Transition Theory in Practice Careers Conference Madison, WI 2013 Jim Peacock Peak-Careers Consulting, Owner & Bates College, Part time Career Counselor Adjunct Faculty Kennebec Valley Community College

A transition is characterized by a change in roles, relationships, and /or routines. A transition is an event or non-event that results in change Peak-Careers Consulting Dr. Nancy Schlossberg Career Transition Theory

An event is something that happens: - getting married - having a child - getting a job - getting promoted - moving to another state - attending college... A non-event is something that you reasonably expected and wanted to happen, but it did not like not getting married, not having a child, getting fired, not getting a promotion, not graduating.... Peak-Careers Consulting

Transitions are a ‘disruption’ and cause stress, because they change: Roles Relationships Routines Assumptions about yourself & your world

✴ SITUATION ITSELF timing, impact, control ✴ SELF coping skills, experience, outlook ✴ SUPPORTS people, agencies, financial capability ✴ STRATEGIES ability to use variety of coping strategies Peak-Careers Consulting Four areas to look at before creating action plans

On a 1-10 scale, how “bad” is it? What is its timing (worst or best possible time)? How long is there to absorb its impact? Is there anything positive about it? How much control can I exert over it? Is it temporary or long in duration? All transitions have a beginning, middle, and end. Peak-Careers Consulting SITUATION

Can you CHANGE the situation? If so, try: ‣ negotiate ‣ seek advice (this may be adult ed) ‣ assert your self ‣ brainstorm ideas ‣ taking action (possibly legal or training / education)

Can you CHANGE the meaning of the situation? If so, try: ‣ could this be a positive event in your life? ‣ use humor ‣ rearrange priorities ‣ develop new rituals

Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? Do you believe that you can exert control? Have you had past successful experience with change? Do you know how to cope by using humor, relaxation, exercise, meditation, etc.? What internal resources do you bring? What is your physical and emotional energy? level? Peak-Careers Consulting SELF

Do you have friends and family who care? Do you have friends and family who are willing to help you through a transition? Are you willing to ask for help or develop a network of supporters? Are there agencies that can help? Are there sufficient material resources? Peak-Careers Consulting SUPPORT SYSTEM

How are you currently trying to cope? Do you possess planning and decision- making skills? Do you know how to develop an action plan and then follow it? Are you able to deal with transitions in this cognitive manner? Peak-Careers Consulting STRATEGIES

After reviewing the 4 S’s... Situation - Self - Supports - Strategies (you will then know what to focus on) Then, assist the student / client to TAKE CHARGE by: Selecting Strategies Making an Action Plan Peak-Careers Consulting

Triads One person volunteer to “be the client” and share their wheel. One person is the Career Advisor One person observer

Career Advisors goal Identify areas that you can assist with goals / action steps Identify areas that may “affect” persons ability to to progress, etc. (positively or negatively) Identify areas that may need referral Come up with one or two “long term goals” and one or two “Action Steps”

Questions Did the wheels help identify Role Boundaries for yourself? Were you able to see the value of “understanding first”?

Much of this power point is thanks to the: Career Development Facilitator (CDF) Course Curriculum and from Dr. Schlossberg who keynoted the Maine Career Development Association Conference in Both Choice and Change Wheels can be found on the Government of Alberta Learning Information Service website Transitions.pdf

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