Motivation Letter (1)
Motivation Letter (1)
Motivation Letter
From an early age, I’ve been drawn to understanding people—not just their actions,
but the emotional and relational dynamics beneath them. As the middle child in my family, I
often found myself mediating between different needs and perspectives, which sparked a
deeper curiosity about human psychology. In high school, I took part in a social responsibility
project with children in institutional care. Helping them with homework, playing together, and
simply being present taught me the power of genuine human connection. That experience lit
the spark of my interest in mental health, particularly in supporting children and adolescents.
This early motivation took on deeper meaning during my undergraduate studies in Guidance
and Psychological Counseling at Boğaziçi University—a time marked by both academic
learning and self-reflection. One formative assignment involved applying lifespan
development theories to my own childhood. Reconstructing my story through reflective
conversations helped me adopt a more compassionate, analytical lens on behavior, and
showed me the transformative power of psychological insight in understanding ourselves
and others.
professional dynamics but ultimately reaffirmed my desire for direct clinical work—especially
where growth-oriented relationships can flourish.
Together, these academic, research, and clinical experiences have clarified my goal:
to specialize in developmental, trauma-informed therapy for children and adolescents. I’m
especially interested in psychological assessment and evidence-based methods. That’s why
your program stands out to me. Its rigorous curriculum, extensive supervised clinical training,
and focus on child-adolescent mental health align closely with the path I hope to follow. The
chance to learn from expert faculty and train in developmentally sensitive, trauma-informed
approaches is something I deeply value. I believe this program will provide the strong
foundation I need to grow as both a clinician and researcher. I’m particularly excited to
explore how assessment tools can be integrated into therapeutic work with youth, helping to
make interventions more precise and impactful. My long-term vision is to help develop
culturally sensitive, developmentally appropriate models of care. I also hope to contribute to
research that explores the long-term impact of early psychological interventions in diverse
contexts.
In the short term, I aim to deepen my skills in working with adolescents and families,
especially in emotional regulation, trauma recovery, and relational dynamics. Ultimately, I
see myself practicing as a clinical psychologist in school or community settings, offering
accessible, tailored care and advocating for integrating mental health into broader
educational systems.
What motivates me most is not just the desire to help, but a deep commitment to
evidence-based, ethically grounded, and developmentally attuned care. I believe supporting
young people’s mental health calls for a practice that is both compassionate and
precise—and your program is uniquely equipped to support that mission. I’m confident that
the training I’ll receive will shape me into a thoughtful, effective clinician who can contribute
meaningfully to the field through practice, research, and advocacy. I look forward to
becoming part of your academic community and continuing this journey of growth and
service.