Improving the career resilience of a survivor of sexual abuse

Abstract

This study examined whether life design counselling can enhance the career resilience of a sexual abuse survivor. One participant was selected through purposive sampling. Five life design sessions occurred over a period of three months. Various (postmodern) qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to gather data while data analysis was done using thematic content analysis. Following the intervention findings from a qualitative perspective indicate that the narrative career counselling intervention was successful. We conclude that various narrative techniques can be used to enhance a childhood sexual abuse survivor‟s career resilience. Future research should assess the value of life design counselling in group-based contexts to help survivors of sexual abuse (re-)construct career-life narratives for their future selves and careers.