Turning the Page: A Career Construction Counseling Group Design for Mid-to-Late Career Unemployed Adults

ABSTRACT

This article proposes a career counseling group design for mid-to-late career adults who have been unemployed for six months or longer. Career construction theory is the theoretical framework for the group curriculum. In addition to practical considerations for group facilitators, the authors also provide the proposed group curriculum that utilizes the My Career Story© workbook to help participants cope with their situation and ready them for the job search by facilitating narratability, intentionality, and career adaptability. Lastly, the authors discuss potential limitations of the group followed by research implications and recommendations.

KEYWORDS:

• Unemployment
• mid-to-late career
• career construction
• career adaptability
• group career counseling

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jacqueline J. Peila-Shuster

Jacqueline J. Peila-Shuster, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, is an Associate Professor in the Counseling and Career Development graduate program at Colorado State University-Fort Collins. Her areas of professional interest include life design, career construction, career development across the lifespan, gender issues in career development and counseling, and counselor education. Contact: 1588 Campus Delivery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA 80523–1588; [email protected]; 970-491-7757

Kristen N. Tandy

Kristen N. Tandy, M.A., CCC, received her Master's degree from Colorado State University in Counseling and Career Development, where she specialized her study in career counseling. She is an enthusiastic career development professional who applies knowledge of counseling and career theory to assist others in their own personal advancement; [email protected]

Jessica Gonzalez-Voller

Jessica Gonzalez-Voller, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling and Career Development graduate program at Colorado State University-Fort Collins. Dr. Gonzalez-Voller’s research interests include multicultural issues in counseling, counseling client outcomes, and psychosocial interventions for underserved populations with health disparities and their family caregivers. Contact: 1588 Campus Delivery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA 80523–1588; [email protected]; 970-491-6289