Positive psychology: A movement to reintegrate career counselling within counselling psychology

Robertson, Peter

Abstract

Content & Focus: In the UK career counselling has tended to evolve separately from the counselling psychology profession. Elsewhere, notably in North America, counselling psychology does embrace career issues. This paper explores the contested boundaries between career and therapeutic work, and identifies positive psychology
as a movement that transcends the divide. There is potential for positive psychology to reintegrate a career focus into counselling psychology.
Conclusions: Although it does not provide a general theory of career choice and development, positive psychology has resonance with career counselling. It provides a rigorous conceptual and empirical foundation linking vocation to wellbeing. An evidence-based career counselling is beginning to emerge. Positive psychology presents a challenge to the current boundaries of the UK counselling psychology profession by demanding a holistic view of well-being that encompasses work and career.

Citation

Robertson, P. (2015). Positive psychology: A movement to reintegrate career counselling within counselling psychology. Counselling psychology review / the British Psychological Society, 30(3), 26-35

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Sep 9, 2016
• Journal: Counselling Psychology Review
• Print ISSN: 0269-6975
• Publisher: British Psychological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 26-35
• Keywords: positive psychology; career counselling; counselling psychology; identity
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/377860