Running head: RESEARCH 1

Corinne Baum

Research

Indiana University East

RESEARCH 2

A huge step in this process for me is determining what I want to do with my Bachelors

degree after I graduate. I have always known that I want a career in psychology, but I am not

sure what branch I want to go into quite yet. I am very interested in criminals still and that aspect

of psychology, but I have also found a new love for fitness and the psychology that goes along

with that. Following my visit to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Discovery Hall Program, I also

remembered how much I love the ocean, and how much I love studying it and learning about it

and its creatures and other organisms.

My first step was to do more research on what I already know I like and my first career

choice: criminal counseling. I want to work with those, mentally stable or mentally ill, who are

currently in jail for crimes committed, or those who have committed crimes and are awaiting trial

or sentencing. The proper term for this job is called correctional counseling. Correctional

counselors work in jails and prisons, or in parole or probation agencies. The correctional

counselors working in rehabilitation use their training to evaluate the progress of inmates in jails

and prisons. They work with inmates, probation officers, and other agencies to develop parole

and release plans. They also provide case reports to the parole board when their clients are

eligible for release. A Bachelors degree in psychology, criminal justice, social work, or other

related area, is required to work in this field. Correctional treatment specialists require a Masters

degree in psychology, criminal justice, or social work. The average annual salary for this

profession is about $49,000. Most correctional counselors work in training for about 6 months,

then obtain a permanent position. In addition to job duties previously mentioned, correctional

counselors also plan educational and training programs for criminal offenders, and counsel them

in either individual or in group sessions, working on coping skills, anger management skills, and

drug or sexual abuse prevention. Correctional counselors, also known as case managers,
RESEARCH 3

correctional treatment specialists and drug treatment specialists, also create rehabilitation plans

for prison inmates and parolees (Correctional counselor, n.d.).

My next research step was to start looking into more careers that I know I will love and

that I know I will be good at. Over the past three years, I have found a new love for fitness and

all things that go along with it. When I first started college, I gained well over my freshman-

fifteen and weighed about 150 pounds; my highest weight. After I left my first school, I lost

almost 40 pounds through exercise and healthy eating and I felt fantastic; about my body and my

health. Knowing this about myself, I want to be able to help other people to find that level of

happiness about their bodies as well. I looked into sports and fitness psychology. Sports

psychology is a proficiency that uses psychological knowledge and skills to address optimal

performance and the well-being of athletes, developmental and social aspects of sports

participation, and systemic issues associated with sports settings and organizations (Sports

psychology, n.d.). The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes sport psychology

as a proficiency acquired after a doctoral degree in one of the primary areas of psychology and

licensure as a psychologist. Those earning a degree in sports psychology will emerge with an

enormous amount of knowledge including: theory and research in social, historical, cultural and

developmental foundations of sport psychology; issues and techniques of sport specific

psychological assessment and mental skills training for performance enhancement and

participation satisfaction; how to deal with clinical and counseling issues with athletes;

organizational and systemic aspects of sport consulting; developmental and social issues related

to sport participation; bio-behavioral bases of sport and exercise; and specific knowledge of

training science and technical requirements of sport and competition (Sports psychology, n.d.).

The proficiency of sports psychology helps protect the public by insuring that those who seek
RESEARCH 4

services, receive them from the most qualified individuals. Many strategies and procedures are

used by sport psychology proficiency to address problems faced by athletes and sports

participants. Some of the principal areas include: cognitive and behavioral skills training,

counseling and how to do a clinical intervention, and knowledge of consultation and training.

The cognitive and behavioral skills training is necessary for performance enhancement; goal

setting; imagery and performance planning; concentration and attention control strategies;

development of self-confidence, self-esteem and competence in sports; cognitive-behavioral self-

regulation techniques; emotion management, and sportsmanship and leadership skills. The

knowledge of counseling and how to do a clinical intervention is necessary for athletic

motivation; knowing how to combat eating disorders and weight management, substance abuse,

grief, depression, loss and suicide, overtraining and burnout, sexual identity issues, aggression

and violence, athletic injury and rehabilitation, and career transitions and identity crises. The

knowledge of consultation and training is necessary for team building; sports organization

consultation; systems interventions with parents and families involved in youth sports

participation; education of coaches regarding motivation, interpersonal and leadership skills and

talent development; education of coaches and administrators regarding early identification and

prevention of psychological difficulties (Sports psychology, n.d.).

My last step in the research process was to research the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL)

Discovery Hall Graduate Programs. Following my visit back to DISL, I fell in love with the

ocean and the sciences behind it again, and wanted to know more about how I could possibly tie

my psychology background to it. DISL offers many diverse opportunities for graduate study in

the marine sciences. These opportunities focus on the oceanography and ecology of local

estuaries and near-coastal communities and ecosystems. The DISL serves as the focal point of
RESEARCH 5

graduate education in marine science in the state of Alabama, but DISL is not a degree-granting

institution, and graduate degrees are offered through ten of the 22 DISL Member Schools. The

Graduate Program at DISL is held year-round, and most courses are offered during the academic

year. Some graduate courses are also taken during the DISL Summer Program. About 55

graduate students are in residence halls at the DISL year-round. These students generally take

many of their formal course requirements during their first three semesters of study, at which

time they also develop their thesis prospectus and begin their research. DISL also provides

significant support for students to carry out their thesis research, as well as travel opportunities to

regional and national meetings (Learn at the beach, 2016).

RESEARCH 6

References

Correctional Counselor Job Description and Career Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved August 04, 2017,

from http://www.allcriminaljusticeschools.com/corrections/correctional-counselor-

training/

Learn at the Beach with Discovery Hall Programs. (2016). Retrieved August 09, 2017, from

http://www.disl.org/

Sports Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved August 02, 2017, from

http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/sports.aspx