Career Counseling in the Future: Constructing, Collaborating, Advocating

Abstract

Helping individuals adapt to changing environments is a major strength of career development practice. Additional strengths are a solid theoretical framework, effective assessment tools and technology, and a clear professional identity. Areas of weakness include the lack of integration of contextual factors into career intervention strategies, poor communication between practitioners and researchers, insufficient attention to underserved populations, and inadequate training in counselor education programs. Changes in the economy and in social structures require that people possess adaptive skills; therefore, career counselors should expand their efforts to help clients construct their lives, collaborate with other professionals, and advocate for clients.