Career Counseling

A Narrative Approach

`This book should be viewed as essential reading for anyone interested in developing their understanding of the field of career counselling and developing their own approach. Practitioners will find much they might want to consider incorporating into their own work' - British Journal of Guidance and Counselling

`As a career counsellor working with clients of all ages and situations, I found Larry Cochran's new work both pragmatic and intellectually stimulating... [he] provides fresh insight into the essence of career counselling, examining the past to be able to understand the present in order to plan for the future. Written in an accessible style... this book is certainly something which encourages further reflection' - Counselling at Work

In recent years, there has been growing disenchantment with impersonal techniques that match an individual's traits with skills required for a specific vocation, because such techniques neglect human purpose, passion and life history. Additionally, practitioners have found that theories offering a deeper view of careers, such as those incorporating construction of meaning, developmental and identity issues, are difficult to translate into practice.

The author of this book fills the void. He introduces the theory of narrative construction, a method of career counselling that injects personal identity into career development in a practical way. Larry Cochran demonstrates how literary models and constructivist methods can be used in career development to provide the essential subjective dimension that has been lacking in practical counselling. In addition, he provides innovative materials necessary for making this process both efficient and effective.