Writing as soul work: training teachers in a group-based career-narrative approach

ABSTRACT

Writing as soul work refers to the active engagement of students in transformative writing activities in a group setting with the aim to enable students to develop new, more empowering narratives. This article explains how soul work through writing can be used to foster career adaptability, expressed in the form of increased awareness and self-direction. We summarise the labour market realities that underlie a need for more narrative approaches and introduce writing as soul work as a potential method to respond to these contemporary career challenges. We define what is meant by soul work and writing, illustrate its use with several stories from practice, and make recommendations for teachers and implementation in institutions.

KEYWORDS:

• Career counselling
• teachers
• emotional competence at work
• soul work
• creative writing
• transformative learning
• career writing
• career training for teachers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Reinekke Lengelle, PhD is a visiting graduate professor with Athabasca University and designs and teaches courses in the area of writing for personal and professional development. She is one of the co-founders of Career Writing. Her publications can be found: www.blacktulippress.com.

Sjon Ashby, PhD is an English composition teacher and the author of a dissertation and articles on soul work. His dissertation is entitled, Soul work: A phenomenological study of college English professors. He lives and works in Nebraska.

Notes on contributors

Reinekke Lengelle, PhD is a visiting graduate professor with Athabasca University and designs and teaches courses in the area of writing for personal and professional development. She is one of the co-founders of Career Writing. Her publications can be found: www.blacktulippress.com.

Sjon Ashby, PhD is an English composition teacher and the author of a dissertation and articles on soul work. His dissertation is entitled, Soul work: A phenomenological study of college English professors. He lives and works in Nebraska.