Vocational Decision Making in a Psychiatric Outpatient Program

ABSTRACT

Work comprises a multi-dimensional, significant aspect of healthy living. Many individuals diagnosed with a chronic mental illness express a desire to work, however, stated vocational goals may be vague or unrealistic. This study examined the process of facilitating the decision making process for a realistic vocational choice using a vocational exploration group. Ten individuals of a Continuing Day Treatment Program volunteered to participate in an eight week Vocational Exploration group. Pretest and posttest scores of the Career Decision Making System-Revised (1993) were compared to ascertain whether or not participation in a decision making group promoted the identification of a realistic vocational goal.

Results indicated that a significant improvement of pretest scores to posttest scores followed participation in a vocational decision making group. Mean scores on the posttest tended to approximate the normal population, as compared to pretest mean scores which tended to be higher. This suggests that more realistic vocational choices were identified. The participants of this study were able to benefit from a psychoeducational approach of vocational decision making. It is reasonable to conclude that the incorporation of a vocational decision-making aspect into a vocational development program is beneficial.