Career Consulting Techniques 2: Class #2 ~ Decision Making

Learning Outcomes & Resources Identify a client’s approach to making decisions Summarize the concept and processes of “emergent decisions” Explain how a counsellor can support a client’s decision making process Career Counselling Techniques , Chapter 6: The Process of Decision Making Decision Making Styles Matrix (Please refer to PDF file)

Identify a client’s approach to making decisions

Summarize the concept and processes of “emergent decisions”

Explain how a counsellor can support a client’s decision making process

Career Counselling Techniques , Chapter 6: The Process of Decision Making

Decision Making Styles Matrix (Please refer to PDF file)

ALL#1: Decision Making Elicitation You are requested to meet with a “volunteer client” and elicit their decision-making styles. Ask them about five of the decisions they made in their life and listen to how they made these decisions. Ask them if they are happy with their process, if not, ask them what they would like to do to make appropriate changes. Please note that you are to maintain their confidentiality and at no time are you to reveal their name or identifying information in this course. You are requested to post your observation of this process with your volunteer client. What worked? What was challenging? What would you do differently next time? What did the client get from the experience? What was their feedback?

You are requested to meet with a “volunteer client” and elicit their decision-making styles. Ask them about five of the decisions they made in their life and listen to how they made these decisions. Ask them if they are happy with their process, if not, ask them what they would like to do to make appropriate changes. Please note that you are to maintain their confidentiality and at no time are you to reveal their name or identifying information in this course.

You are requested to post your observation of this process with your volunteer client. What worked? What was challenging? What would you do differently next time? What did the client get from the experience? What was their feedback?

Opening Decision Exercise At the age of 21, Art decided to leave Southern Ontario and go to Alberta to work on the Tar-Sands project. He left his friends and his easygoing life-style behind to make his fortune. After two years in the field, Art was promoted to lead supervisor and was earning close to $100,000 a year. He met and married a young woman who was earning $60,000 as an apprentice heavy-equipment operator. Although the climate was severe and the life-style pressures (intense work, intense alcohol, and drug parties) were not to their liking, they adjusted well, saved, invested, and made the best of the circumstances. After two successful years together, Art, along with many others, was laid off. The couple decided that he would go back to Ontario to pursue his educational goals and she would stay on to finish her apprenticeship. Initially they were able to maintain their relationship through letters, phone calls, and frequent visits. After several months, she began to succumb to the “heavy party scene” that was part of the life-style in the labour camps, which were hundreds of miles from civilization. Despite all of Art’s attempts to support and reinforce his wife to maintain her values and her commitment to him, Art felt his wife slipping away. They are currently involved in divorce proceedings. What questions or issues would you have addressed with Art if you met him as a client before he moved back to Ontario?

At the age of 21, Art decided to leave Southern Ontario and go to Alberta to work on the Tar-Sands project. He left his friends and his easygoing life-style behind to make his fortune. After two years in the field, Art was promoted to lead supervisor and was earning close to $100,000 a year. He met and married a young woman who was earning $60,000 as an apprentice heavy-equipment operator. Although the climate was severe and the life-style pressures (intense work, intense alcohol, and drug parties) were not to their liking, they adjusted well, saved, invested, and made the best of the circumstances. After two successful years together, Art, along with many others, was laid off. The couple decided that he would go back to Ontario to pursue his educational goals and she would stay on to finish her apprenticeship. Initially they were able to maintain their relationship through letters, phone calls, and frequent visits. After several months, she began to succumb to the “heavy party scene” that was part of the life-style in the labour camps, which were hundreds of miles from civilization. Despite all of Art’s attempts to support and reinforce his wife to maintain her values and her commitment to him, Art felt his wife slipping away. They are currently involved in divorce proceedings.

What questions or issues would you have addressed with Art if you met him as a client before he moved back to Ontario?

Decision Making Styles Matrix

Overview of decision making Assessing decision-making styles during initiation. The role of decision making relative to exploration. Big versus little decisions. Common themes affecting decision making in career counselling: Lack of information Meaning making & values The “Ice Cream Shop” phenomena Indecision as a therapeutic issue

Assessing decision-making styles during initiation.

The role of decision making relative to exploration.

Big versus little decisions.

Common themes affecting decision making in career counselling:

Lack of information

Meaning making & values

The “Ice Cream Shop” phenomena

Indecision as a therapeutic issue

Key Decision Making Models Differentiation and integration Gelatt’s positive uncertainty Generic rational strategy Emergent decisions

Differentiation and integration

Gelatt’s positive uncertainty

Generic rational strategy

Emergent decisions

Barriers to Decision Making Getting unstuck - gaining control There is no one “right” decision Avoid “either/or” ultimatums Old habits can limit you Visualize yourself at your best

Getting unstuck - gaining control

There is no one “right” decision

Avoid “either/or” ultimatums

Old habits can limit you

Visualize yourself at your best

Reading for Next Week Career Counselling Techniques , Chapter 6: The Process of Preparation

Career Counselling Techniques , Chapter 6: The Process of Preparation

A Closing Quote “ The clearer you get about what you want, the more it shows up right in front of you.”

“ The clearer you get about what you want, the more it shows up right in front of you.”