Practice for a Paradigm Shift

Consistent with the paradigm shift advocated by the articles in this issue, this article introduces a client conceptualization model for vocational and avocational choice, entry, and adjustment that can be used to structure an integrative, contextual course in counseling psychology. An overview of the use of models in vocational psychology is presented, as well as a detailed description and visual representation of the present Model. Suggestions are made for integrative and traditional pedagogy, and resource materials are cited. Evaluative data indicate that earlier versions of the Model have been well received by students and others with whom it has been used. These data are discussed, and suggestions for researching the utility of the Model are made.

Understanding the Complexity of Clients’ Lives

This article discusses training issues related to the new paradigm proposed by Robitschek and DeBell, in which vocational topics in counseling psychology are viewed as primary issues and contextual factors in people’s lives. Specifically, the new paradigm is conceptualized as a truly integrative career-personal perspective in the training of delivery of counseling services. Existing literature regarding the overlap of career and social-emotional counseling is reviewed in the context of the new integrative paradigm, with particular focus on evidence related to foundational assumptions underlying the paradigm. Suggestions for how to implement a truly integrative career-personal perspective throughout graduate training are offered.

Vocational Research for the Liberation of Battered Women

Domestic violence interferes with women’s exploration of career interests, pursuit of career goals, and attainment of economic independence. Vocational research may contribute significantly to preventive-intervention efforts against domestic violence and to the liberation of battered women by increasing their economic stability and strengthening their support network. In this article, the authors’ aim is to inspire vocational research with battered women. We use Prilleltensky’s emancipatory communitarian approach to outline a vocational research agenda with battered women and to describe research practices that facilitate collaboration among researchers and community stake-holders and that increase battered women’s self-determination and contribution to their communities. We discuss general research and specific vocational research practices to assist researchers with building research partnerships, recruiting and retaining participants, and disseminating vocational research results to effect social change.

The Reintegration of Vocational Psychology and Counseling Psychology

In the past 20 years, there have been numerous calls for a reinvigoration of vocational psychology. Now, as vocational psychology has grown again within counseling psychology, the authors argue that what is needed is not a reinvigoration but rather a new paradigm that reintegrates vocational psychology and the rest of counseling psychology. The new paradigm conceptualizes vocational issues as an integral part of theory, research, practice, and teaching of counseling psychology. Vocational issues should not over shadow other issues but should be an integrated part of what counseling psychologists do. The articles in this major contribution take steps toward this new paradigm by addressing teaching issues in counseling psychology training programs. If the new paradigm is to be adopted by all counseling psychologists, they must begin in their training programs. These articles give suggestions for how to begin the paradigm shift in this setting, discussing implications for the science and practice of counseling psychology beyond the training programs.

Self-case study as a catalyst for personal development in cognitive therapy training

Personal development is a vital requirement of counsellor development, and educators need to consider how best to promote and support students’ personal development throughout training. ‘Self-case study’ can provide both learning and personal development opportunities for counselling students. This qualitative narrative study explores seven students’ perspectives about their experiences of completing a self-case study as a learning requirement for a compulsory introductory course in cognitive therapy at undergraduate level. Unstructured individual interviews were used for data collection. Data analysis involved identifying themes and analysing the narrative structure of stories. The findings emphasized the view that self-case study provides useful learning opportunities in the areas of theory, practice and personal development. Most participants described transformational life changes resulting from completing a self-case study. This paper presents selected findings. The ethical issues and limitations of this study are discussed. Self-case study is recommended as a potentially effective education strategy.