Talking Points: Jane Doe, University of Kansas

Transcription

1 Client background: Talking Points: Jane Doe, University of Kansas The client is currently a first-year Master s student in counseling psychology at the University of Kansas. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts Administration from Whitworth University. She also is a couple of credits shy of a degree in international relations. The client is currently trying to decide if she wants to go on for her Ph.D. Additionally, she is deciding whether to head into practice, be a professor, or do a combination of both. She has worked in private school administration, ministry, and as a personal attendant over the past 6 years since graduating from Whitworth University. The client has been coming for career guidance the past several weeks. Prior to this session, the client has taken several career interest inventories including the Self-Directed Search (4 th ed.), Strong Interest Inventory, Gallup s StrengthsQuest, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the Missouri Occupational Card Sort. Self-Directed Search Summary Code: SAC S = 40 A = 36 C = 30 E = 25 R = 23 I = 21 Occupational Daydreams Listed: -Counseling Psychologist (SIA) -Professor: Psychology or Education (IES) -Ministry: Worship or College (SAE) -Singer (AES) -Drama Teacher (ASE) -Stage Manager (ESC) The client has a relatively flat profile. Due to the rule of 8, the client does not have a welldefined Holland Code. The client appears to have many interests, thus explaining the relatively high scores for each Holland Code. The client s summary code of SAC did not match any careers outlined in the SDS. This somewhat frustrated the client. After rearranging the SAC code, there were very limited career options given for the client, with the only two being a musician and optical effects coordinator. Because of this, additional instruments should be utilized with the client. Strong Interest Inventory Summary Code: SRA S = 69 R = 61 A = 61 C = 57 Top Five Interests: -Religion and Spirituality (S) -Teaching and Education (S) -Counseling and Helping (S) -Research (I)

2 I = 55 E = 48 Response Summary: -Mechanics and Construction (R) Personal Style Scales (starting with highest scored): -enjoying working on teams -learning through lectures and books -working with people -having some comfort in taking risks -somewhat comfortable with leading/taking charge Client s Mean Item Response % Strongly Like Like Indifferent Dislike Strongly Dislike 6 21 *Total responses 291/291, 0 items omitted Like the SDS, the client again scored high on the Social and Artistic scales. The profile continues to be quite flat, showing a multitude of interests. Based off the client s response summary, it appears clear that there are few careers the client has a strong dislike toward and many careers she may enjoy. This may explain the relatively flat profile. While the client scored low on Realistic on the SDS, it was her 2 nd highest score on the Strong. By analyzing the combined results of the SDS and Strong, the client appears to have strong compatibility with helping, teaching, and artistic professions such ministry, counseling/counseling psychology, teaching (drama), and singing. StrengthsQuest Top Five Themes: 1) Includer -makes others feel part of the group -accepting of others/cast few judgments 2) Achiever -strong work ethic, stamina -internal drive to accomplish goals 3) Developer -brings out potential in others -others will seek her for advice/assistance 4) Relator

3 -comfortable with intimacy -understands people s feelings/emotions 5) Belief -spirituality brings meaning to life -easy to trust These results are congruent with the earlier instruments. Being ranked high on the themes of Includer, Developer, and Relator, the client appears to have a passion for working with people. This coincides with the results from the SDS and Strong that depicted a preference for social careers. These three strengths will be specifically beneficial in careers such as counseling, ministry, and teaching all of which the client identified as preferred careers. Further, the strength of Achiever provides support that the client will do whatever is necessary to obtain what she wants. She has the internal drive and dedication to obtain the advanced degree(s) these jobs may require. Lastly, the final strength of Belief would greatly benefit her in all these areas, with particular assistance in the area of ministry and counseling. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Summary Code: ISFJ Introversion = 7 -preference for inner world of ideas and impressions Sensing = 5 -think in the here and now -take in information through the five senses Feeling = 7 -decisions rooted in value system -person-centered approach Judging = 8 -planned and organized The scores on the MBTI should be approached with caution. All of the PCI scores were in the slight (sensing) or moderate (introversion, feeling, and judging) categories. Therefore, these results should be discussed with a healthy bit of skepticism. Regardless, the client again illustrates a focus on others needs. Her higher score in judging will likely assist the client in managing paperwork and other detailed aspects of her career of choice. Further, her feeling score would support her working in a helping profession such as counseling. Missouri Occupational Card Sort

4 The client was asked to put a range of careers into three categories (like, neutral, dislike) based off her initial impression of the career. Our time spent on the MOCS focused primarily on the dislike career pile of the client. The following careers were discussed as part of the dislike pile: -stockbroker -office worker -trades worker -veterinarian -civil engineer -librarian When discussing the position of the stockbroker, the client described how she equated making money with high levels of pressure. She mentioned that a stockbroker was a risk-taking job, and she was very much against that. She is turned off by careers where the primary focus is on money, saying that jobs like that make me nervous. According to the client, stockbrokers are motivated by money and status, and that is something she does not like. She also described how she would not like to be a veterinarian. This position, according to the client, cannot find out if their clients are happy. She said she wants to be able to know that she is liked by her clients. Due to the lack of communication with animals, a veterinarian is a not a preferred occupation. The client put an office worker and trades worker into the dislike pile too. For both of these occupations, she described how she would feel she would not be living up to her potential in these positions. This makes sense, as the StrengthsQuest found her to be an Achiever. When speaking of the trades worker, she said the position would be too monotonous, with a focus on quantity over quality. This was a turn off for her. Additionally, she said that with jobs like this, there is a ceiling that limits how much you can do. She mentioned that she would prefer a job that has no limits to how far you can go. Lastly, a civil engineer was also in her dislike pile. This was slightly surprising due to the fact that Realistic was a high code for her in the Strong. Further, she said in the SDS that a stage manager was once an occupational daydream. Regardless, during the MOCS activity, she described that she is not a fan of building. This is largely due to the fact that when building, you have to do things perfectly. It s too technical, she once said. In a position like this, she said that you are unable to make mistakes. For example, she said that she would not like the pressure of building a bridge. By making a mistake, it could cost lives, much like that which happened in the Twin Cities recently, she noted. Trends in the MOCS The client made clear that she again has a strong preference for working with people and being able to see the benefits from helping them. She appears to be very turned off by occupations that are driven by money and status. The client appears to have a strong drive to make an impact, but does not want to be put into a situation where mistakes made may cause large scale problems.

5 In future sessions with the client, the MOCS should again be utilized. The next time, however, the focus should be on the like pile. This will assist the client in verbalizing her own interests to assist her in coming to a clearer decision for her vocational future. Concluding Remarks Based off the instruments utilized, it is clear the client has a strong preference for helping people. This was made obvious by her high marks as being social on the SDS and Strong. Further, the professions she appears to have interest in all have a focus on improving people s lives and making a difference. The client appears to want positions that require post baccalaureate education. Being an Achiever, though, the client has high potential to accomplish any goals she has set for herself. Additionally, being a Judger on the MBTI will assist her in remaining organized and structured to complete these objectives. The data described above, in addition to previous interactions with the client, support the idea the client would succeed as a counselor, psychologist, or minister. Her reports supporting an artistic side would provide additional benefit to all three of these positions. Recommendations for the Client The client should begin conducting informational interviews with current workers in the areas of counseling, psychology, and ministry. Finally, the client may want to investigate particular areas within counseling that would unite many of her interests and strengths such as pastoral counseling.