Is Career Counseling for Black People?

Multicultural Vocational Research: Critique and Call to Action

“…And a decade later, in an examination of racial/ethnic representation in occupations from 1970 to 2010, they also documented that the occupational landscape continues to be remarkably uneven (Byars-Winston et al 2015). This is not a new conclusion; June and Pringle (1977), Ford and Ford (1978) and Williams (1979) were highlighting this 40 years ago. But it should continue to be a central concern for vocational psychologists, who endeavor to understand the various factors that lead to good decisions for clients.…”

“…They asserted that career counselors were not adequately addressing the needs of Black individuals. For example, in an article entitled “Is career counseling for Black people?” career practitioners were exhorted to develop specific career guidance for Black people so that they could secure steady employment and earn better wages (Ford & Ford, 1978). June and Pringle (1977) critiqued career theories as not applicable for Black workers and called for “vocational theories that take into account the special needs of Blacks …, done by Black professionals, since it is doubtful that Whites will be able to do this adequately” (p. 17).…”

Challenges in Counseling Immigrant Clients: Understanding Intercultural Barriers to Career Adjustment

“…Approaches that seem foreign tend to alienate clients and result in early termination as well. Several theorists and researchers have questioned whether traditional theories, models, and paradigms currently used are valid when used with diverse populations (Axelson, 1985;Ford & Ford, 1978;Keefe, Padilla, & Carlos, 1978;Westwood & Ishiyama, 1990).…”