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Family therapy perspectives on anxiety manifestation in career counseling: A case illustration with an adolescent

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Abstract

Little is known about the origins of anxiety manifested in the career counseling process. Through a case illustration, this article highlights the appropriateness of using functional family therapy (FFT) principles in career counseling sessions to assess the family dynamics involved in this issue. The discussion emphasizes seven suggestions: (1) this anxiety is not necessarily easily recognizable and (2) is not limited to the career choice; this anxiety may be related to (3) separation anxiety, (4) parenting, (5) antecedent of family traumatic event, or (6) paradoxical injunctions; and (7) this anxiety can be treated through autonomy support.

Résumé

Perspectives systémiques sur les manifestations d’anxiété dans le conseil en orientation: une étude de cas avec un adolescent. On sait peu de choses sur les origines de l’anxiété manifestée dans le processus de conseil en orientation. Au travers d’une étude de cas, cet article souligne la pertinence d’avoir recours aux principes de la functional family therapy (FFT) dans les séances de conseil en orientation pour évaluer les dynamiques familiales à l’œuvre dans cette problématique. La discussion met en évidence sept suggestions : (1) l’anxiété n’est pas nécessairement facilement reconnaissable et (2) elle n’est pas limitée au choix de carrière; cette anxiété peut être liée à (3) une anxiété de séparation, (4) aux pratiques éducatives, (5)à un antécédent de traumatisme familial, ou (6) à des injonctions paradoxales; et (7) cette anxiété peut être traitée par le soutien à l’autonomie.

Zusammenfassung

Familientherapeutische Perspektive auf Erscheinungsformen der Angst in der Berufsberatung: Ein Fallbeispiel mit einem Jugendlichen. Es ist wenig bekannt über die Hintergründe von Ängsten, die sich im Berufsberatungsprozess zeigen. Anhand eines Fallbeispiels will dieser Artikel die Eignung von Prinzipien aus der funktionalen Familientherapie in der Berufsberatung aufzeigen, um damit die Familiendynamik, die mit diesem Thema verbunden ist, zu beurteilen. In der Diskussion werden sieben Aspekte hervorgehoben: (1) Die Angst ist oft nicht leicht bemerkbar (2) und beschränkt sich häufig nicht nur auf die Berufswahl. Diese Angst kann mit Trennungsangst (3), mit der Erziehung (4), einem früheren familiären traumatischen Ereignis (5) oder widersprüchliche Regeln (6) zusammenhängen; mit Unterstützung hin zu mehr Unabhängigkeit kann diese Angst behandelt werden.

Resumen

Perspectivas de terapia familiar sobre la manifestación de ansiedad en la orientación profesional. Una ilustración de un caso con un adolescente. Poco se sabe sobre los orígenes de la ansiedad manifestada durante el proceso de orientación. A través de un caso, este artículo destaca lo apropiado de utilizar los principios de la terapia familiar funcional (TFF) en las sesiones de orientación para valorar las dinámicas familiares involucradas en esta cuestión. La discusión enfatiza siete sugerencias: (1) esta ansiedad no es necesariamente fácilmente reconocible y (2) no se limita a la elección de carrera; esta ansiedad puede estar relacionada con (3) ansiedad por separación (4) parentalidad, (5) antecedentes de eventos traumáticos familiares o (6) mandatos paradójicos y (7) esta ansiedad puede ser tratada a través de un soporte a la autonomía.

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  1. Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Shékina Rochat

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Rochat, S. Family therapy perspectives on anxiety manifestation in career counseling: A case illustration with an adolescent. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 18, 63–79 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-017-9348-z

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