Week 5: Synchronicity

Week 5: Synchronicity

I must admit that I have mixed feelings about Joan Blades’ presentation last week. I found her work around living room discussions to be highly relevant and applicable to our class because we are all entering the mental health field in some capacity. I like that this concept promotes tolerance, open-mindedness, and really listening to opposing ideas (compared to just hearing what others say). However, I wondered how realistic this idea actually is. Ideally, we should all feel pretty comfortable in our own living rooms. On the other hand, how often do ordinary conversations turn into heated discussions even in our own homes? At the same time, I think this living room discussion idea is metaphorical, implying that much like we feel comfortable relaxing in our own living rooms, Blades hopes that in all discussions individuals can feel safe and comfortable enough to express their true thoughts and authentic selves. I found it interesting that most of the ladies on the panel were in agreement on social/political matters. While they each had the opportunity to voice their personal opinions, the group as a whole appeared to be liberal. Would the tone of the conversation have been different in some conservatives were also on the panel? I did not appreciate the political undertones throughout the presentation. I was disappointed that Blades’ presentation did not have more direct applications to our Career Development class. I was hoping to hear more about current work trends, especially those involving women. For instance, are the “mommy wars” still alive today? How so? What does research say about stay-at-home fathers?

I really enjoyed reading the Guindon and Hanna (2002) article about synchronicity and its role in career opportunities and the decision making process. I grew up in a religious home where meaning-making was a common occurrence. “Everything happens for a reason” was a popular saying in my house. We believed that to some degree God orchestrated the events in our lives. While He had a certain path chosen for each of us, each individual ultimately makes their own choices. God may “toss” various opportunities into our path, but it is our responsibility to make the right choices. Jung’s definition of synchronicity, defined as the “occurrence of a meaningful coincidence in time,” (de Laszlo, as cited in Guindon and Hanna, 2002) is pretty congruent with my own experience and background.

According to Guindon and Hanna (2002), “career development… is no less than a searching for meaning” (p. 196). Based upon this definition, I find the role of the career counselor to be extremely critical. In fact, how can a helpful career counselor not be an existentialist? At the same time, the role of career counselor parallels the role of a cognitive therapist. Guindon and Hanna (2002) stated that many clients seek counseling because they feel stuck in their own maladaptive thoughts. As counseling proceeds, individuals redefine themselves and transcend their own limitations. This sounds much like cognitive restructuring when the therapist guides clients in examining the evidence for and against their maladaptive thoughts.

Some of the implications I take away from this article include the following: 1) whether or not we ourselves buy into interpreting dreams, divine intervention, etc., it is our role as counselor to remain nonjudgmental when working with our client; 2) Be mindful of body language and countertransference; 3) be open to the experience of the supernatural.

Guindon, M. H. & Hanna, F. J. (2002). Coincidence, happenstance, serendipity, fate, or the hand of God: Case studies in synchronicity. The Career Development Quarterly, 50, 195-208.