The Systems Theory Framework (STF; McMahon & Patton, 1995; Patton & McMahon, 2006) of career development was proposed as a metatheoretical framework that accommodates the contribution of all theories and offers an integrative and coherent framework of career influences. In this article, the author provides an overview of the STF, outlines its…

A new paradigm is implicit within the constructivist and narrative methods for career intervention that have emerged in the 21st century. This article makes that general pattern explicit by abstracting its key elements from the specific instances that substantiate the new conceptual model. The paradigm for life design interventions constructs…

This article integrates previous research findings and theory to reflect on the limitations of traditional career counselling for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It highlights the many challenges faced by students as they adjust to the university environment, and proposes a constructivist approach as more appropriate for career…

Childhood marks the dawn of vocational development, involving developmental tasks, transitions, and change. Children must acquire the rudiments of career adaptability to envision a future, make educational and vocational decisions, explore self and occupations, and problem solve. The authors situate child vocational development within human life…

This article explores implications of Tiedeman's original theory for career counselors. Some components of the theory seem to be compatible with existing volatile job market conditions. Notions of career path recycling, development in reverse, nonlinear progress, and parallel streams in career development are explored. Suggestions are made for…

The changing work environment has brought new career realities that suggest an altered role for the career counselor. This article reaffirms the benefits of working with the subjective aspects of career, with a focus on the "intelligent career." Offers a way for counselors to accommodate personal and dynamic needs of their clients. (Contains 35…

This paper outlines a developmental self psychology for use by career counselors with career clients. It offers a definition of a psychological self, draws from the work of Mead, Vygotsky, and Kohut to develop an understanding of the processes involved in the development and internalization of a psychological self, and connects the work of career…

Career counseling is complicated and involved, requiring counselors to use a conceptual framework to help guide them through the process. A case study is used to demonstrate how Gati's hierarchical model of vocational interests can assist counselors in working with clients concerned about their careers. (Author)

Contends the application of the 4MAT System Model to the career guidance process for college students will provide career counseling practitioners with answers, based on learning theory, to when they should use which career counseling and tools, and answers as to why they are using them at that particular point in the curriculum. (ABL)

Explores the ultimate goals of today's practices career guidance practices. Notes that it seems unlikely that the individual development model, prevalent in guidance for several decades, could stand up to ethical questioning of its presumptions. The author suggests another model, that of human development. (Contains 62 references.) (GCP)

Describes the experiences of university students who completed the Intelligent Careers Card Sort (ICCS), a career exploration exercise that is based on the Intelligent Career framework. This Intelligent Career model is discussed in the context of the subjective career and the changing economy, and research on card sorts is briefly reviewed.…

Outlines the contextualist perspective upon career research, theory, and practice and explores the possibility of its adoption in the mainstream of the career field. Examines conceptualizations of the environment in mainstream career theories, underlying assumptions, the contextualist work hypothesis, and metaphors illustrating the contrast…

Nearly a century ago, Frank Parsons established the Vocation Bureau in Boston and spawned the development of the counseling profession. Elaborating on Parsons's socially responsible vision for counseling, the authors examine contemporary perspectives on career decision making that include both rational and alternative models and propose that these…

Discusses various components of adult cognitive development research, such as post-formal thinking and wisdom, with particular reference to the changing nature of careers. Offers 19 propositions concerning the thought processes characterizing effective management of career by individuals and discusses implications of the propositions for career…

Describes the major elements of a lifespan, life-space approach to career development. Looks at the origins of these elements and briefly describes their evolution. Suggests five categories of possible future refinements in this approach so as to enhance theory building, testing, and synthesizing this model's applicability. (RJM)