Career Counseling PowerPoint produced by Melinda Haley, M.S., New Mexico State University. “This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of an image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.” “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Helping Relationships The Counselor/Client Relationship “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004” The Working Alliance GoalsTasksBond

Helping Relationships The Counselor/Client Relationship The Working Alliance –The most important element in career counseling is establishing a working alliance with the client. –This relationship includes: An agreement regarding goals An agreement regarding tasks The establishment of a therapeutic bond. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Helping Relationships Establishing Common Goals –The counselor needs to listen to the client's concerns. –Evaluate whether or not the client’s goals are realistic. –Help the client establish goal clarity. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Helping Relationships Tasks that Support Client Outcomes –Use of basic counseling skills (e.g. reflection, openness, congruence etc). –Use of tools (e.g. interest inventories, genograms, tests, card sorts, journaling). –Tasks that the counselor will expect the client to complete should be agreed upon up front. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Helping Relationships The Counselor/Client Bond –There is no prescribed way to build a client/counselor bond because it is dependent upon the two individual people involved. –Things that might be helpful: Show caring and trust. Use the essential core conditions outlined by Carl Rogers. Show the client respect but also be realistic. Remember that client/counselor relationships are not completely reciprocal. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Helping Relationships How to Build a Successful Working Alliance –Listen to the client, especially what he or she tells you about what would make a successful counseling experience for him or her. –Let the client know what to expect. –Help the client explore his or her concerns. –Respect the client’s values, opinions, worldview etc. –Reiterate that career counseling is a collaborative effort between counselor and client. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Helping Relationships Questions to Ask Yourself About the Working Alliance –Have I attended to the three aspects of the working alliance: goals, tasks and bond? –Have the client and I established a concrete, realistic, obtainable goal that we both agree on? –Have the client and I reached an agreement on the tasks needed to reach these goals? –Is there tension between us or is the atmosphere comfortable? “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Helping Relationships Questions to Ask Yourself About the Working Alliance –Have the client and I explored the level of difficulty regarding the tasks involved and does the client have a realistic picture of what it will take to complete them? –Does the client share my enthusiasm for the process? –Is the amount of time needed to complete the tasks, in order to achieve the goal, understood by the client? “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Career Counseling Presentation Resources Gysbers, N. C., Heppner, M. J. & Johnston, J. A. (2003). Career counseling: Process, issues, and techniques, 2 nd ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn & Bacon. Brown, D. (2003). Career information, career counseling, and career development, 8 th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn & Bacon. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”