THEORIES IN COMBINATION

COMBINING THEORIES

Trait and factor theory
General trait and factor theory
Work adjustment theory
Holland’s theory of types
Myers-Briggs type theory

Life-span theory
Super
Ginzberg
Gottfredson
Erikson
Atkinson, et al.
Hopson and Adams’ theory of transition

Career decision-making theory
Krumboltz’s social learning theory
Spiritual approach to career counseling
Cognitive information processing perspective

Does NOT fit into one of the three categories
Constructivist approaches
Relational theories
Social cognitive career theory
Sociological and economic theories of career development

Combining Life-Span Theory with Trait and Factor and Career Decision-Making Theories
Super and trait and factor theory

Childhood
Ginzberg – emphasize development of interests, capacities, and values
Super – development of curiosity, exploration, and information leading to development of interests, accurate time perspective, and a self concept
Gottfredson – orientation to size and power, gender roles, social class variables, and self awareness
Trait and factor theory and career decision making theories usually not appropriate in childhood

Early Adolescence
Convergence of life-span theory and other theories becomes murky
Super – career maturity, career planning, career exploration, decision making, world-of-work information, and knowledge of preferred occupation
Erikson, Marica, Vondracek – vocational readiness
Trait and factor theory and career decision making are useful

Late Adolescence and Adulthood
Trait and factor theories – Holland
Work adjustment can be used, but rarely is
Cognitive information processing and Krumboltz can be used

Adult Career Development
Can use most theories except early childhood

Combining Trait and Factor Theories
Can use different trait and factor theories at once

Combining Career Decision-Making Theories
Career decision making theories tend to describe the same process, so would NOT use more than one at a time

The Counselor’s Choice – It’s personal, there is no one way that is better than another


NONCOUNSELING APPLICATIONS OF THEORIES

Screening Methods
Tests or inventories that screen for clients who will benefit from counseling most
Examples: Career Development Inventory; Holland’s Self Directed Search

Paper-and-Pencil Methods
Holland’s Self-Directed Search used with The Occupations Finder and You and Your Career

Computerized Guidance Systems
Adjunct to counseling, interactive
DISCOVER and SIGI PLUS (values emphasized) - follow trait and factor method

Internet
Great variety of career information
Assessment inventories (Appendix B)
Career information (Appendix C)
_ Career counseling organizations
_ Education and internships
_ Job postings
_ Occupations
Ethical issues - Confidentiality and following professional standards


SPECIAL COUNSELING ISSUES

Group Career Counseling
Concepts and materials provided can usually be applied to most group settings
Primary use is to impart information, also to help with exploration and self-efficacy
Not found in individual counseling - motivation from peers, being able to help or be helped by those in similar positions as yourself
Groups can be designed for specific populations
trait and factor theory - select test and inventories - all trait and factor theories can be used
Developmental theory - group by age range - Issues related to Super’s stages
Career decision making - Krumboltz developed the DECIDES group approach.
Cognitive information processing has been applied to career classes

Career Counseling as a Related Issue
When career counseling is NOT the primary concern
Can use Myers-Briggs, work adjustment theory, Super, and Gottfredson for children

Changing Work Settings
The age and ability levels of the clients may determine the type of theory that the counselor chooses
In general, counselors may be less likely to change their theory of counseling when they move from one work setting to another, than to modify the career development theory that they use

Placement Counseling
Many authors have written job search books to help people find a job. Azrin has used a behavioral approach in the development of the “job club”
Holland - different types use different approaches
Myers-Briggs - approach depends on MBTI stage
Super - role salience and stage
Career decision making theory - reinforce job search rather than getting a job


USE OF ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS IN THEORIES

Trait and factor theory rely heavily on tests
Less for life-span theory, even less for spirituality theory


OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT THEORIES

Associated with trait and factor theory
Examples - Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes, DOT, Guide for Occupational Exploration, Occupational Information Network (O*NET)


HOW THEORIES APPLY TO CAREER DEVELOPMENT ISSUES OF WOMEN

Life-span theory addresses issues for women at different developmental stages
Various trait and factor theories address specific issues related to gender
Gottfredson describes gender issues in the career development of children
Sexual harassment is addressed by crisis and other theories


HOW THEORIES APPLY TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY ISSUES IN COUNSELING

Life span theory has studied groups at different developmental stages
Vondracek discusses cultural context of situations
Social cognitive theory focuses on concerns about self-efficacy
Minority development model of Atkinson, Morten, and Sue


COUNSELOR ISSUES

Trait and Factor Theories
Awareness of differences in abilities, interests, values, and personality of client and counselor

Life-Span Theories
Attention to different roles and stages of the client and the counselor

Career Decision-Making Theories
Krumboltz - counseling skills should match needs of client
Spiritual approach - client and counselor’s subjective experience may differ greatly
Cognitive information processing theory - structure of counseling should not interfere with discussion of atypical issues.

Sociological and Economic Approaches
Focuses on inequalities that exist for women and culturally diverse populationsSociological and economic research provides a means for the counselor to assess her own biases