Brown's Chapter 6 and 14

After reading chapter six and fourteen of Brown’s (2012) text, I was able to make connections between the content of these readings and class on October 30^th. In Brown’s (2012) chapter six, clients with special needs are addressed. Brown (2012) explains that it is essential to identify the values and worldviews of the individual, acknowledging specific and unique needs, in order to effectively assist the client. However, this process should be applied to all clients! Brown (2012) simply addresses the extra measures that the counselor will perform, above and beyond standard procedures. The counselor will need to attend to each client-specific need when working with varying populations. Individuals with disabilities, accounting for approximately 10.5% to 20.0% of the population, may be the most common clients requiring modified therapeutic interventions (Brown, 2012). Some of the other special needs populations mentioned in this chapter include women in the workforce; displaced workers; economically disadvantaged workers; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals; individuals who enter the labor force atypically (i.e. former military personnel, ex-offenders, midlife job changers, voluntary changers, etc); and older workers (Brown, 2012).

Brown (2012) also notes interventions for clients with special needs, including rehabilitation and solution-focused interventions. “Evidence of what the client can do, such as strength factors and aptitudes, is even more important than identification of what he or she cannot do” (Brown, 2012, p.120). Brown (2012) also promotes utilizing legal statutes (i.e. Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), etc) and fostering self-advocacy, social justice, empowerment, and inclusion. Brown (2012) also suggests reducing stereotypes and stigma, setting short and long term goals, assessing role changes, and exploring personal issues in tandem with career issues when necessary. Brown (2012, p. 137) also continues to highlight the worker within their context, “Every person seeking career development help can be served best when attention is focused on the interaction between personal characteristics and the total environment in which the person exists.” In regards to our class discussion and activity, it is important that we, as counselors, must always attend and cater to our clients and their specific P-E career context. After assessing clients’ needs, counselors can implement the most effective strategies for career counseling.

In chapter fourteen, Brown (2012) addresses one way in which general clients and individuals with special needs can seek services - Career counseling in private practice. In private practice, it is vital to fulfill the consumer’s need for awareness, “caveat emptor”, by providing information regarding credentials, fees, “promises” in session, ethics, differences between career counseling and coaching, etc (Brown, 2012). It was interesting to discover the “behind the scenes” provisions private practices must undertake, including establishing a prime location for the office, developing an image, marketing, budgeting, creating fees, and billing – health insurance will not cover career services unless a mental health issue is addressed simultaneously with career issues (Brown, 2012). As discussed in class, it is important to meet the needs of the client, whether in the school or private practice setting.

Brown, D. (2012).  Career information, career counseling, and career development (10^th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.