Claire Symington, an Educational Psychologist at Southdowns College recently obtained her doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Pretoria. Prior to this she obtained her Bachelor’s degree (B.Soc.Sci) and Master’s degree in educational psychology (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria in 2007.
Her thesis synopsis reads as follows: “Exploring the effect of life-design counselling on the career adaptability of learners in an independent school setting, the promovenda investigated how life-design counselling influences the five participants’ career adaptability. Her aim was achieved by using a collective case study approach.”
A qualitative research approach was used, utilising observations, post-modern career counselling techniques, interviews and verbatim transcripts of group sessions as data collection techniques. Life-design counselling served as a useful means to increase the five participants’ career adaptability.
The group sessions contributed to the participants’ construction of self, career aspirations and the various contexts in which they were immersed. Through the use of post-modern counselling activities, the participants were able to reflect on their life journey so far and contemplate the design of their future.
Taken as a whole, the promovenda succeeded in demonstrating the need to identify some of the influences, factors and attributes related to the enhancement of career adaptability in South African contexts. Moreover, she provided useful guidelines for researchers, scholars, practitioners, and other stakeholders to promote the life-career well-being of South African pupils.
