`[This] is an exciting book, written in clear, accessible style. It′s an informative guide for anyone wishing to explore career counselling as a topic and process′ – Professional Manager ′This is an excellent book - practical yet scholarly. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how to facilitate the career development of other people in formal or informal settings′ - John Arnold, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Loughborough University ′At a time when the career counselling profession has been under some pressure in the UK, it is good to have an up-to-date text which cogently outlines the strong base of theory, research and practice upon which this professional activity is built. Jenny Kidd′s lucid text will provide an invaluable resource for new entrants to career counselling and related fields, as well as for established practitioners′ - Professor Tony Watts, Senior Fellow and Life President, National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling, Cambridge Understanding Career Counselling explores the theory, research and practice of career counselling from a British perspective and brings them together in one concise volume. The book addresses exactly what is meant by the term ′career′ in the 21st century and the implications this has for those working with clients at different stages of their career. This book is unique in that it clearly relates career theories to career counselling, which is often an unclear area for trainees. Divided into two clear parts, the first provides a comprehensive account of theories of career development and career counselling and their implications for practice. Taking a critical approach, it also shows how research informs our understanding of the field. In the second part, career counselling skills, tools and techniques are described, including the use of assessment tools and the internet. The book also covers ethical issues and evaluation. Understanding Career Counselling is invaluable for students undergoing training in career guidance, career counselling, outplacement counselling or career coaching, but it will also be a use to students on occupational psychology and human resource management courses. In addition, experienced career practitioners wishing to find out more about recent developments within their profession. Jennifer Kidd is a Reader in Organizational Psychology and Course Director of the MSc Career Management and Counselling programme at Birkbeck, University of London

Understanding Career Counselling explores the theory, research, and practice of career counseling from a British perspective and brings them together in one concise volume. The book addresses exactly what is meant by the term 'career' in the 21st century and the implications this has for those working with clients at different stages of their career. This book is unique in that it clearly relates career theories to career counseling, which is often an unclear area for trainees.

Praise for the First Edition: `For those of you who wonder if the counselling approach is of much use for career guidance, this book should be informative. The importance of working with insight into client feelings is exemplified by insights into the need to address and work through feelings so that blocks to career interest and good decision-making can be overcome... The book outlines basic counselling skills and more complex ones and many straightforward exercises; ways of generating career options; career drivers and satisfiers; decision-making exercises; and guidelines for investigating careers... This text has made me more aware of the importance of thinking in terms of counselling and group counselling in the work I do relating to careers′ - Guidance Matters Career counselling is often mistakenly described as giving people advice on finding the best career path. This fully revised and updated second edition of Career Counselling explains what career counselling actually is, why people seek it, and indicates the many contexts where it is used. It describes in detail the skills, tools and techniques of career counselling, useful to both professional career counsellors and those for whom career counselling is just part of their work. This practical guide examines the issues typically brought to career counselling, and includes a completely new chapter on the role of career counselling within organisations. Other areas covered include: o the dilemmas of independent and in-house career counsellors o screening and contracting o ways of facilitating decision-making and managing `blocks′ o self-management and continuing professional development. Career Counselling, Second Edition stresses the importance of adopting a `whole person′ approach whilst maintaining a career focus. Illustrated throughout by case studies from the authors′ experience, the book draws on approaches ranging from the humanistic work of Carl Rogers to solution-focused counselling. The book contains an invaluable resources section and includes a brand new appendix containing photocopiable exercises which practitioners and their clients can use in conjunction with their counselling sessions. Robert Nathan is Managing Director of Career Counselling Services, London.

"This is a must-have for any researcher in vocational psychology or career counseling, or anyone who wishes to understand the empirical underpinnings of the practice of career counseling." -Mark Pope, EdD College of Education, University of Missouri - St. Louis past president of the American Counseling Association Today's career development professional must choose from a wide array of theories and practices in order to provide services for a diverse range of clients. Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work focuses on scientifically based career theories and practices, including those derived from research in other disciplines. Driven by the latest empirical and practical evidence, this text offers the most in-depth, far-reaching, and comprehensive career development and counseling resource available. Career Development and Counseling includes coverage of: Major theories of career development, choice, and adjustment Informative research on occupational aspirations, job search success, job satisfaction, work performance, career development with people of color, and women's career development Assessment of interests, needs and values, ability, and other important constructs Occupational classification and sources of occupational information Counseling for school-aged youth, diverse populations, choice-making, choice implementation, work adjustment, and retirement Special needs and applications including those for at-risk, intellectually talented, and work-bound youth; people with disabilities; and individuals dealing with job loss, reentry, and career transitions Edited by two of the leading figures in career development, and featuring contributions by many of the most well-regarded specialists in the field, Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work is the one book that every career counselor, vocational psychologist, and serious student of career development must have.

Understanding Careers: The Metaphors of Working Lives uses a unique framework of nine archetypal metaphors to encapsulate the field of career studies. Using an easy-to-read style, author Kerr Inkson examines key concepts, illustrating them with over 50 authentic career cases, to build an excellent bridge between theory and “real life.”

In a changing employment climate and with the growth of demand for careers guidance at all stages of life, careers guidance practice has moved from its positivist world view, with the counsellor as expert and client as passive responder, to more holistic ‘constructivist’ approaches. In essence, these approaches view the career as a holistic concept in which work and personal life are inextricably intertwined, and individuals are experts in their own lives, actively constructing their careers. The first to fully explore the constructivist approach, this book: provides a theoretical background to constructivism outlines a range of constructivist approaches to career counselling gives examples of the practical application of constructivism. Essential for anyone involved in career guidance wishing to learn more about this vital new approach, this book combines theory with practicable guidance, and represents a new direction for career counselling.

A practical introduction for those training in the field of career development, career counselling and career coaching, this book will take your students through established and emerging theory and the different contexts in which career work takes place introducing the key skills, techniques and models they’ll need. Professional issues such as the use of digital technologies highlight the contemporary context of careers work and all of this is brought to life through engaging case studies and reflective questions, highlighting the practical applications of what is being learnt.

While personality traits and talents may help to predict a predisposition to a career type, this method of analysis neglects the influences of human purpose, passion, and life history. In Career Counseling, author Larry Cochran fills the void by introducing the theory of narrative construction, a method of counseling that injects personal identity into career development in a practical way. 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 counseling. In addition, he provides the innovative materials that are necessary for making this process both efficient and effective. This volume will be widely used by scholars and professionals in the fields of career counseling, clinical/counseling psychology, social psychology, and management.

This book makes the case that career development practice is a mental health intervention, and provides skills and strategies to support career development practitioners in their work. It explores how practitioners do more than help people navigate career paths, they change people's lives in ways that improve mental health and overall well-being.

Career Development and Counseling: Theory and Practice in a Multicultural World provides a comprehensive overview of career development theories with a unique multicultural framework. Aligned with the latest standards set forth by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the text focuses on applications across a variety of settings and populations. Each chapter contains numerous case illustrations and learning activities designed to help readers understand the complexities of multicultural aspects of individual career development. Counseling students in training, in addition to working counseling professionals, will find this book as a useful resource for today’s diverse world. Career Development and Counseling is part of SAGE’s Counseling and Professional Identity Series.