Post #2

I found the Gibson article both relevant and accessible on many levels. ASCA National Standards call "...for career development guide school counseling programs to provide the foundation for the acquisition of skills, attitudes and knowledge that enable students to make a successful transition from school to the world of work, and from job to job across the life span" (ASCA National Standards, 2004, p. 7). While we know this, I personally do not remember the in-depth career work throughout school that ASCA desires for all students. Gibson's article gives school counselors an easy-to-use and accessible tool for students of all ages. I wonder how my own career choices would have turned out if I would have had a little more time to reflect on and map out the career choices of my family members.

I do personally believe that the choices that our parents make reflect deeply on the choices that we make as we grow up and choose our own career paths. Gibson calls this life career development and defines it as "self-development over a person's life span through the integration of the roles, settings, and events in a person's life" (Gibson, 2005, p. 353). I also found it very interesting that Gibson called the use of genograms "nonthreatening". I never would have thought of the use of a career tool as threatening, but when I read this I had a distinct flashback to third grade. We were drawing family trees and my parents had divorced the year before and my dad was getting remarried in a few months. I did not know how to draw my family tree and I asked my teacher who told me that it was not a big deal and just to draw my tree like everyone else! This is why I especially enjoy when Gibson states that "School counselors are encouraged to modify these instructions for children living with a single parent or guardians. For example, children living in a situation that does not allow them contact with their family of origin can make a tree of their present living situation that can include role models and foster parents or two trees to represent the different living situations" (Gibson, 2005, p. 356). Although I do not desire to work with elementary school children, this article reinforces my belief that we all start on different playing fields and especially when it comes to making important career decisions, where we all start from must be treated with a high level of respect and consideration.


American School Counselor Association (2004). ASCA National Standards for Students. Alexandria, VA: Author.

Gibson, D. The Use of Genograms in Career Counseling With Elementary, Middle, and High School Students. (2005). The Career Development Quarterly: Volume 53 (353-362).