DIGEST-V8-i1

10 TPC Digest F or the majority of people, work is a central component of life, as career development is a universal process across demographics. Work can spark joy and purpose in life, while also leading to challenges such as stress, difficult decisions, financial constraints, and burnout. Further, the type of career one pursues may come with specific job-related risks, and there are links between career concerns and overall wellness and happiness. Because of the important role work and career play in personal and professional well-being, it is important to assess variables related to experiences such as career selection, career stability, career fit, and career satisfaction. Within the counseling profession specifically, counselors must monitor their own career-related process and goals, in addition to providing career- related counseling to their clients. As such, a work- and career-related focus should be integrated into counseling curricula as counselor educators prepare students to practice holistically with individuals of varying backgrounds who inevitably experience work as a critical aspect of life. For this investigation, a constructivist-based pedagogical approach to instruction was utilized throughout a required career counseling course. Counselors-in-training (CITs) were assessed on a number of career-related variables pre- and post- assessment: work values, occupational engagement, and professional quality of life. The use of assessments within a constructivist classroom allowed CITs to evaluate career variables relative to themselves and also provided valuable experience in utilizing and interpreting career assessment for practice—a vital experience, as CITs often struggle with the use of assessments. Work Values, Occupational Engagement, and Professional Quality of Life in Counselors-in-Training Assessments in a Constructivist-Based Career Counseling Course Ashley J. Blount, Abby L. Bjornsen, Madeleine M. Moore