Career Management Counselling, whether it is addressed to young people seeking their professional identity (vocational orientation) or to adults who are redefining themselves professionally, using Dramatherapy techniques unfolds.
Work presented at the Dramatherapy Symposium 10 & 11 May 2014, at Harokopio University
The modern changing socio-political-economic conditions require a similar flexibility and adaptation of Career Counselling and the transition from the "Testing" phase (= Skills Emergence) to the "Tasting" phase (Engagement, Experience Acquisition, Skills Learning).
The Consultant is now asked to leave the imagination and the hypothesis and move into ACTION.
The objectives of Dramatotherapy include :
Facilitating communication.
The development of new ways of thinking.
Exploring options and exploring ways of resolution.
The development of new skills.
The mutation of unhelpful experiences.
Understanding issues of discrimination (gender, religion, race).
The Data
Adolescence is the developmental phase where the child becomes an adult with the main concern being the formation of his/her professional identity.
The adolescent uses acting out as a main defence mechanism in his attempt to express his intense emotional world and to get in touch with his environment (acting out as a normal process?).
Adults daily embody a variety of roles as they commit themselves to a professional identity that
or won (comparatively higher incentives to succeed).
or they were given and:
or accepted it without exploring alternatives,
or refused it, following a path of continuous search, postponing the responsibility for taking a specific professional decision
The Method
Career Management Counselling, whether it is addressed to young people seeking their professional identity (vocational orientation) or to adults who are redefining themselves professionally, using Dramatherapy techniques unfolds:
Warming up, getting to know, developing trusting relationships with the Consultant and/or other team members.
"My Story", "The Map of My Life" emphasis is given to narration.
"The two selves, the one I see and the one others see".
"Perception of hierarchy", a game in a virtual working environment.
"Personalities, Roles / Role models", utilization of the Family Genogram.
Discussion, Reflection of Emotions, (what would you do differently? How easy or difficult was it to recognize your positive attributes - how and how effectively do you sell yourself? How consciously do you take on roles of responsibility, lead a team, accept orders from others, etc.? Values and role models, how did I feel in the role...? Could it be different?).
"Journey to the Future", presentation of a sustainable action plan, attention is drawn to the roles presented.
Results
Utilizing Dramatherapy methods, the Counselee in the midst of action in a safe environment:
It facilitates creativity, imagination, reflection and revision of existing structures and interpretation of behaviours, learning and self-awareness from the opportunity to apply other response alternatives, growth and ultimately change.
Develops the ability to perceive and self-regulate (=control of emotions and action with logic).
Improves self-efficacy in career planning.
Develop professional resilience (= adapting to changes/transitions even when conditions are discouraging).
Bibliography
Garifalaki, E. (2013), Multiple Intelligence, Athens, Ed. Diptra.
Emunah R. (1994), Acting for Real: Drama Therapy Process, Technique and Performance, Psychology Press.
Landy, R. (2001), Personality and Persona, Roles in Life and Roles in Theatre, Athens, Ell. El.
McFarlane, P. (2005), Dramatherapy, Developing emotional stability, David Fulton Publishers.
Steinfort, T. (2005), Drama Therapy is a Valuable Asset in Career Aspiration Setting: A Multiple-Angle Investigation, Research Paper in the Department of Art Education and the Creative Arts Therapies presented in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Young R., Borgen W. (1990), Methodological Approaches to the study of Career, Greenwood Publishing Group.
Communicated:
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