Abstract

CUNHA, Maria Céu Taveira Castro Silva Brás  and  FARIA, Liliana da Costa. Career counseling effects on indecision and exploratory behavior. Psicol. cienc. prof. [online]. 2009, vol.29, n.3, pp. 558-573. ISSN 1414-9893.

An adolescent came to psychological counselling in order to obtain help for a career indecision problem. Assessment data indicate as problem causes the lack of self-awareness, the absence of knowledge about the career decision-making process, poor understanding of the academic and professional world and difficulties in the commitment with a plan of action. The client displays negative career beliefs, anxious thoughts about the future, unintentional and unsystematic exploratory behaviour and career indecision. A psychological treatment program, composed by five sessions, was followed, in order to change the negative beliefs and to enhance the client exploration and commitment about the career. After the five treatment sessions, there was an increase in positive career exploration beliefs and behaviours, and a decrease in the anxiety levels related to the exploration and decision-making processes as well as a decline in the career indecision levels. Furthermore, one can conclude about the benefits of brief and structured psychological counselling in career decision-making.

Keywords : Career decision making; Exploratory behaviour; Psychological intervention; Case study.

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