The career counselling process can be broken into five stages (Counselling.org, 1995). Each of these stages must happen to achieve success. The steps also need to be implemented in the correct order. This process cannot be rushed if you aspire to have good results.
If you are reading this post, the chances are that you have arrived at a crossroads in your career. You do not know which way to turn and perhaps feel scared. Seeking the help of a professional career counsellor will allow you to make the decisions you find yourself unable to make right now.
This post explores the five stages of the counselling process, and it’s widely accepted as a holistic approach.
Stage 1: The Initiation Stage
The first stage of your counselling is known as the initiation stage. Here you will get to know your counsellor, and they will get to know you. It is vital to start building rapport with your chosen mentor or coach at this stage. If the relationship is not going to work, you need to seek an alternative counsellor. This may be through no fault of your own. But, having a counsellor you are comfortable talking to is extremely important.
Gathering of Data
Data needs to be gathered so that a picture of who you are can be built up. This is done in various ways, including questionnaires and form filling. This part of the process may seem a little boring, but your counsellor mustn’t understand just who you are now but where you have come from to reach where you are.
Awareness
This is a critical element of the initiation stage. You will be comfortable with your chosen coach or mentor, and your counsellor will know plenty about you. With this knowledge, they can start working towards steps and strategies they’ll use throughout the remaining stages of your counselling.
At this stage, your rapport with your counsellor should be excellent, and you should feel relaxed and comfortable with your sessions. If you do not, you have not chosen the right career counsellor.
Stage 2: The Exploration Stage
By now, you will know if you have chosen the best counsellor and will move on to analysis with your mentor’s help.
This analytical stage may include some tests, and you will have your social behaviour assessed, as well as your personality and your career interests. With this information, and your job experience discussed, it is time to move on to the next step. One-on-one interaction with your counsellor will allow you to discover which avenues and paths are open to you.
Stage 3: The Decision-Making Stage
This stage will explore different paths, and a decision must be made. You and your counsellor will need to reach a common ground. Any barriers stopping you from choosing a career will be ruled out. Proper counselling will explore which path is right for you.
Stage 4: The Preparation Stage
All avenues will have been explored at this stage, and decisions will have been made. Now is the time to prepare a plan of action. This plan will allow you to go down your chosen route and succeed. Resources will be made available, and you will receive a backup plan. All the best counsellors have a backup plan!
Stage 5: The Implementation Stage
The final stage is the implementation of the plan. You will be given goals and deadlines to achieve. This is perhaps the most exciting stage for you and perhaps for your counsellor, the most nerve-racking too! Both he and you will be hoping that all the hard work you have put in will get you to the place you want to be in your life and that you will no longer be stuck at a crossroads.
Where To Get Help
If you’re looking to explore the career counselling process for yourself, there are qualified mentors to help. If you’re based in Bristol or the surrounding areas, feel free to email or call me to see how I can assist in your next career steps.