My Case History/Details

I was born and raised in Houston Texas, I was an only child and went to private schools. Until high school, I didn't know what I wanted to do for a living, but I have always been passionate about helping people. As a child, I volunteered through my church and worked with kids as a babysitter and summer camp counselor. When I was 11 or 12, I joined a program called People to People, which allowed me to travel to different places around the world and learn about other cultures. In high school, I joined a program called The Better Chance and attended a girls' boarding school, where I was challenged by a rigorous curriculum and learned to appreciate diversity. Though the schedule was strict, I enjoyed the experience and learned a lot.

I became interested in psychology after taking an online course in high school, which revealed the various career options within the field. After participating in a service trip to Kenya to build a shelter for battered women, I decided to pursue psychology to help people. I studied psychology atuniversityafter graduating from high school and specialized in childhood studies at university. I worked in the psychology department but realized that research wasn't for me. I enjoyed working as a stagehand for Broadway shows and recitals. I helped with marketing on campus, but the pandemic impacted my mental health and academic performance. I couldn't handle grad school, so I found a job in pharmaceutical marketing using my marketing experience.

I didn't even realize that my mom was in psychology when I was in high school. Her career was in the federal government, working with the budget side of things. So my dad mainly stayed at home during my childhood. However, my mom's desire to help people has always been there. She is now retired and runs her own business as a career coach, helping foster kids. This desire to help others has also transferred to me. As a result, I want to become a counselor for children and adolescents. My ultimate goal is to open up my own practice that specializes in treating the whole family. This will include working with kids, couples counseling, and individual counseling."

I stumbled upon a job opening as a behavior technician that I had never even considered before, and to my surprise, it captured my heart. Although it doesn't quite fit the mold of a traditional counseling role, I am still able to connect with and guide young children, which is truly fulfilling for me. Being able to impart knowledge and help shape these young minds is an experience that I cherish every day."

My career strengths include being a fast learner and a driven individual. However, I can be too hard on myself, which can affect my well-being. As for my career challenges, I struggle with staying committed to work I'm not passionate about, and I'm working on finding a work-life balance."

"I used to speak very quietly, and I was never taught how to stand up for myself, especially before I went to a diverse high school. I was surrounded by a lot of white kids, and I didn't see many people like me around, so I didn't feel comfortable speaking up and expressing my opinions. This has been a challenge for me in my career because I struggle to speak up when there's an issue. However, I'm learning and making progress in this area.

My work is important to me, so I tend to focus on it more than other areas of my life, such as self-care. Balancing work with other aspects of my life, like family, can be difficult. My parents live three hours away, so it's hard for me to find time to connect with them and maintain those relationships. I also tend to ignore my health when I'm busy with work, which can lead to migraines and stomach issues.

I try to make time for spirituality, and Sundays are my time to regroup and connect with God. I also try to communicate with God at least once a day, even if it's just a moment. In terms of culture, I'm still exploring and learning about different perspectives and experiences.

Question

Give a summary of my career conceptualization including the following information:

• Provide a concise history and career-related family background (e.g., parents' and siblings' occupations and others who may have influenced my career choices.
• Identify the client's stated career needs and goals.
• List each assessment used and include a summary of each assessment results (one or two paragraphs per assessment).
• Describe at least two (2) career strengths and two (2) career challenges (this may include information on aptitude, values, interests, and/or personality traits).
• Describe any concerns regarding balancing work and other areas of wellness (i.e., family, health, spirituality, and culture)
• Identify two different career counseling theories that would best align with me, given all the case information. Include any necessary modifications that may need to be applied to a theory based on my cultural identity, cultural influences, and/or institutional barriers.

Please include citations and references