Week 2

Chapter 2 and Using Genograms in k-12

The article about using genograms with the children and young adults seems like a great idea for counselors and school counselors; however, I do have a few lingering questions. Gibson (2005) wrote about parental influences on college aspirations, that genograms could help a child understand their family dynamics and in turn assist the child in reaching their goals.    In elementary school the genogram helps gain career awareness and begin communicating with their parents about careers. In middle school, the genogram helps the child begin a more formal career planning process. In high school, using the career genogram will help the student in the decision-making process.  I have some qualms with this article because I feel it assumes that every student’s parents have a career, that it might have required some sort of education.  Some of the follow up questions, especially on page 359 set out for middle school students, would be hard for a parent who is in poverty (Gibson, 2005). A parent who takes whatever job comes along next just to keep their head up afloat and children fed might have a hard time answering their child’s questions about “why’ they chose their education and career paths, ‘what’ factors influenced their decision” etc. (Gibson, 2005, p. 359). The textbook often critiques theories which don’t take a multi-cultural vantage point, and I think this article did not take a multi-cultural vantage point. The decision to use this tool may depend on what setting one works in.  

Holland’s pure personality types seemed ridiculous to me because though social applies to me, these categories don’t fit my partners personality and job choices; however, in writing this blog I remember that Brown (2012) states that these personality types rarely occur in their pure form. I also do not find Holland’s six work environments helpful.  I think that our jobs and work environments are a lot more complicated than they used to be.  Someone who goes to college for accounting might not be sitting behind a desk all day anymore, they may be out in the field visiting farms doing audits. You find enterprising in every type of industry; Every industry needs people who have skill in directing people and planning activities. There is more an artistic person can do than work a play rehearsal, concert hall, dance studio, or library, as written out in the textbook (Brown, 2012). If those are the typical settings for an artistic person then that person is set up for some frustration because those jobs are few-and-far between.   I think our culture needs to be more creative with our categories of jobs than what Holland proposed.

I look forward in class about discussing Theory of Work Adjustment, because the graph on page 35 seems a bit confusing to me and I would learn it better hearing it than just reading it from the textbook.

I liked how Gottfredson’s Theory (Brown, 2012) could be utilized in a career counseling setting.  In some ways it complements using a genogram.  A client and counselor could use a career genogram to help the client identify where some of their conceptions of particular occupations come from and help the client move forward into new understanding.

Brown, D. (2012).  Career information, career counseling, and career development

(10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

Gibson, D. (2005). The use of genograms in career counseling with elementary,

middle and high school students. The Career Development Quarterly, 53,

353-362.