Job focused resources for psychotherapists and their patients.

Abstract

Patients often have career issues as part of their mental health concerns. Psychotherapists are familiar with these issues but may not stay current on specific job finding or enrichment opportunities for their patients. This article considers the questions of if and where patients should be referred for specific job help or for even more extensive career services. Descriptions and evaluations of typical providers of full range career services, support groups, business and industry job aids, and self-help materials are given. The authors conclude that the vast array of potential resources available in many communities, often at little or no cost, can be critical adjuncts to overall therapeutic treatment plans.Most psychotherapists probably have some training in vocational psychology even though that may not be their specialty or interest. The obvious reason such training is required by most programs is because of the inseparability of mental health and career issues. This means that with many if not most patients, psychotherapists will be addressing satisfaction with or satisfactoriness of work. Some patients will be unemployed, others underemployed, others unhappy with thenwork and still others may be suffering from acute job trauma or work adjustment problems (see Lowman (1993a) for an excellent treatment of

Job and Employee Support Groups: Past and Prologue

“…Probably the best way to make these decisions is to experience the resources themselves before considering whether to suggest clients use them. One issue seems certain-any career-related resource on the Internet should complement and supplement the assistance provided by career development professionals, as opposed to replacing that assistance (Riordan & Kahnweiler, 1995). Our research indicates that most job/career support group services on the Internet come in the form oflists containing in-person groups that are available throughout the United States.…”

“…Thus, the first, and perhaps most critical, implication for career development professionals is to try to remain sensitive to these forms of career assistance (Niles, 1997). This is imperative if we are to become more informed about what may be useful and not useful to current and prospective clients and to make appropriate referrals (Riordan & Kahnweiler, 1995Shahnasarian, 1998). Remaining in touch with the explosion of alternative forms of career assistance can also help the profession become more aware of the competitive realities of the marketplace in which counselors' services are offered.…”

Life Design and Career Counseling: Contributions to Social Justice

“…The flexibility of LDC's tasks also permits an inverse process, in which LDC is integrated into other approaches (Cardoso, 2016). This can be seen in interventions with disadvantaged peoples such as those with intellectual disabilities, addictive behavior or mental health problems, who frequently look for support in the transition into the world of work as a way of consolidating and enhancing therapeutic gains and as a way of assisting social inclusion (Blustein, 1987;Jordan & Kahnweiler, 1995;Leff & Warner, 2006). However, the relevance of contextual factors in career development of disadvantaged populations requires that interventions do not exclusively focus on interand intrapersonal career development factors, but also take into consideration social action at the institutional, community, public policy and international/global levels (Cook, 2017).…”

Integrating Life‐Design Counseling and Psychotherapy: Possibilities and Practices

“…Indeed, the inseparability of mental health and career issues frequently leads psychotherapists to help their clients to deal with work satisfaction, underemployment, or unemployment through psychotherapy. Moreover, when working with specific populations, such as people with intellectual disabilities and people with addiction or mental health problems, psychotherapy calls for integration with career counseling to consolidate and enhance therapeutic gains (Blustein, ; Jordan & Kahnweiler, ; Leff & Warner, ).…”