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Challenges for Career Interventions in Changing Contexts

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Abstract

Current social and economic changes have created a challenging context for career counsellors. Within this context counsellors are being asked to view their role from different perspectives. There is recognition of the importance of lifelong guidance and also the need to view guidance from a broader social context with greater emphasis on social responsibility and ethics. New forms of delivery are also emerging. These include an emphasis on client centred and holistic counselling, an affirmation of narrative methods, and a more dynamic counselling approach. Lastly, there is the development of a number of new methods of service delivery. Some examples include one stop counselling centres, virtual counselling services, mentoring, career coaching, and the inclusion of social enterprises as part of the counselling process. The implementation of these changes has implications for training, specialization and for accreditation.

Résumé. Défis pour les interventions d’orientation dans des contextes en mouvance

Les changements sociaux et économiques actuels ont créé un contexte qui constitue un défi pour les conseillers d’orientation. Dans ce contexte, on demande aux conseillers de concevoir leur rôle selon différentes perspectives. On reconnaît l’importance de l’orientation tout au long de la vie ainsi que la nécessité de considérer l’orientation à partir d’une perspective sociale plus large avec un accent plus marqué sur la responsabilité et l’éthique sociales. De nouvelles formes de conseil sont aussi en émergence. On insiste sur une approche holistique et centrée sur le client, sur les méthodes narratives et sur un conseil plus dynamique. Enfin, on voit se développer un certain nombre de nouvelles méthodes concernant l’offre de services. A titre d’exemples, on peut citer les centres de conseil plateforme-unique les services de consultation virtuels, le tutorat, le coaching de carrière et l’insertion dans des entreprises sociales en tant qu’élément du processus de conseil. La mise en oelig;uvre de ces changements a des implications pour la formation, la spécialisation et pour l’accréditation.

Zusammenfassung. Herausforderungen an Hilfen zur Berufsentscheidung in veränderlichen Kontexten

Aktuelle soziale und ökonomische Veränderungen haben einen herausfordernden Kontext für Berufsberater geschaffen: In diesem Kontext sind die Berater aufgefordert, ihre Rolle aus verschiedenen Perspektiven zu betrachten. Die Bedeutung einer lebenslangen Beratung wird erkannt, und ebenso die Notwendigkeit, Beratung in einem erweiterten sozialen Zusammenhang unter größerer Betonung von sozialer Verantwortung und von ethischen Gesichtspunkten zu betrachten. Ebenso entstehen neue Formen der Hilfen zur Berufsentscheidung. Diese schließen eine Betonung der klientenzentrierten und ganzheitlichen Beratung ein, eine Bestätigung narrativer Methoden und einen dynamischeren Beratungsansatz. Schließlich findet auch eine Entwicklung neuer Angebotsformen statt. Einige Beispiele sind ganzheitliche (One-Stop) Beratungszentren, virtuelle Beratungsangebote, Mentoren- und Coachingangebote, sowie die Einbeziehung sozialer Institutionen in den Beratungsprozess. Die Umsetzung dieser Veränderungen hat Auswirkungen auf die Ausbildung, die Spezialisierung und die Berufszulassung von Berufsberatern.

Resumen. Desafíos para la Orientación Profesional en Contextos Cambiantes

Los cambios sociales y económicos actuales han generado un contexto desafiante para los orientadores de la carrera, a quienes se les pide contemplar su rol desde distintas perspectivas. Se reconoce la importancia de la orientación a lo largo de la vida y la necesidad de asumir la orientación desde un contexto social más amplio con mayor énfasis en la responsabilidad social y la ética. También están surgiendo nuevas formas de intervención. Entre éstas podemos destacar el énfasis en la orientación holística y centrada en el cliente, una defensa de métodos narrativos y un enfoque de la orientación más dinámico. Finalmente, se han desarrollado nuevos métodos para la provisión de servicios. Algunos ejemplos son los centros de orientación de “una parada”, servicios virtuales, mentores, acompañamiento (coaching) y la inclusión de empresas sociales como parte del proceso de orientación. La realización de estos cambios tiene claras implicaciones para la formación, especialización y la acreditación.

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Correspondence to Norman Amundson.

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Received: September 2005; Accepted: November 2005

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Amundson, N. Challenges for Career Interventions in Changing Contexts. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 6, 3–14 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-006-0002-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-006-0002-4

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