Abstract
This study explores the use of career counselling in guiding Further Education and Training (FET) phase learners with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in making decisions about their career choices. Learners with ADHD may face challenges in career decision-making due to symptoms associated with the condition. Although career counselling is valuable for these individuals, the guidance available for FET phase learners with ADHD is not well-defined. Research on ADHD's impact on career and vocational development is limited, particularly regarding standardised career assessments and counselling approaches for learners with ADHD. There is a notable absence of studies on qualitative counselling tools, such as Career Decision-making Questionnaires (CDQ) and career collages, and their efficacy for this group. Moreover, the challenges faced by learners with ADHD in career counselling and decision-making are under-researched, especially in the SADC region.
This study, therefore, aimed to recognise and describe the career counselling practices and specific obstacles faced by these learners, highlighting the need for inclusive strategies to improve their career outcomes and overall well-being. A qualitative phenomenological design, within an interpretivist paradigm, was used. Six educational psychologists participated in open-ended semi-structured questionnaires and individual interviews to gather the data, which enabled the study to explore educational psychologists' perceptions of the challenges that FET phase learners with ADHD encounter when making career decisions. It also provided an opportunity to discover and describe the most valuable strategies that educational psychologists use with these learners. The thematic analysis provided insight into understanding ADHD (both negative and positive characteristics) and addressing the career counselling needs of learners with ADHD. The data analysis pointed to personalising the counselling process with adaptive strategies and qualitative tools, which requires a multifaceted approach. The findings indicated that an effective career counselling process (adapting current processes), tailored to the learner's needs, helps them make career choices that align with their strengths while accommodating their challenges. This empowering process could mitigate the challenges learners with...