Alexandra Reeves

CNS 743
Assignment 3.1
2015Jul07

Learning Theory of Career Counseling

Consider your personal career trajectory. Using the definitions described in your
textbooks and in the PowerPoint, complete this worksheet by describing personal factors
that have influenced your career development and decision-making up to now.

Factors that influence career development:

Genetic endowment & special abilities:

I inherited traits from my parents such as organization, sense of humor, confidence, and
commitment. These traits were engrained in my head at a young age and has allowed
me to excel in job positions. I have some special abilities like; positive attitude, ability to
inspire, and intuition that I are just innate abilities.

Environmental conditions and events:

Currently, my environmental events that affect my career trajectory involves being a
military wife. While being a military wife is not outside my control. Moving to a new state
every two years is outside my control. I had to figure out the best career path that will
allow me to do this.

Instrumental and associative learning experiences:

At a young age I was taught that in order to amount to anything you have to be well
educated. This behavior was enforced both positively and negatively. When I did well I
was rewarded with something I wanted. When I did poorly, I was grounded. This taught
me to try and do well in everything that I do because often there is a reward. This helped
shaped me as a person. Now I strive to do all things well not only for reward but for
pride.

Task approach skills:

I have always strived for high achievement. I have been taught to never be late. I like to
try my best at everything I do.

Outcomes of the factors influencing career decision making:

Self-observation generalizations:
I view myself as being capable of accomplishing anything I set my mind to. When it
comes to counseling, I feel that I will be an effective source for people to get help. As far
as the type of counselor I would like to be, I feel that my military background will help
counsel members of the military as well as their families.

Worldview generalizations:
The majority of occupations require a person to be organized and dedicated. Counseling
is no different. We must be dedicated to our clients and obtaining further knowledge of
our field in order to help others.
Task approach skills (cognitive and performance abilities and emotional predispositions
for coping with the environment, interpreting it in relation to self-observation
generalizations, and making covert and overt predictions about future events):
As a counselor, it is important to have good work habits and values. Also, make sure
your client can handle decision making and figure out what their sense of personal
responsibility is.

Actions (e.g., applying for job, entering a training program, applying to college, changing
jobs, taking steps to make progress in career):
These factors play a huge role in your career. I feel that the most important factor would
be applying to college and continuing education just based on my Instrumental and
associative learning experiences. I do understand that not everyone feels this way so, as
a counselor, it is important to know your clients goals in order to help them succeed.