Post #2

          While reading the article “The Use of Genograms in Career Counseling with Elementary, Middle, and High School Students,” I was intrigued about how genograms could be used for children at different educational levels. I at first thought that incorporating career education to elementary school students was pointless and that they would be too young to understand or benefit from this type of program, but after reading the article I began to see the usefulness of introducing this concept in elementary school. According to the author “parents have influence on their children’s early career and educational aspirations. This type of influence is an indication that parents may be the most influential role models for their children” (Gibson, 2005). The use of a genogram will open up the doors of communication about career choices between children and parents. I believe that starting career education as early as elementary school and middle school will help children identify their likes, dislikes, family career patterns, and more awareness of what types of careers are available to them. These types of programs can be beneficial to students in the future when they have to make important career decisions.

            On a different note, while reading the textbook, one of the career development theories that I agreed with most is Super’s life span, life space theory.  According to Super, “the range of abilities, personality characteristics, and other traits is so wide that every person has within his or her makeup the requisites for success in many occupations” (Brown, 2012). I completely agree with this statement, because I do not believe that there is only one right occupation for everyone. Every person has so many different interests, skills, and knowledge that they could be successful in many different career areas. My future goal is to be a therapist for adults with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, but I also know that I could do well in other types of careers. I truly believe that there are a plethora of careers out there that I could be successful at as long as I had the desire and drive to reach my goals. I believe that as long as I am happy in the career choices I have made, and enjoy going to work each and every day in order to help others, then I will feel as if I have met my career goals.
           

References

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10^th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc

Gibson, D.M. (2005). The use of genograms in career counseling with elementary, middle, and high school students. The Career Development Quarterly, 53(4), 353-361.