Kristen Sager - Talking Points 1. Talking Points for XXXX

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1 Kristen Sager - Talking Points 1 Talking Points for XXXX Client Background: The client is currently a first-year Doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kansas. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree in Strategic Communications, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and a Master of Science degree in Communication Studies. The client is currently trying to decide what area of Counseling Psychology practice she would like to pursue after graduation. Our work together included an assessment battery that began with StrengthsFinder, included the Self-Directed Search and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and concluded with the Strong Interest Inventory. The results of each assessment are provided, as well as a brief interpretation of the results. StrengthsFinder Top Five Themes: 1. Achiever (Executing) a. Constant need for achievement b. Drive to mark many tasks off a checklist c. Lives with a whisper of discontent, which drives need for achievement 2. Connectedness (Relationship building) a. Worldview that we are all connected and part of something larger b. Connector for people of different cultures and provider of comfort c. Strong sense of faith in that there is purpose beyond our day-to-day lives 3. Learner (Strategic thinking) a. Drawn to the process of learning; process of learning is more significant than the outcome b. Subject matter at the focus of learning can change c. Thrives in work environments where learning a lot in a short amount of time and moving on to the next experience are part of the culture 4. Input (Strategic thinking) a. Inquisitive collector of names and faces, and detailed stories about others lives b. Excited by the variety and complexity of the world c. Hoarder of facts, knowledge, and experiences 5. Focus (Executing) a. Desires clear direction and goals for tasks b. Powerful filter for determining what will clutter the path and what will move her to her goal and keep her on point; things that hinder are ignored c. Experiences discomfort when unnecessary information causes delays in goal attainment The client is a strategic thinker and executor of goal-oriented and values-driven plans and ideas. Seeing the world as connected place where the influence of one can affect many, the client s strong desire to comfort others and build relationships is a driving force. Under the direction of

2 Kristen Sager - Talking Points 2 the Achiever theme, the client will be able to work tirelessly for whatever goal she has in mind. The constant desire to collect information about others, to discern what is important to the goal and what is noise, and to learn a large sum of information in a small amount of time will be helpful to her when she meets with clients of her own and begins the relationship building process. Self-Directed Search Summary Code: S E AIC S = 37 E = 24 A = 14 I = 13 C = 13 R = 5 Occupational Daydreams Listed: - Counseling Psychologist (SIA) - Dean of Students (SEA) - Lawyer/legal advocate for children (ESI) - College Professor (SEI) - Clinical Social Worker (SEC) - Community Outreach Director (SEA) The client has a somewhat flat profile. Due to the rule of 8, the client has a partially defined Holland Code, with overlap between the Artistic, Investigative, and Conventional themes in the middle of the code. The client admitted that she has extensive knowledge and experience in Conventional skills, but this area of work does not interest her. Thus, the client actively downplayed her Conventional skills when taking the assessment so as to not score highly in the less-preferred area. Social and Enterprising themes from the Self-Directed Search seem consist with the client s StrengthFinder Executing and Relationship Building themes. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Summary Code: ESFJ Extroversion = 10 - Preference for the outer world of people and things Sensing = 5 - Takes in information through the five senses - Think in the here and now Feeling = 4 - Person-centered approach - Decisions are subjective and rooted in personal values Judging = 20 - Likes to have things settled - Planned and organized approach to life With the exception of Judging, all of the PCI scores on the MBTI were in the slight (sensing and thinking) and moderate (extraversion) range, and should be interpreted with that in mind. This assessment paints a picture of the client as sociable, organized, helpful, and a person who makes

3 Kristen Sager - Talking Points 3 decisions based on experience and facts. The findings from the MBTI strengthen the case made by the Self-Directed Search and StrengthsFinder. Taken together, the client is seen as constantly taking in and filtering information in the development of relationships, valuing goal-driven success, and enjoying the organization of information she obtains from her outer world. Strong Interest Inventory Response Summary: - Responded to 290/291 - Typicality index: 22 Item Response Percentages Section Title Strongly Like Like Indifferent Dislike Strongly Dislike Occupations Subjects Activities Leisure Activities People Characteristics TOTAL (%) General Occupational Themes: Theme STD Score Compared to average female score Social 56 Moderate Enterprising 51 Moderate Artistic 51 Moderate Conventional 45 Moderate Realistic 41 Moderate Investigative 37 Little Summary Code: SEA Basic Interest Scales, Top Five: Basic Interest Scale STD Score Compared to Average Dominant Theme Female Score Counseling & 66 Very High Social Helping Human Resources & Training 59 High Social Religion & Spirituality 58 High Social Management 58 High Enterprising Law 56 Moderate Enterprising

4 Kristen Sager - Talking Points 4 Basic Interest Scales, Lowest Five: Basic Interest Scale STD Score Compared to Average Dominant Theme Female Score Mathematics 34 Very Low Investigative Science 35 Very Low Investigative Military 38 Very Low Realistic Mechanics and Construction 38 Very Low Realistic Programming and Information Systems 38 Very low Conventional Top 10 Occupational Scales: 1. Mental Health Counselor (S) 2. Paralegal (CE) 3. Career Counselor (S) 4. Broadcast Journalist (AE) 5. Rehabilitation Counselor (SA) 6. Advertising Account Manager (AE) 7. Human Resources Manager (SEA) 8. Instructional Coordinator (S) 9. Life Insurance Agent (E) 10. Speech Pathologist (SA) Occupations of Dissimilar Interest: 1. Physicist (IRA) 2. Medical Illustrator (AIR) 3. Architect (ARI) 4. Veterinarian (IRA) 5. Athletic Trainer (RIS) Personal Style Scales (starting with highest scored): -Working with people (58) -Preference for learning through lectures and books (56) - Leading by taking charge (56) - Enjoy both team and independent roles (53) - Dislike taking risks (44) Discussion: The client s responses to the Strong Interest Inventory are valid for analysis. The client only failed to answer one item on the assessment and the typicality index of 22 shows consistency of responses to similar items. In reviewing the item response percentages, it appears that the client had very few strongly like items. However, the client was able to identify items she likes and dislikes. The client s responses suggest that she knows what she likes or dislikes, but prefers to shy away from strong preferences.

5 Kristen Sager - Talking Points 5 In comparison to the client s results on the SDS, a similar pattern was revealed. The client is most dominant in Social and Enterprising themes with Artistic theme serving a constant role in the mix. As stand-alone assessments, the StrengthsFinder, SDS, MBTI, and SII provide little information that the client is unable to identify about herself on her own. However, taken together, significant themes of helping others, leading teams and groups toward goals, and receiving and organizing information in a logical way emerge. Additionally, through discussion the client s valuing of the role of leader, model, mentor, and guide became important pieces of her career exploration. The client clearly values relationships where she is in a role of helping others. For example, Connectedness in the StrengthsFinder, Social in the SDS and SII and Extroverted from the MBTI indicate an interest in socializing with others and building relationships. The interest in making these connections helping relationships partially rests in the theme of Connectedness, but also in the way information is received through the senses and decisions are made based on values judgments. Concluding Remarks: The client is a powerful manager of people, as exhibited by her Achiever, Learner, Input, and Focus strengths and her Judging preference, with respect to organizing information. This client has a desire to learn, the ability to take in large amounts of information quickly, and a knack for filtering out what is unnecessary to goal achievement and the decision-making process. In addition, the client has a strength for keep groups on-task and the global perspective that all people are connected and things happen for a reason. She embodies the qualities of a valuesdriven, relationship-oriented leader. Recommendations for the Client: With the Achiever theme guiding this client s life and a strong pull for counseling and helping experiences, it is likely this client will succeed in any type of counseling profession to which she aspires. The assessment battery indicates the client values relationships, enterprising pursuits, and both individual and group work. My recommendation for the client is that she seeks out career opportunities that allow her a wide variety of experiences, that she accepts invitations to exercise her leadership skills in counseling settings, and that pursues settings in which to work as part of a group and individually.