What You Need to Know About: Career Counseling

Individual Career Counseling

Life hands us many curveballs. When we're experiencing a vocational or job-related transition, we may find we need help. Career counseling is the most established branch of counseling, so finding the help you need is possible. The typical career counseling career counseling process includes:

1. Beginning - creating a safe place for you to grow and understanding the problem

2. Exploring - discovering more about you through assesment and information gathering

3. Decision-making - deciding what options you might pursue

4. Preparing - making your action plan including skill development and resource acquisition

5. Implementing - carrying out your plan and gathering feedback

Career Information and Resources

Or if you're simply looking for resources in this time of transition, I want to help. Below you'll find some resources that work in conjunction with my career counseling services and my Resources Page.

Assessments

• John Holland’s Self-Directed Search (SDS) | Career Exploration and Assessment | Cost ~$10 | self-directed-search.com/

• Strengths Finder 2.0 | Discover your Strengths to Utilize in your Occupation | Cost ~$18-80 | The Assessment: gallupstrengthscenter.com/ | Information on the Assessment's Uses: gallup.com/

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator | Personality Assessment | Cost ~$50 | mbtionline.com/

State of Georgia and Department of Labor Services 

• Explore Careers and Job Analysis | onetonline.org/

• Find a Career Center | dol.georgia.gov/

• Job Fairs Offered in Georgia | dol.georgia.gov/

• Transitioning from High School into the Work Force | dol.georgia.gov/

• The Career Search After Age 50 | dol.georgia.gov/

• Georgia LaborMarket Explorer | Read Relevant Employment and Career Data | explorer.gdol.ga.gov

• Georgia Quick Start | Incentivized Career Development and Training | georgia.org/

• Operation Workforce | Careers for Veterans | operationworkforce.com/

• Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services | Careers Services for Individuals with Disabilities | gvs.georgia.gov/

other Helpful Sources

• The Ethics of Career Counseling per the NCDA | National Career Development Association (NCDA) | ncda.org/

• Atlanta Mission | Non-Profit Career Services and Training | atlantamission.org/

• Goodwill of North Georgia | Non-Profit Career Services and Training | goodwillng.org/

• Resume Samples | career.uga.edu/

• Resume Guidelines | career.uga.edu/

• The Five Processes of Career Planning by Kris Magnusson | counseling.org/

• Career Development as a Life-Long Process with Donald Super | careers.govt.nz/

• Explore New Zealand's Career Resources (Recommended for their excellent presentation) | careers.govt.nz/

What you need to know about: HIPAA

What the heck is HIPAA? Are you sure you typed that right? Isn't it HIPPA? Well, if you're a patient seeking counseling services, you have a right to understand your right to privacy, when receiving health care services. So let's give you some basic information on HIPAA and what it means to you, the patient or client. 
 

HIPAA...

• stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• was created in 1996
• protects clients' or patients' privacy in receiving medical and mental healthcare services 
• creates a federal right granting patients access to their health information with few exceptions
• does not affect established confidentiality expectations for health care providers (e.g., except in some cases when a patient poses a risk to themselves or others)
• grants patients the ability to define who has access to their records with few exceptions
• gives healthcare providers some flexibility to communicate with patients' loved ones, whether time-sensitive or not
• could be improved upon to better protect clients, in regards to changing technology and distinguishing between types of health information (physical vs. mental)

Well, now you're an expert on HIPAA. There is always more to know, and the Office for Civil Rights has published some great resources to help you as patients understand just why it matters and how it might affect you. 

More information on...

Your Health Information Privacy Rights
Privacy, Security, and Electronic Health Record Rights
Sharing Health Information with Family Members and Friends
HHS.gov/HIPAA

What you need to know about: Looking for a Therapist

Are you a couponer taking time to search for the best deal? Or maybe you take your time to look for a special, one-of-a-kind item? You may not realize it, but how you shop or even how you establish friendships says a lot about what type of therapist might best meet your needs. It is so important you and your therapist mesh well together. That's why I'd like to share some tips I picked up from Psychology Today (you can find the original article here, written by Bret A. Moore, PsyD), just for you - the new client, searching for your new therapist. 

First, ask us what our "theoretical orientation" is. This is a fancy way of finding out if your view of your problem fits the therapist's view of your problem. It may not be important to you that these answers match, but it is important to understand how your therapist seeks to help you grow and heal. 

Second, ask about their experience with your problem. If you have a specific goal or problem in mind, asking about the therapist's direct and indirect experience lets you know whether or not the therapist is a good fit for you practically speaking. 

Third, understanding the therapist's experience and training is important. Some programs for counselors are online, some are integrative (incorporating a faith or religious tradition), and some may have specializations or areas of emphasis. Understanding the therapist's background helps you understand their clinical experience and whether they have a Master's degree, a Doctorate, or are fully licensed. 

Four and fifth, therapy can take time and precious financial resources. Ask up front based on your presented problem or goal, "how long might this take and how much do you charge per session?" Talking about this upfront is important because your time and resources are valuable. The therapist's answers could very well send you towards a different option. 

When in doubt, remember: Trust should be at the core of your relationship with your counseling professional. If you trust them, the hope you experience and healing you find will grow in potential. 

- - -

This post utilizes the questions presented by Bret A. Moore, Psy.D in Psychology Today

What you need to know about: Really helping someone in pain or distress

I'd be amazed if you have lived through the past ten years without hearing the name Oprah. I heard she was actually to be named Orpah, but one birth certificate later - now we have Oprah. 

Oprah is responsible for giving so many a platform to introduce noteworthy information into the world. Most recently, Oprah spotlit Brené Brown - sociologist, humanitarian, researcher, and author. Now I wouldn't be shocked to hear you've heard the name, and I wouldn't be shocked either to hear you haven't. 

^ Brené and Oprah

Brené has been a major influence on me personally and professionally, especially her work on vulnerability and showing up fully myself. This time, Brené hits me hard with a dose of reality about helping others who are in distress.

In this short and silly animated video, Brené draws light to a concept impacting every interaction you have - amongst friends, coworkers, family, and even the stranger you bump into at the grocery store. What is empathy? And how is is different from sympathy?

So hit play, then sit back and laugh. We are all just trying to figure this out.