Executive Career Counselling

ExeConnect provide a conceptual framework for our work in counselling others. The narrative approach is a contemporary approach to counselling and is useful in careers work for a range of reasons including the following:

• The narrative approach is a constructive approach that helps people to focus on their inner resources and utilise their resources to initiate change;
• The approach aims to empower people in the process of change;
• The approach is compatible with a range of ideas and interventions from other approaches that are useful in a careers context, for instance, behavioural goal setting;
• The approach operates within a brief framework and can be effective in one to two sessions of counselling;
• The approach is collaborative - the counsellor is a facilitator rather than an expert and the client is actively engaged in the process of change;
• Transparency is emphasised and counselling de-mystified - clients are encouraged to enquire about aspects of the process, and both client and counsellor evaluate the effectiveness of the process in an on-going way; and
• The principles of the approach can be applied to all aspects of helping and have been usefully employed by people in informational as well as counselling roles.

Phase 1 - Self-Exploration

The first phase is about giving you space. This is a time when you may be feeling confused and unable to distinguish clearly the elements in some unresolved situation. You may be in an emotional state of uncertainty, anxiety, depression, sadness, agitation and nervousness. We are here to help to clarify your situation - your thinking and your feelings. It is our goal to provide a situation that will facilitate self-exploration.

Phase 2 - Self-Understanding

The second stage of counselling involves assisting you to understand your problem more clearly. Self-understanding for you is facilitated by a number of effective skills and behaviours on our part. We will use our skills and acknowledge your feelings and to help you clarify your situation and feelings.

Phase 3 - Constructive Action

The third stage of counselling involves some sort of constructive action. We will use our skills appropriately to help facilitate some problem solving and decision-making on your part. As understanding increases it can lead to a sorting out of likely outcomes through employing different strategies to resolve the problem situation. We will assist you to explore options and facilitate action: to stimulate, encourage and help you make choices that involve goal setting and establishing action plans.

Actions speak louder than words but some people never get past the intention stage. Their goals remain unachieved; their intentions never result in identifiable outcomes. Effective counselling facilitates clients' abilities to evaluate what their choices are and the extent to which they are prepared to effect changes in behaviour and thinking.

Contact us now for more information on how we can tailor a program specifically addressing your unique career development needs.

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