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Residing in silence and wonder: career counselling from the perspective of ‘being’

  • Finn Thorbjørn Hansen
  • Norman Amundson
Article
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Abstract

We are approaching career counselling from the perspective of “Being”, which we recognize to be a daunting task. Nevertheless we find it extremely important that the counsellor become aware of and try to think, talk and act from his or her embeddedness in being, and by that help the client to do the same. This process involves an ontological and spiritual approach, and builds upon the Socratic ability to wonder, the meditative way of “undoing” and the artful act of creation.

Keywords

Career counselling Philosophical counselling Being Community of wonder 

Résumé.

S’installer dans le silence et l’étonnement: conseil d’orientation dans la perspective de “être”. Nous approchons le conseil d’orientation dans la perspective de l’“être”, approche dont nous reconnaissons qu’elle constitue une tâche ardue. Néanmoins nous estimons extrêmement important que le conseiller ait à l’esprit et essaye de penser, de parler et d’agir à partir de l’implication de son être, et par là aide le client à faire de même. Ce processus constitue une approche ontologique et spirituelle et table sur la capacité socratique de s’étonner, voie méditative de la “perte” et habile acte de création.

Zusammenfassung.

Ausgangspunkte Ruhe und Erstaunen: Berufliche Beratung aus der Perspektive des “Seins”. Wir betrachten berufliche Beratung aus der Perspektive des “Seins”, wobei wir durchaus anerkennen, dass das eine entmutigende Aufgabe ist. Dennoch empfinden wir es als außerordentlich wichtig, dass der Berater sich dessen bewusst wird und versucht, aus seiner eigenen Eingebettetheit im Sein heraus zu denken, zu sprechen und zu handeln, und dadurch seinem Klienten hilft, das gleiche zu tun. Dieser Prozess schließt einen ontologischen und einen spirituellen Ansatz ein und baut auf auf der sokratischen Fähigkeit des Erstaunens, dem meditativen Ansatz des “Auflösens”, und dem kunstvollen Akt der Schöpfung.

Resumen.

Residiendo en silencio y asombro: Orientación para la carrera desde la perspectiva de “Ser”. Nos aproximamos a la orientación para la carrera desde la perspectiva de “Ser”, lo cual reconocemos es una tarea muy difícil. No obstante, nos parece extremadamente importante que el(la) orientador(a) sea consciente de ello e intente pensar, hablar y actuar desde su ser, y así ayudar a su cliente a hacer lo mismo. Este proceso implica un enfoque ontológico y espiritual, y se basa en la habilidad socrática de asombrarse o maravillarse, la manera meditativa de “deshacer” y el acto artístico de la creación.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Curriculum Research, The Danish School of EducationUniversity of AarhusAarhusDenmark
  2. 2.Faculty of Education, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special EducationThe University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada

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