Vocational Counseling Research Articles

Development of the Structural Profile Inventory

The Structural Profile Inventory (SPI), a new measure, quantitatively assesses the seven areas of functioning postulated by Lazarus's conception of the BASIC ID, an intrinsic construct of multimodal therapy. The SPI has usefulness for individual therapy, marital therapy, vocational counseling, and research. This study represented a significant step towards establishing the Structural Profile Inventory as a standardized instrument by investigating its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. The alpha coefficients and Pearson r's were between .7 and .8, and a first step towards validity was made. The results indicate the SPI has clinical usefulness.

Does Career Counselling Matter? A Personal Reflection

Discusses his career as a vocational counsellor and the importance of helping people reach their potential.

The Effect of a Job Placement and Support Program for Workers with Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Randomized Control Trial (RCT) Study

This is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to investigate the efficacy of a job placement and support program designed for workers with musculoskeletal injuries and having difficulties in resuming the work role. The program was planned to help injured workers to successfully return to work (RTW) by overcoming the difficulties and problems during the process of job seeking and sustaining a job using a case management approach. A total of 66 injured workers were recruited and randomly assigned into the job placement and support group (PS group) or the self-placement group (SP group). A three-week job placement and support program was given to subjects in the PS group while subjects in the control group (SP group) were only given advice on job placement at a workers' health center. The PS program was comprised of an individual interview, vocational counseling, job preparation training, and assisted placement using the case management approach. The Chinese Lam Assessment of Stages of Employment Readiness (C-LASER), the Chinese State Trait and Anxiety Inventory (C-STAI), and the SF-36 were the outcome measures for the two groups before and after the training program to observe the changes in subjects' work readiness status, emotional status and their health related quality of life pre- and post-training program. The rate of return to work was measured for both groups of subjects after the training program. The results indicated that the rate of success in RTW (73%) was significantly higher in the job placement (PS) group than that of the self-placement (SP) group (51.6%) with P < 0.05. Significant differences were also found in C-STAI (P < 0.05), SF-36 (P < 0.05) and C-LASER scores on action (P < 0.05) between the two groups. The job placement (PS) program appeared to have enhanced the employability of injured workers. Workers who participated in the program also showed higher levels of work readiness and emotional status in coping with their work injuries.

Relação entre ordem de nascimento e interesses vocacionais

As teorias do desenvolvimento humano enfatizam a importância das experiências infantis na formação da personalidade. Acredita-se que o papel assumido pela criança na família tem implicações no comportamento adulto posterior. Adler propôs que a ordem de nascimento tem influência significativa no comportamento vocacional, e pesquisas recentes têm apoiado esta idéia. Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar diferenças de interesses vocacionais entre as seguintes categorias de ordem de nascimento: filhos únicos, primogênitos, 'do meio' e caçulas. Participaram 435 estudantes universitários de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 17 e 56 anos (Média=26,9). Os sujeitos responderam a uma medida de interesses vocacionais e a um questionário demográfico para definição da categoria de ordem de nascimento. Os escores de interesses foram comparados por análises de variância. Os resultados revelaram que filhos únicos têm maior interesse em investigação científica do que filhos 'do meio', e menor interesse empreendedor do que primogênitos. Os filhos 'do meio' revelaram interesse social mais elevado do que filhos únicos e primogênitos. Concluiu-se que filhos únicos, primogênitos, 'do meio' e caçulas desenvolvem processos vocacionais distintos, e recomenda-se o uso de informações sobre ordem de nascimento no aconselhamento vocacional.

The Career Transition Inventory

The Career Transition Inventory (CTI) is a well-known measure for assessing perceptions of psychological resources when adults undergo a career change. The purpose of this study was to conduct a psychometric evaluation of a French version of the CTI (CTI-F). A total of 1,042 French volunteer participants completed the CTI-F. The procedure used combined confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. The definitive CTI-F included 19 items loading three factors labeled Confidence, Readiness, and Decision Independence. The scale showed an acceptable internal consistency, good test—retest reliability, a well-established convergent validity, and a lack of sensitivity to social desirability. The present study demonstrates the sound psychometric properties of the French version of the CTI, supporting its use by both vocational counselors and researchers. Furthermore, with this type of validated tool it will be henceforth possible to examine cross-cultural differences and similarities between countries with different social and workplace systems (e.g., collectivist vs. individualist).

Vocational and professional counseling in secondary schools in low income areas. Appraisal from counselors and students.

During the first quarter 2007, the Council on Higher Education carried out a research to learn about the appraisal from counselors and students in relation to vocational and professional counseling in schools in areas with high percentage of low income population. The research addressed aspects related to counselors' work and their specific labor conditions: school mission, regulatory context of orientation tasks, specific competencies given to counselors, expectations related to studies continuity, access and use of information about higher education, among others. The study was useful to deepen into the sense of vocational - professional counseling, practical limits conditioning its development and specific expectations expressed by the very actors in order to improve the counselor's work and contribute to close the gap among secondary education, higher education and the world of work.

(371) Efficacy of an interdisciplinary pain management program with workers compensation patients

There are many obstacles and challenges to the successful treatment or management of chronic pain; one of which is the potential for secondary gain emanating from a workers compensation claim. We assessed the efficacy of an interdisciplinary pain management program with 101 workers compensation patients treated in 2005 - 2007. Treatment included individual appointments with psychologists, physical therapist, occupational therapist, biofeedback therapists, vocational counselors, and physicians. Patients also participated in group psychology, pool therapy, recreational therapy, nursing lectures and Feldenkrais classes.

Instrumentos de inteligência e interesses em orientação profissional

O uso de instrumentos psicometricamente ajustados ao contexto em que serão utilizados é fundamental para a confiabilidade de processos de avaliação psicológica. Em situações de orientação profissional, tal preceito tem igual importância, uma vez que a análise de diferentes construtos deve levar o sujeito a melhor se conhecer, proporcionando uma escolha adequada da profissão. O objetivo desse estudo foi correlacionar diferentes instrumentos de avaliação de interesses profissionais e inteligência, aplicados a 312 participantes de um programa de orientação profissional, com média de idade de 16,13 anos (DP = 2,07). Os resultados mostraram algumas correlações significativas entre BPR-5 e LIP, por um lado, e entre o INV e Angelini de outro. Novos estudos com amostras maiores e mais heterogêneas geograficamente são sugeridos, a fim de se obter mais evidências de validade, principalmente para os instrumentos ainda não aprovados pelo Conselho Federal de Psicologia.

Working for a Living

While lesbians are similar to other women in that they face discrimination in the workplace based on gender, ethnicity and class, they also have unique needs and confront bias because of their sexual orientation. Thus, choosing an occupation is an extremely important task for many lesbians. In order to adequately serve a lesbian population, vocational counselors need to be aware of how lesbians choose occupations. Astin's (1985) and Gottfredson's (1981) theories of career development can be adapted to help explain the vocational needs of lesbians. This article will review the major findings within the field, discuss how the two theories relate to the vocational decision-making process of lesbian women and make suggestions for how to do vocational counseling with lesbians. doi:10.1080/10894160802174359

Stability and Change in Counseling Psychologists' Identities, Roles, Functions, and Career Satisfaction Across 15 Years

The authors examined changes in the profession of counseling psychology by comparing results of similar surveys of Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP) members administered 15 years apart (in 1985 and 2000). The authors found the roles and settings of SCP members were relatively stable across this period but observed that notably fewer respondents were engaged in vocational counseling or vocational assessment and that the proportion of women SCP members nearly doubled over this time period. Year 2000 data also included the responses of counseling psychologists who were not SCP members. Numerous differences emerged from a comparison of SCP members and nonmembers. For example, members were more likely than nonmembers to (a) be employed in university settings, (b) identify as academics, (c) be either an American Psychological Association (APA) fellow or an American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) diplomate, and (d) publish in professional outlets.

Un conseil psychologique contextualisé en orientation professionnelle des adultes : entre processus subjectifs et démarche d’objectivation

Critical considerations on counseling limits, global and singular person, and choice of evaluate variables bring up round the problem of subjectivity and objectivity in vocational guidance counseling. A model is described that integrates a statement of initial situation subjective experience, a common construction of psychological and vocational contextual problem based both on an evaluation of sociocognitive caracteristics and a working out of an evolvement scenario. Some practical illustrations are provided.

Predictors of Dually Diagnosed Patients' Psychiatric Symptom Exacerbation During Acute Substance Use Disorder Treatment

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study identified intake risk factors that predicted dual diagnosis patients' exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms during acute substance use disorder care; and examined whether receipt of recommended services for dual diagnosis patients reduced the likelihood of exacerbation, and whether additional help post-discharge was associated with improved symptoms at a 1-year follow-up. Methods: Dual diagnosis patients (N = 230) who received treatment in one of 14 residential substance abuse programs were evaluated at in-take, discharge (98%), and 1-year follow-up (80%). Findings: Patients who, at intake, were anxious, untroubled by their psychiatric problems, using more than one substance, had less severe alcohol problems, lived with a problem drinker, and had no close friends were at greater risk of exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms at discharge. Patients who received, during acute treatment, recommended services (e.g., individual counseling, vocational counseling, discharge planning) were more likely to improve, even when intake risk was controlled. Additional outpatient treatment post-discharge was associated with fewer psychiatric symptoms at 1 year. Conclusions: Substance abuse treatment staff should be vigilant about identifying and preventing dual diagnosis patients' psychiatric symptom exacerbation. Attending to changes in psychiatric symptoms and tailoring interventions to patients at greatest risk could help reduce the likelihood of in-treatment increases in psychiatric symptoms.

Une approche de l’évolution des relations entre conseil (en orientation, en insertion, à l’emploi) et sélection professionnelle

An approach to the evolution of the relations between school and career counselling activities and those of personnel selection during the 20th century in France leads to distinguish between three periods. During the first one, these activities (organised around the notion of aptitudes) were close. The second period was marked by the birth of procedures for selecting and distributing the students within the school organisation: vocational counselling activities grew apart from those in the domains of employment counselling and selection. In the last period (characterized by a high unemployment rate and a growth of very flexible forms of work and employment) these different activities – organised around the notion of competence – came closer. In short, these activities appear to find their meaning only through their reciprocal links, in connection with the kind of work and school organizations where they take place.

The Impact of Childhood Abuse on University Women’s Career Choice

A study is discussed that describes a link between childhood abuse and career choice for 12 university women. Purposive sampling was used, and the study employed a cross-case comparative approach with an emphasis on feminist principles. An interactive, collaborative interview was developed, prompting stories that reflected career choice processes. A general framework for processing the naturalistically obtained data was constant across the cases and was subjected to criteria to insure trustworthiness. Three basic themes emerged: (1) for women who were still enduring a cycle of pain and fear as a result of long-term child abuse, safety was a dominant concern; (2) women who had managed to transform their experiences approached career choice as a “mission” in order to right the wrongs of their past; and (3) negative cases that did not fit the general trend provided an opportunity to reexamine the data and the theme of distance. These results have important implications for vocational counseling and academic advising.

The Exploration of Educational Needs for Vocational Counselors, Who Are Working for Elder Clients

The Exploration of Educational Needs for Vocational Counselors, Who Are Working for Elder Clients

Los programas de formación ocupacional: una alternativa al término de la educación obligatoria

This paper analyzes the knowledge of pupils finishing the compulsory education about the program of professional qualification. We present some results and conclusions from a study carried out in the Principality of Asturias, with 2,260 pupils, who are in the 4th year of Secondary Compulsory Education, about their academic and professional expectations for the future. The results obtained allow us to conclude that pupils haven’t got enough information about these programs, regardless of where they live. So we believe that this situation would be able to change if both school centres and local agents together develop a proposal of vocational counselling.

The Importance of Vocation in Recovery for Young People with Psychiatric Disabilities

Young people with psychiatric disabilities are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to participating in vocational training or higher education or to seeking and maintaining employment. A review of the literature reveals that this is due to a number of factors, including low expectations by health professionals, stigma and discrimination, symptomatology and the lack of a clear responsibility for promoting vocational and social outcomes. A useful approach for occupational therapists to use is a recovery framework combining evidence-based employment and educational assistance with mental health care, provided in parallel with brief vocational counselling, illness management skills, training in stigma countering and disclosure strategies, context-specific social skills and skills in social network development. It is concluded that there is an urgent need to link evidence-based vocational practices with quality mental health care, in order to restore hope among young people of ever realising their vocational goals and once again feeling included as valued members of society.

Profesinis konsultavimas ir orientavimas šiuolaikinio profesinio rengimo kontekste

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamos profesinio konsultavimo ir orientavimo problemos Lietuvoje transformacijų laikotarpiu. Šiuolaikiniame pasaulyje akivaizdus valstybės ir visuomenės suartėjimas. Švietimo pokyčiai įpareigoja kokybiškai spręsti ateities problemas. Teisingas profesinis apsisprendimas ir kokybiškas rengimasis profesijai gali sudaryti konkurencinį pranašumą globalioje erdvėje. Todėl laiku ir kokybiškas profesinis konsultavimas- vienas iš svarbiausių garantų siekiant asmens ir visuomenės poreikių tenkinimo.

The awareness of unemployed people with respect to their job-seeking and the possibility of employment -The effect which skill acquisition and vocational counseling and guidance exert on re-employment promotion

The awareness of unemployed people with respect to their job-seeking and the possibility of employment -The effect which skill acquisition and vocational counseling and guidance exert on re-employment promotion

The Importance of Reflexive Practice Within the Context of Life-Long Career Development for Rehabilitation Counsellors

AbstractWhere reflexivity is the process of ‘being aware in the moment of what is influencing our internal and external responses’ (Etherington, 2004), this literature review was aimed at exploring the extent to which rehabilitation counsellors could use the core competencies outlined by the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC) for their own career development. Reference was given to two specific competencies: (1) Vocational counselling, and (2) Counselling and interpersonal skills to not only determine whether the espoused skills in these areas could be used to advance career development but to also address the issue of compassion fatigue. In addition to these competencies, the role of the organisation was also brought into question regarding its influences on the career development for rehabilitation counsellors and the extent it to which it can minimise burnout.