The centric model of career counseling was developed for use in employment counseling and takes into account psychological, social, and economic factors. Four developmental phases are used to describe movement within the centric model. The initial phase, readiness, establishes the working alliance between the counselor and the client. Clients must feel acknowledged, respected, and valued. In the next phase, career exploration and assessment, the focus is on the personal and the external. Personal factors include interests, values, and strengths. Clients are encouraged to develop information on the various personal factors through qualitative and quantitative assessments. Following exploration and assessment is the third phase, evaluation, compromise, and integration. There is a need to draw the information together and evaluate the viability of various options. Compromises may be necessary, which may then facilitate a new integration. Finally, in the last phase of commitment, action planning, and follow through, clients are ready to move forward with their plans. Counselors can facilitate movement through the phases by using a combination of good communication skills and structured activities. Skills such as paraphrasing, clarifying, and empathy are especially helpful in the initial phases. Progress involves back and forth movement through the phases and the use of various structured activities within a humanistic context. (RJM)