In the article Complexity, Chaos, and Nonlinear Dynamics: A New Perspective on

Career Development Theory (Bloch, 2005), Bloch described the idea that chaos can bring opportunity.  He mentioned that entities (people, jobs, ideas, education) are constantly changing and with this change the entity is forced to adapt its status.  In thinking about change, I think about my current working environment.  In the past 30 days we have lost four staff members due to resignations from the agency.  This change has created a great deal of loss for the staff members and for the children who are served in our program.  This feeling of loss has brought about some chaos which is encouraging us to restructure the program.  The loss is allowing us to take a look at ourselves and reevaluate our positions in the program.  Staff member’s shifts are changing, new people are trying to adapt and “fit in” with the more seasoned staff members and the kids in the program are trying to manage their thoughts and feelings about this overwhelming change.  However, this chaos in the program is also bringing the current staff members closer together and allowing for people who wouldn’t typically come forward with ideas speak more openly.  Essentially the idea that crisis fosters opportunity is shown. 

     At this time, I feel like my work environment is reconfiguring itself and seeking a fitness peak to keep moving along.  Bloch (2005) describes a fitness peak as a point that will yield survival.  I do believe that when working with children with mental health and behavioral issues, we look for the chaos as a window of opportunity for growth.  We can’t really get to the bottom of the problem if the behavior is masked with avoidance or perfection.  This idea remains true to the work environment as well.  New ideas are formulated when change occurs, stagnation is no longer tolerated and creativity begins to flow. 

     Many years ago, I was at point in my career that I still wanted to work with children with mental health issues, however, I found myself getting burned out with the youth counselor role. I was offered a coordinator position in the same program.  I was able to move to an administrative position and then acquired the supervisor position a year later.  The conflict I was having with myself of still wanting to work in the same field but not so much being able to handle the responsibilities of the youth counselor position reflects the article’s description of instability bringing new life. 

Bloch, D. (2005). Complexity, Chaos, and Nonlinear Dynamics: A New Perspective on Career Development Theory. The Career Development Quarterly, (53), 194-206.