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Career Counsellor Psychologist Career Coach POSITIVE STEPS FOR A POSITIVE FUTURE
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School Leavers & Students
Course Selection & Career Decision Making
Finishing high school is a very exciting time! But.... it can also be very daunting and confusing too. So much focus throughout school is on getting to the finishing line, and then you realise that there are just so many options and pathways too choose from for moving forward. Which one is right for me? How do I choose? These are really common dilemmas (for students and their families. I have a great deal of experience successfully supporting young clients and their families through these important decisions (and which is a special area of expertise for me).
Parents often say "we just want them to be happy and settled in whatever they do - but we don't know how to help them with that from this point". The students themselves want exactly the same thing. The huge array of educational and vocational options leave many students feeling lost in a forest of different trails.
I know that a great many high school students are advised to "not waste their OP, ATAR or rank". Whilst this advice is well intentioned (and not necessarily wrong), it is absolutely critical that you don't choose a course or career based solely and completely on your Year 12 results. It absolutely must also be about you - what options will suit you and take you in a positive direction.
As with all career decisions and choices, there is rarely ONE right career or course for any of us (thankfully). However, once again, there's no doubt whatsoever that wrong choices (of career, job, course, training) can be frustrating, demoralising, expensive and time consuming.
Ideally, starting to explore options in Year 10 or 11 is great- if the student is ready. That gives us plenty of time to look at possibilities that could suit, and then time for you to check them out during the next year or two. However, some young people aren't ready for this until Year 12, and that's fine too. It's never too late!
If you've already finished school and started on a pathway of study or training, but you just don't feel you've made the right choice for you, don't give up but please seek assistance. Continuing on the wrong pathway may just be time wasting (and costly) when you could be devoting your energies to something that will really work for you. If you're not doing well in your studies and just don't feel motivated at all, then that's the time to ask for help. Especially if you started out with a reasonably high OP, ATAR or tertiary entrance rank.
In career counselling you have the opportunity to learn more about yourself and your:
You will then have information, and support, to identify confident and achievable options and possibilities in regard to education, training and employment, and develop an effective plan of action and pathway. Parents or guardians of high school students are welcome to attend but I will always leave that up to the family to negotiate. If your son or daughter is under 16, then I normally encourage a parent or guardian to attend the sessions.
Costs for my consultations are on a "clients needs" basis, so you won't be locked into any prepaid packages.
Nobody can ever really tell anyone else what they should do in life. However, we often need some advice, guidance and support to make good decisions. We will generate and develop options and pathways. I will help and support you to understand, believe and know that you are the one in charge of your future, and guide you on how best to take control and put yourself in the driver's seat to create and move toward a positive future.
Parents often say "we just want them to be happy and settled in whatever they do - but we don't know how to help them with that from this point". The students themselves want exactly the same thing. The huge array of educational and vocational options leave many students feeling lost in a forest of different trails.
I know that a great many high school students are advised to "not waste their OP, ATAR or rank". Whilst this advice is well intentioned (and not necessarily wrong), it is absolutely critical that you don't choose a course or career based solely and completely on your Year 12 results. It absolutely must also be about you - what options will suit you and take you in a positive direction.
As with all career decisions and choices, there is rarely ONE right career or course for any of us (thankfully). However, once again, there's no doubt whatsoever that wrong choices (of career, job, course, training) can be frustrating, demoralising, expensive and time consuming.
Ideally, starting to explore options in Year 10 or 11 is great- if the student is ready. That gives us plenty of time to look at possibilities that could suit, and then time for you to check them out during the next year or two. However, some young people aren't ready for this until Year 12, and that's fine too. It's never too late!
If you've already finished school and started on a pathway of study or training, but you just don't feel you've made the right choice for you, don't give up but please seek assistance. Continuing on the wrong pathway may just be time wasting (and costly) when you could be devoting your energies to something that will really work for you. If you're not doing well in your studies and just don't feel motivated at all, then that's the time to ask for help. Especially if you started out with a reasonably high OP, ATAR or tertiary entrance rank.
In career counselling you have the opportunity to learn more about yourself and your:
- interests
- strengths, skills & abilities
- experiences and how they relate to the world-of-work
- learning styles
- personality and communication style
- teamwork preferences
- the type of work environment you are more likely to thrive and grow within
- values (the rewards you’re seeking for a meaningful, satisfying and resilient work life)
You will then have information, and support, to identify confident and achievable options and possibilities in regard to education, training and employment, and develop an effective plan of action and pathway. Parents or guardians of high school students are welcome to attend but I will always leave that up to the family to negotiate. If your son or daughter is under 16, then I normally encourage a parent or guardian to attend the sessions.
Costs for my consultations are on a "clients needs" basis, so you won't be locked into any prepaid packages.
Nobody can ever really tell anyone else what they should do in life. However, we often need some advice, guidance and support to make good decisions. We will generate and develop options and pathways. I will help and support you to understand, believe and know that you are the one in charge of your future, and guide you on how best to take control and put yourself in the driver's seat to create and move toward a positive future.
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