The beginning of chapter 11 reminded me of how career development is intertwined with clinical psychology. Brown (2012) explains how people often experience lowered self-esteem when confronted with the loss of their job. Subsequently, they may experience anxiety about their uncertain future, which can inhibit the cognitive skills needed to successfully search for and obtain a new occupation. As a future clinician, it is important to recognize that anxiety and depression can sometimes be linked back to the loss of a job. Therefore, it will be useful to have a comprehensive knowledge of the job market, the techniques of obtaining employment (i.e. resume building, interview skills, etc.), and other areas related to the world of work. With this knowledge, a clinician can help the client develop skills in these areas as well as guide him or her to effective resources in order to help them gain employment.
Chapter 16 focused on the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of a career development program and what techniques are often used to obtain the necessary information. It seems that the most often used method of evaluation is a descriptive designs approach. Evaluation is a critical component to the continuation of the program because as the text mentioned, colleges and universities, as well as other institutions, are experiencing budget cuts and if the data about the career development program is inaccurate or nonexistent, the program runs the risk of being cut, which would ironically result in the career counselors needing to utilize their skill set to help themselves gain employment elsewhere. A final note regarding evaluation is that career development programs, more so than almost any other program, need to be a dynamic entity just because of the influx of technology related resources that are becoming available. If programs are not up to date with the resources then there is a good chance that the clients are not receiving the best possible counseling.
Finally, I would like to say that I really enjoyed the in-class presentations two weeks ago. Both groups were well prepared and kept the class engaged with relevant and interesting activities. The narrative therapy component of the higher education group was the most memorable activity. I have never actually participated in a group therapy session like that before, so I thought it was a great experience. I can see how if people are honest about what is going on in their lives and are being led by a skilled therapist that this can be a truly beneficial therapy technique. I’m looking forward to the other presentations.
References
Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development
(10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.
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