Career Counseling and Coaching in Columbia, Maryland.

Having been an attorney and become a clinical psychologist, I am personally and professionally interested in the area of career development and change. I find clients benefit greatly by examining their current situation, hard and soft skills, options available, and goals in the short, medium, or long term. I do not do formal vocational testing (often vary beneficial for students looking for direction) but work with adults who want to think through the process of career change and understand what may keep them from working in their field of choice.

You might be dealing with a loss of career direction, feeling stuck and unsatisfied in your job situation, or an outright career “crisis” with anxiety provoking changes. In all of these situations you can benefit from career counseling with a licensed professional counselor who also has over 20 years of human resources management experience in various types of organizations. Developing a collaborative alliance with a professional counselor who offers this dual perspective (managing both the internal emotional/cognitive factors and the external work and market place realities) can enhance your ability to make thoughtful, strategic decisions with meaningful progress towards your career goals.

Having done a great deal of college career counseling and being in the business field much of my life, this area comes natural to me. I really enjoy coaching, asking the sixty-four dollar questions. And then discussing those hard areas that are commonly missed. Also I enjoy getting you ready for the changes and/or... Much of career counseling misses the simple points, because one is looking for the technical and the "finer" book concepts that many are taught. Be cool and calm.

Career counseling is a significant tool in developing and improving your career situation. The assessment process can help with developing strategies, weighing benefits and risks, identifying resources, and discovering the inner strength necessary for pursuing a rewarding career. Perhaps you are in transition or simply want to evaluate your skills towards a new career. Assessments such as the Arno Profile System Response Form and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator provide clarity when considering complex career decisions. Guidance with a Christian counseling and coach will help put your goals and life on the right track.

If you want to move into a different career or are not sure what you want to do, we will work together to help you develop a plan for the future. Have you ever thought about going back to school? The process I use will help you to learn more about yourself as you investigate different career options. I will help you to identify your interests and will show you how to connect those interests to different jobs. You will also look at your personal values and learn how to use your values to help you make a career move.

While I do not give advice regarding career choices, I do offer life coaching that helps you clarify for yourself your goals for your future, which may include your vocational choices. As a coach, I can help you with planning your career by providing guidance and support in clarifying your goals, identifying your strengths and values, and creating a strategic action plan to achieve your desired career path. I can also offer accountability and help navigate obstacles and challenges along the way, fostering personal growth and professional development.

Many of my clients struggle with figuring out how work fits into their lives. While I rarely do formalized assessments, I often work with clients to figure out what kind of work or vocation fits with their values and how they might pursue it. I personally believe that one's choice of work is very important, and it helps sometimes to talk to someone else openly about it, no matter the circumstance.

As we grow and change throughout life, we sometimes need to make major changes. Particularly at mid-life, we experience profound changes in our values and priorities. What you have done in the past may or may not fit you anymore. Or perhaps you have never found your niche. If you are contemplating a cereer change, I can assist you in understanding yourself and your needs, so that you can make an optimal choice in the future.

For so many people in our area, career is an important part of your identity! That's why it can be so difficult when our careers no longer inspire and satisfy us. My training as a couple and family therapist enables me to look at your career struggles from the lens of your relationships-- both with others and with yourself. Let's work together to set new career goals and brainstorm strategies to attain them. Career counseling can make a difference!