Career Counseling: a narrative approach

Monograph

Careers Library

In recent years, there has been growing disenchantment with impersonal techniques that match an individual's traits with skills required for a specific vocation, because such techniques neglect human purpose, passion and life history.Additionally, practitioners have found that theories offering a deeper view of careers, such as those incorporating construction of meaning, developmental and identity issues, are difficult to translate into practice. The author of this book fills the void. He introduces the theory of narrative construction, a method of career counselling that injects personal identity into career development in a practical way. Larry Cochran demonstrates how literary models and constructivist methods can be used in career development to provide the essential subjective dimension that has been lacking in practical counselling. In addition, he provides innovative materials necessary for making this process both efficient and effective.