Week 4/ Savickas

Constructivist counseling is an interesting way to look at Career Counseling.  The case study presented in the article really helped to clarify how exactly a counselor would help a client using the constructivist approach.  From what I understand, the pieces are all there for a client; the counselor just pieces them together and helps them see the “theme” in the client’s life.  I think this is a really neat idea.  This approach is different and useful because it “focuses on the person who is undecided, not the indecision itself”.  I also think it’s interesting that Savickas considered a stall or stop in the decision process as depression.  I just wonder how difficult it might be to figure out a client’s theme.  What if their stories don’t have a common theme?  This is probably due to my inexperience, but it’s a concern I have. 

                Another thing to consider is how accessible is this type of counseling?  Like the girl in the case study, this counseling would almost have to be pursued individually, and would most likely not be offered through any school.  So, does that limit this counseling to only the more privileged- to only those who can afford it?

                The case study presented in this article was about a girl in college; something very common among college freshman and sophomores.  Would it be beneficial to provide all undecided college students with career counseling?  I have often heard that it is beneficial for college freshman to not declare a major, as most of those who do end up switching majors anyway.  As an undecided or undeclared, a student has more freedom to explore options and classes.  I started my undergraduate education as undeclared, and did not declare a major until the end of my sophomore year, after I had taken two psychology courses and found that I enjoyed those more than my other classes.  I really didn’t have the help of a counselor to help me decide this, though there were some options and resources available to me, had I pursued them.  I can understand how overwhelming it is to try and decide what major to pursue, because it really is a huge decision.  Even after declaring a major, students don’t always know what careers and jobs will be available to them after they graduate, which is another process in itself. 

                Although this article presented a case study on a girl in college, I was wondering how someone else not in college might benefit from constructivist career counseling.  I think it would still be helpful for someone already in the work force.  But in their case, they can’t just switch majors; it involves a harder decision of switching careers, etc.

Savickas, M. L. (1995). Constructivist counseling for career indecision. The Career Development Quarterly, 43(4), 363-373.