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Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as a career counselling strategy

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Abstract

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has potential to contribute to career counselling. In this paper, the theoretical tenets of ACT and a selection of its counselling techniques are overviewed along with a descriptive case vignette. There is limited empirical research into ACT’s application in career counselling. Accordingly, a research agenda is presented for the aim of integrating ACT with career counselling. This agenda includes suggestions for addressing conceptual convergence, practitioners’ perspectives, counselling processes, measurement of impact, and applications in counselling.

Résumé

La thérapie d’acceptation et d’engagement, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) en tant que stratégie de conseil en orientation. La thérapie d’acceptation et d’engagement (ACT) a un certain potentiel de contribution au conseil en orientation. Dans cet article, les principes théoriques ainsi qu’une sélection de ses techniques de conseil sont passés en revue, accompagnés de vignettes cliniques descriptives. Il existe peu de recherche empirique en ce qui concerne l’application de l’ACT au conseil en orientation. En conséquence, un programme de recherche est proposé dans le but d’intégrer l’ACT dans le conseil en orientation. Ce programme inclut des suggestions afin d’aborder des convergences conceptuelles, des perspectives de praticiens, les processus de conseil, la mesure des impacts et les applications dans le conseil.

Zusammenfassung

Akzeptanz-und Commitment-Therapie (ACT) als Berufsberatungs-Strategie. Akzeptanz-und Commitment-Therapie (ACT) hat das Potenzial, zur Berufsberatung beizutragen. In dieser Arbeit werden die theoretischen Grundsätze des ACT und eine Auswahl ihrer Beratungstechnikenzusammengefasst sowie ein illustrierendes Fallbeispiel präsentiert. Es gibt nur begrenzt empirische Forschung über die Anwendung der ACT in der Berufsberatung. Dementsprechend wird eine Forschungsagenda mit dem Ziel der Integration der ACT in die Berufsberatung präsentiert. Diese Agenda umfasst Vorschläge zur Adressierung konzeptioneller Konvergenz, der Perspektive von Praktikern, Beratungsprozessen, Messung der Effekte und Anwendungen in der Beratung.

Resumen

Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) como una estrategia de Orientación Profesional. La Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) representa un potencial para la orientación profesional. En este artículo, los principios teóricos de ACT y una selección de sus técnicas de consejería son revisados junto con un caso descriptivo. La existencia de investigaciones empíricas en cuanto a la aplicación de ACT en orientación profesional es limitada. Por lo tanto, una agenda de investigación es presentada con el propósito de integrar ACT con la orientación profesional. Esta agenda incluye sugerencias para tratar la convergencia conceptual, las perspectivas de los profesionales, procesos de consejería, medida del impacto, y aplicaciones en consejería.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia

    P. Nancey Hoare, Peter McIlveen & Nadine Hamilton

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  1. P. Nancey Hoare
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  2. Peter McIlveen
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  3. Nadine Hamilton
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Correspondence to Peter McIlveen.

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Hoare, P.N., McIlveen, P. & Hamilton, N. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as a career counselling strategy. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 12, 171–187 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-012-9224-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-012-9224-9

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