Counseling is an intricate discipline consisting of vital components. Careful consideration of each component is mandatory if the counseling process should be effective. This paper analyzes the case of three individuals of different ages who are having job loss. The author discusses the career developmental stage of each individual, impact of job loss, career assessment, appropriate career counseling strategies and advocacy.
Counseling consists of more than providing directions to clients facing life challenges. In a special way, the counselor must understand the client in terms of personality, phase of life development, problem-solving skills and appropriate counseling strategy for him/her. Ignorance of careful evaluation of the case would lead to ineffective counseling processes, which would be hurting to both the client and counselor. As such, the importance of keen consideration of the tenets of counseling before engaging in the process cannot be overemphasized.
Joe is 60 years old, hence, in the consolidation phase of career development, which consists of individuals aged at thirty five years and above. At consolidation phase, he should experience advancement followed by seniority in his career, according to Super Theory. It is expected that Joe has experienced the earlier four stages: crystallization, specifications, implementation and stabilization, at ages 14-18; 18-21; 21-24 and 24-35, respectively (Super, 2020). Angela is also at the consolidation phase of vocational development. At age 40, it is expected she has undergone the previous four stages as her father. Peter, the grandson, is in the specifications stage, aged 20 years.
The cultural considerations are varied for each individual. Joe is entering his senior ages, and the job loss could result in depression due to loss of self-esteem; anxiety owing to failure to provide for his family and negative self-image owing to imagined depressing perception from his peers who attained self-actualization at earlier stages of their lives. In particular, older citizens are more sensitive to respect from youngsters; and any gesture interpreted as disrespect would translate to failure to cooperate during the counseling process or total rejection of counseling altogether.
The cultural implications for Angela could not be ignored. She is a mother aged at 40 years, and at her age, she is expected to provide readily for her family. Also, she is expected to advance in career since she is within the consolidation phase. Such expectations would point her to becoming a senior employee or even part of the managerial team. Besides, female persons are particularly sensitive to emotional content of speech and social interactions. Thus, during the counseling sessions, the counselor should exhibit emotional intelligence. At some point, therapeutic conversations would yield remarkable results.
Peter’s cultural implications are equally significant. At 20 years, he has aspirations which are common among young adults. Also, acquiring the employment most likely imparted a sense of responsibility on him, which motivated him further towards achieving his life goals. Besides, at 20 years, his self-esteem is still developing while his personality is being molded before attaining self-actualization. Therefore, while counseling him, the professional should pay close attention to building the young man’s self-esteem. Also, young individuals tend to be jovial and open to social interactions, which means the counselor should try to make the session lively to encourage Peter’s active participation.
The implications of loss of employment for Joe are expected to be immense. At age 60, he is not far from becoming a senior citizen, which is highly associated with increased health risks due to a weaker immune system. Moreover, certain medical conditions such as prostatic cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia affect older men more than younger ones. The loss of employment brings into question the source of finances to meet Joe’s health needs in senior years (Hsu, 2019).
Without health insurance, he is unlikely to meet the needs out of his own pocket. In addition, he is expected to leave substantial property as inheritance to his daughter and grandson. He will be incapable of giving them property if he has not been saving and making reliable investments. The mentioned factors are likely to drive him to depression and other mood disorders.
Angela at 49 years is th
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