate Children’s Activities at Homeless Shelter and Transitional Housing Facilitator of an Art Group for children 8+ and for a Domestic Violence Oriented group for Children 6-9 years of age. Run the front desk by answering phones and filing paperwork. Help adults prepare for their GED by gaining confidence in themselves and fine-tuning their scholarly knowledge. Volunteer: Edmonds Day Camp Counselor 1997 to 1997 Assign an arts and crafts project once a week for five and six year olds. Maintain a positive environment. Presented weekly arts and crafts for children aged 5-6 years. Assisted Counselors in attending to the needs of the children.

6. Reflection Looking ahead and achieving my dreams meant continuing my education. I chose to enroll at Argosy University, where I am currently in my last undergraduate class to obtain my Bachelors in Psychology. From here, I plan on acquiring my Masters in Mental Health Therapy and become a mental health counselor. Argosy has given me further tools to adapt to as well as accept unexpected changes: the curriculum went through major format changes where online formatting became mandatory with every class. I was not accustomed non-traditional classes, but I realized my strengths in self- motivation, planning, and diligence are strong when I completed my homework, engaged in class discussions, and stayed on task in an online-format. Some classes were in blended-format where we did in-class discussion and lecture; these class sizes are small. This type of venue allowed me to get to learn and know my classmates on a personal level and it gave me the courage to share my personal thoughts, beliefs and knowledge. The psychology classes at Argosy University such as Interpersonal Effectiveness, Personality Theory, and Interviewing Techniques required me to dissect myself internally. I learned how I communicate effectively, what motivates me and how I listen to others. I learned that I am sensitive to the energy that fills the room, that I listen to cues such as body language, pitch and tone, and that I like to have control. All of these are great strengths when used appropriately but I also learned to be self-aware and began to work on when these strengths begin to hinder myself and my communication.

8. How Cognition Influences Learning, Memory, and Retrieval of Information. (2009). This paper illustrates how the mind works in retrieval of old information and how it processes new information.

9. Research Skills:

12. Why is Humanity Important When Conducting Experiments? (2008). I looked at the Philip Zimbardo Prison Experiment to explain the need of humanity and ethics in a psychological study. I also explained that although there was lack of ethics there was insight into the human psyche and it held external validity.

13. Ethics in Psychology. (2010). I wrote a paper explaining the ethical codes of the ACA code of ethics relating to abandonment of client’s needs, avoiding harm, respecting personal values, and expected knowledge of client’s diversity.

15. Understanding Parkinson’s Disease: A Neuropsychological Disorder.(2009). I used physiological psychology, a marriage of physical and social science, to explain the effects of Parkinson’s disease on the person with it and their family members.

16. Gestalt Therapy: How and Where Our Bodies and Minds Experience the Intricacies of Life In the Here and Now. (2010). In this paper I explain how Gestalt Psychology is rooted in Existential philosophy and focused on the here and now. I write of the history of Fritz Perls and how he incorporated Gestalt as a science.

18. Forensic Psychology: Police Stress. (2010). In this paper I demonstrate my ability to apply forensic psychology to the community, specifically police officer’s. I write about psychological stressors, coping mechanisms and forms of treatment that forensic psychologists may use when treating police officers.

19. Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology: Schizophrenia. (2010). This is a paper on a social issue that explains what the symptoms and types of Schizophrenia are, how common it is, the age of on-set, types of treatment and resources for where to turn.

20. Interpersonal Effectiveness:

22. Contact Me Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio. For further information, please contact me at the e-mail address below. 1lotus27@gmail.com