Abstract

RIBEIRO, Marcelo Afonso. Career counseling for youths living with mental suffering: potentialities and limits. Rev. Psicol., Organ. Trab. [online]. 2014, vol.14, n.4, pp. 428-440. ISSN 1984-6657.

There is a lack of studies and proposed actions for counseling, preparation, market entry, and monitoring of the work activities and trajectories of youths living with mental suffering, a group potentially characterized as psychosocially vulnerable due to their situation. Given this situation, this article aimed to put forth some theoretical principles and practical proposals for career counseling for this specific group of people, based on a systematic intervention study. As main conclusions, it can be stated that the stigma and the impossibility of building a career are still prevalent, but the current situation of global transition seems to be creating new opportunities for populations traditionally vulnerable, due to the weakening of the traditional social structures and the emergence of new structures more receptive to the those that are different. Currently, youths living with mental suffering can build differentiated places for themselves through the deconstruction of the concept of "mad", using work activity as a support. At the same time they encounter extreme difficulties in accomplishing this task, which makes proposals for career counseling relevant in assisting this process. Limitations and potentialities are discussed.

Keywords : contemporaneity; work trajectories; life project; mental suffering; career counseling.

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