Career Counseling Term Paper

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Career Counseling -- Systems Theory

The Case of Alex: Applying Systems Theory

The work and personal life challenges that Alex is facing can be explained through various lenses; however, in this particular case, systems theory as applied in the multicultural environment context will be most useful to develop possible interventions that will help Alex re-establish his career in a new social environment (North Carolina).

Systems theory, as defined in Arthur and McMahon's (2005) study, is a "theoretical foundation that accounts for systems of influence on people's career development, including individual, social, and environmental/societal contexts" (p. 208). An important insight into this theoretical framework is that it accounts for both the whole system and the sum of its parts -- that is, its approach is both general and specific or macro and micro in perspectives. Analysis is done two-way: an event is explained through its "parts" or components, and eventually, a similar analysis will be done on the event itself.
Integrating findings from both analyses, the counselor will then have a thorough understanding of the individual's case, as most, if not all, critical components of his/her life are accounted for and analyzed in the context of career counseling.

Systems theory's benefits are most applicable to multicultural career counseling. 'Multicultural' takes into account not only ethnic differences, but all kinds of cultural differences emergent in societies. Multiculturalism can be as literal as different ethnic groups interacting or functioning in one public venue, or it can be in the form of work cultures created among different teams in an organization. A range of these kinds of cultures can be considered multicultural, and warrants the same kind of analysis conducted in career counseling in the context of systems theory.

Applying these learnings about systems theory in Alex's case, career counseling could also be divided into different phases, from the general-to-specific approach. The….....

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