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Psychologists’ dilemmas in career counselling practice

  • Paulo Miguel Cardoso
  • Maria Céu Taveira
  • Constança Sacadura Biscaia
  • Maria Graça Santos
Article
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Abstract

In this study, we explored main dilemmas psychologists face in career counselling in two main professional settings: employment and education. Participants included 24 experienced Portuguese psychologists, working in employment (n = 14) and educational (n = 10) settings. We used consensual qualitative research to conduct and analyse semi-structured interviews. Results revealed dilemmas’ in five domains: neutrality, assessment, dual loyalty, role boundaries, and confidentiality, with the typical dilemma in the domain of neutrality. Differences between groups were found in the domains of dual loyalty and role boundaries.

Keywords

Career counselling Dilemmas Transtheoretical 

Résumé

Les dilemmes des psychologues dans la pratique du conseil en orientation. Dans cette étude, nous avons exploré les principaux dilemmes rencontrés par les psychologues dans le conseil en orientation dans deux milieux professionnels centraux: le placement et l’éducation. Parmi les participants figuraient 24 psychologues portugais expérimentés travaillant dans des contextes de placement (n = 14) et d’éducation (n = 10). Nous avons utilisé la recherche qualitative consensuelle pour mener et analyser les entretiens semi-structurés. Les résultats ont révélé des dilemmes dans cinq domaines: la neutralité, l’évaluation, la double loyauté, les limites du rôle, et la confidentialité, avec le dilemme typique dans le domaine de la neutralité. Les différences entre les groupes ont été identifiées dans les domaines de la double loyauté et les limites du rôle.

Zusammenfassung

Dilemmata von Psychologen in der Praxis der Berufsberatung. In dieser Studie untersuchten wir die hauptsächlichen Dilemmata, mit denen Psychologen in der Berufsberatung in zwei wesentlichen professionellen Einrichtungen konfrontiert sind: Beruf und Bildung. Zu den Teilnehmern gehörten 24 erfahrene portugiesische Psychologen, die in Einrichtungen von Beruf (n = 14) und Bildung (n = 10) arbeiteten. Wir verwendeten einvernehmliche qualitative Forschung um semi-strukturierte Interviews durchzuführen und zu analysieren. Die Ergebnisse zeigten Dilemmata in fünf Bereichen: Neutralität, Beurteilung, doppelte Loyalität, Rollengrenzen und Vertraulichkeit, mit dem typischen Dilemma in der Domäne der Neutralität. Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen wurden in den Bereichen der doppelten Loyalität und Rollengrenzen gefunden.

Resumen

Dilemas de los psicólogos en la práctica de orientación profesional. En este estudio, hemos explorado los principales dilemas que enfrentan los psicólogos en orientación profesional en dos ámbitos profesionales principales: el empleo y la educación. Entre los participantes había 24 psicólogos portugueses con experiencia, trabajando en empleo (n = 14) y en educación (N = 10). Se utilizó la investigación cualitativa consensual para llevar a cabo y analizar las entrevistas semi-estructuradas. Los resultados revelaron dilemas en cinco ámbitos: la neutralidad, la evaluación, la doble lealtad, los límites de roles, y la confidencialidad; con dilema típico en el ámbito de la neutralidad. Las diferencias entre grupos se encontraron en los esferas de la doble lealtad y los límites de conducta.

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Notes

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Douglas Scaturo for his comments on an earlier version of this article.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • Paulo Miguel Cardoso
    • 1
  • Maria Céu Taveira
    • 2
  • Constança Sacadura Biscaia
    • 1
  • Maria Graça Santos
    • 1
  1. 1.Departamento de PsicologiaUniversidade de ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
  2. 2.Instituto de PsicologiaUniversidade do MinhoBragaPortugal

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