Advancing career counselling research and practice using a novel quantitative+qualitative approach to elicit clients’ advice from within

This article reports on the results of providing career counselling to a purposefully selected first-year university student experiencing career indecision. An integrated approach based on qualitative and quantitative techniques was used to engage the student (the research participant) in conversations, reflections and meta-reflections on how to find meaning and purpose in his current studies and also in his future career-life. An intrinsic, single-case study involving a purposefully selected participant and the use of two newly developed instruments was undertaken to demonstrate the practical implementation of the new approach. The intervention helped the participant identify his career-life themes and later choose a field of study that would enable him to fit work into his life, design and live a successful life and make meaningful social contributions. Future research should investigate the longitudinal value of the approach and its use in group contexts

Revitalising career counselling to foster career adaptability and resilience during change and turbulence

This is the editorial, which does not contain an abstract

Career construction as a way of resolving career indecision

No abstract

The influence of group life-design-based counselling on learners’ academic self-construction : a collective case study

The purpose of this study was to explore how life-design-based counselling can influence young learners’ academic self-construction within a group context. The study involved a qualitative mode of enquiry with 12 participants. Life-design-based intervention strategies, together with various (postmodern) qualitative techniques, were used to gather data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and identify themes and sub-themes. The findings indicate that the participants exhibited enhanced academic self-construction in general after the intervention. More specifically, they displayed improved future aspirations as they made sense of their current learning. Future research could assess the feasibility and value of life-design counselling as early as the primary school years, as it seems to hold numerous benefits for young individuals that may positively influence their life-long career development.http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.zahj2021Educational Psycholog

Betroubaarheid van enkele vakdidaktiese assesseringsinstrumente

Reliability of several subject didactic assessment instruments. The use of assessment instruments may help teachers monitor their own subject didactic effort in an effort to attain certain goals. In the light of the critical importance which subjects in the natural sciences (e.g. mathematics and physical science) have assumed in South Africa, research on assessment instruments has become of critical importance. However, the effectiveness of these measuring instruments has to be established beforehand. The aim here was to compare the SOM, LEMOSS(II) and LCH questionnaires in terms of reliability. The ultimate aim of the analysis is the use of these questionnaires to optimise learning competences, especially in mathematics, physical science and home economics. It was found that the three questionnaires discussed can be used with an acceptable degree of confidence for the measurement and optimisation of the subject-related learning competences of Grade 9 learners in the Tzaneen and Phalaborwa areas. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between sufficient of the problem-solving strategies and better achievement in the subjects discussed. (South African Journal of Education: 2003 22(3): 219-229

The role of the principal, teachers and students in restoring the culture of learning, teaching and service (COLT) in black secondary schools in the Pretoria region

Political and social instability over many years has led to a crisis in the South African education system. One of the crucial changes and challenges that the new democracy faces is to reconstruct a society and an education system that will be able to establish a culture conducive to learning, teaching and services in schools (COLT). This article examines factors that have led to a loss of the culture of learning and teaching (COLT) in South African schools, and the characteristics of a positive culture expected by principals, teachers and students. Results indicate that although principals are attempting to influence this culture, there is little support for such changes from teachers and students. (South African Journal of Education: 2001 21(4): 311-316

Using “informal” hypnotherapy in career counselling : blending Savickas and Erickson to “free the angel”

This article describes the concept “informal hypnotherapy” and the overlap between aspects of Ericksonian hypnotherapy and facets of the career construction interview. The participant was a purposefully selected white Afrikaans-speaking woman who had an Honours degree in Educational Psychology. A case study is discussed in which the three anecdotes technique was used to augment the career construction interviewing process during career construction counselling. The intervention incorporated postmodern career facilitation techniques to enhance the involvement of the participant in her career construction process and to facilitate co-constructive conversation. Following the intervention, the client revealed heightened self-awareness, was empowered to use her story to negotiate transitions and to serve as a holding environment whenever life imposed changes on her, and appeared ready to engage with the world more adaptively. The use of the career construction interview (in combination with the three anecdotes technique) together with the use of basic Ericksonian strategies presents psychologists with an innovative, exciting and non-intrusive way of administering informal hypnotherapy.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_sapsyc.htmlgv201

Editorial : Getting published : one way to renew one’s practice

"The doctor treats the patient while time heals the disease." (Voltaire) In this editorial, I first consider why psychologists need to renew their practice regularly and then relate how I recently applied this principle in my own career. I give reasons for my 'paradigm shift' and enquire whether we as psychologists are prepared to accept the challenge to renew our practice on a regular basis. I then discuss the contributions in this special issue consecutively under the headings listed in the table of contents. The editorial ends with a request to readers.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_sapsyc.htmlgv201

Mid-career construction counselling to instill spiritual awareness and allay fear

This article reports on the value of career construction counselling for a black man facing a career crossroads. The participant was purposefully selected from a number of people participating in a career construction counselling course who had sought career counselling. An intrinsic, single-case study design was implemented and a qualitative, interpretive paradigm was adopted as the framework for the research. Data were collected using the Career Construction Interview (CCI). The findings suggest that the intervention enabled the participant to regain his sense of purpose and direction and also inspired others to deal with the apprehension and fear in their own lives. Future research should investigate the use of the CCI with people in diverse settings to establish its trustworthiness in non-traditional contexts.http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.zaam2018Educational Psycholog

Career counselling in South African institutions of higher learning in the 21st century : re-discovering the potential of qualitative approaches

In South Africa, as in many other countries, concern is growing about rising unemployment. The impact is felt not only on the lives of millions of people but also on the national economy where the required six per cent economic growth rate has not been achieved. A review of the literature on the South African tertiary training system reveals that inadequate career counselling tends to reinforce the low social and economic position of poor and marginalised people in South Africa. Very few disadvantaged students ever receive adequate career counselling at school and often arrive at institutions of higher learning without a clear sense of what their prospective careers will entail. Intervention programmes to correct this situation have not achieved the state’s goals in this regard.http://www.sajhe.org.zahb2016Educational Psycholog