Abstract
D.Phil.
The focus of the social work profession's efforts are the enhancing or restoring of the
interaction of people with the systems that comprise their environment, i.e. their social
functioning. A person's career or employment is naturally a vital system in their
environment. Not only does a person earn a living from their work, but meet many
psychological and emotional needs through work. Social work has been increasingly made aware of the integral part that a person's occupation plays in their intra- and interpersonal functioning. Assisting a client then, to recognize and utilize resources to make career related decisions and manage career related decisions is therefore a challenge to the profession. The purpose of this study was therefore to propose a life-counselling model, based on the life model of Germain and Gitterman that addresses a client's systemic functioning holistically, but then move son in the second phase to address career choices and management. Firstly the study presented an integrated methodological process for developing a practice model together with the necessary assessment instruments for social work research. This was essential since no methodology could be found in the literature that guided practitioners in the
development of a practice model together with it's accompanying assessment instruments. Next a synthesis of current career counselling theory from the fields of psychology, education and industrial psychology, with the ecological model was presented. This formed the theoretical basis for the life-counselling model. The final stage was when four assessment instruments, namely the Sense of Agency Index, the Family of Origins Index, the Work Values Inventory and the Interest Inventory were designed, and a validation study conducted. Recommendations were made with regard to the final construction of the life counselling practice model.