Personal Theory of Career and Guidance Counseling

Introduction

The central focus of this research is to develop a personal theory of career and guidance counseling. In order to effectively accomplish this task, it is important to consider a review of pertinent career and vocational counseling theories that have shaped the development of this field in recent years. Through a comprehensive review of these theories, it will then be possible to integrate them into a more holistic understanding of my personal orientation toward practice. Further, a critical review of theories that can be employed in this field will elucidate the wide scope of methods available for professional development. Thus, if changes in practice are needed, a clear understanding of theory will provide a solid basis for decision making in this area.

Person-Environment Theories

A critical review of the current literature on career counseling theories clearly suggests that a host of paradigms have been proposed to shape practice in this area. Given that the overall scope of this investigation is limited, the following literature review highlights the specific theories I have personally embraced in developing my personal philosophy of career counseling. By narrowing the number of theories covered, it is possible to provide a more focused understanding of my approach to practice.

Among the most notable theories advanced in the context of career counseling are person-environment theories. Arbona (2000), in her review of person-environment theories, argues that over the course of the last two decades a number of scholars have proposed theories using this theoretical framework. However, Arbona asserts that the most important person-environment theory developed in recent years has been Holland's RIASEC typology. Under this framework, the following dimensions are used to guide the development of career counseling: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Holland argued that the manner in which individuals interact with their external environment can serve as a salient means for vocational assessment: "Each of the personality types described in Holland's typology represents characteristic patterns of interests, competencies and behaviors that are useful in describing both individuals and work environments" (p. 100). Because this measure focuses on person-environment matching, it can improve outcomes for career counseling.

What is perhaps most important about both Holland's typology and person-environment theories in general is that they take the needs of the individual into consideration when providing service to the client. As reported by Miller, Springer, and Cowger (2004), person-environment theories draw on ideas of congruence, in which the unique needs of the individual must be matched with the unique characteristics of the environment. When congruence is achieved, the individual can garner considerable satisfaction from his or her career choice. Thus, by applying this theory, the counselor can create a comprehensive assessment that provides the client with a meaningful understanding of how well his or her personal needs will be met in a particular environmental context (Miller et al., 2004). Given that counselors have a clear obligation to ensure positive outcomes for clients, this approach appears to provide a salient tool for achieving that goal.

Developmental Theories

Although person-environment theories clearly provide a means to make the counseling process a personal experience for the client, other factors can also shape outcomes for career development and counseling. A review of the scholarly literature demonstrates that developmental theories have been widely supported in the development of career counseling practice. Flores, Scott, Wang, et al. (2003), in their review of developmental theories, note the importance of concepts such as career maturity and vocational identity. They observe that "career maturity related to social adjustment, general psychosocial competence, self-realization, and ego integration," while vocational identity can be directly related to achievement within the family context. The importance of these issues can be quite prominent in career counseling, as Flores and coworkers report that "career counselors may want to highlight personality and family variables because these may influence career outcomes. Moreover, exploring a client's perceptions of family relationships and values may be warranted, particularly if a client is having difficulty attaining career milestones" (p. 100).

Giannantonio and Hurley-Hanson (2006) note that developmental theories have been widely supported by work conducted by Donald Super in the late 1950s. Specifically, these authors note that Super pioneered the concept of image norms in the development of career counseling. As they report, "image norms may influence the career decisions and developmental tasks inherent in each stage [of career development]. An image norm is the belief that individuals must present or possess a certain image, consistent with occupational, organizational, or industry standards, in order to achieve career success" (p. 318). When applied in practice, the utilization of image norms provides a more integral understanding of the psychological issues involved in career development. Giannantonio and Hurley-Hanson assert that without the right image norms in place, individuals may find it difficult to explore potential career options to which they may otherwise be well suited.

What is perhaps most interesting about developmental theories is that they allow for a closer examination of the specific needs of the client. In addition to allowing the counselor to assess the client's current career position and trajectory, developmental theories allow the counselor to gain deeper insight into the issues that have shaped the client's career development. Using this information, the counselor can better understand the client's needs and develop a course of action that effectively incorporates all relevant career development issues to inform practice.