Toward a combined qualitative-quantitative approach : advancing postmodern career counselling theory and practice

Abstract

Global changes in people's lifestyles and in the world of work (prompted by changes in the global economy) have necessitated changes in the facilitation of career counselling. This article attempts to provide a concise overview of the advancement of postmodern approaches in career counselling. First, it discusses the influence of the different waves in psychology and the economy on helping models in career counselling, and the way in which these waves have shaped the theory and practice of career counselling. Subsequently it evaluates the influence of changes in the economic waves and workplace on people’s lifestyles. This is followed by an illumination of the paradigm shift in career counselling from a predominantly quantitative (positivist) approach to an acknowledgement of the value of qualitative approaches. Lastly, this article discusses the development of a combined qualitative-quantitative approach to career counselling and assessment.