Below is a case study highlighting a hypothetical Kelowna resident seeking career counselling at Unyielding Health & Wellness to navigate a career transition.
Kelowna Career Counselling Case Study: Client Background
Client: James, a 42-year-old IT professional in Kelowna, BC
Presenting Issue: James sought career counselling at Unyielding Health & Wellness due to dissatisfaction with his current job, uncertainty about his career path, and anxiety about making a change. He reported feeling unfulfilled, stuck in a repetitive role, and unsure about his skills’ transferability. These concerns were affecting his confidence and work-life balance.
Background: James described a stable but unengaging IT job where he felt his potential was underutilized. He expressed fears of failure if he pursued a new career, combined with the belief that he was “too old to start over.” He also voiced existential concerns, questioning whether his work aligned with his values or contributed meaningfully to his life and broader community/society. James had no prior counselling experience but was eager to explore new possibilities.
Therapeutic Approach: The counsellor, a Certified Canadian Counsellor (C.C.C.) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), employed an integrative approach combining Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Existential Therapy to address James’ career indecision, anxiety, and lack of purpose. The goal was to help James clarify his career goals, boost confidence, and align his work to his values.
Career Counselling Kelowna: Initial Assessment
Goals: Build rapport between James and the counsellor; assess James’ career concerns and desired outcomes from career counselling; and establish a counselling plan with goals in mind.
Process:
- The Kelowna counsellor used Existential Therapy principles to explore James’ sense of unfulfillment. Through open-ended questions (e.g., “What would a fulfilling career look like for you?”), the therapist helped James identify his core values: impact, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
- Using CBT, the counsellor identified cognitive distortions, such as all-or-nothing thinking (“I’m either successful in my current job or a failure”) and overgeneralization (“I’m too old to change careers”).
- REBT was introduced to address irrational beliefs driving James’ anxiety, such as “I must stay in a secure job, or I’m reckless.” The counsellor explained the ABC model (Activating event, Belief, Consequence) to show how these beliefs fueled his indecision.
Outcome: James felt understood and optimistic about exploring new career paths. He and his counsellor agreed on goals: reduce career-related anxiety, challenge limiting beliefs, and identify meaningful career options aligned with his values.
Career Counselling Kelowna: How REBT Can Help With Career Transitions
REBT: Challenging Irrational Beliefs
Goals: Dispute irrational beliefs and replace them with rational alternatives to reduce anxiety and increase career confidence.
Process:
- The Kelowna counsellor used REBT’s disputing technique to challenge James’ belief (“I must stay in a secure job”). Through Socratic questioning (“Does staying in an unfulfilling job guarantee happiness?”), the therapist helped James see this belief as rigid and self-limiting.
- James practiced rational self-statements, such as “I’d prefer job security, but I can take calculated risks to find fulfillment.” The counsellor assigned homework to pause during moments of career doubt and reframe thoughts using rational beliefs.
- To manage anxiety about change, the counsellor taught REBT-based techniques, like mindfulness and self-compassion exercises, to cope with uncertainty during career exploration.
Outcome: James reported reduced anxiety about career change. He began to view risk-taking as part of growth, though he still struggled with self-doubt about his age.
Career Counselling Kelowna: How CBT Can Help With Career Transitions
CBT: Restructuring Thoughts and Behaviors
Goals: Modify cognitive distortions and develop adaptive behaviors to support career decision-making and confidence that James is making the right decision for him.
Process:
- Using CBT, the counsellor guided James through thought records to challenge distortions like overgeneralization. For example, when James thought, “I’m too old to switch careers,” the therapist helped him reframe it to “My experience is valuable, and I can learn new skills.”
- The counsellor introduced behavioral experiments to test James’ fears. James agreed to attend a local networking event to explore new industries, observing whether his age was a barrier. This helped him realize younger professionals valued his expertise.
- To build confidence, the counsellor used CBT’s positive data log, where James tracked daily achievements (e.g., updating his resume, researching new roles) to counter his negative self-image.
Outcome: James’ confidence grew, and he felt more proactive in his job search. He began applying for roles in project management, an area aligning with his skills and interests, and reported reduced anxiety about career change.
Career Counselling Kelowna: How Existential Therapy Can Help with Career Transitions
Existential Therapy: Finding Meaning
Goals: Address James’ existential concerns and align his career with his values.
Process:
- The Kelowna counsellor used Existential Therapy to explore James’ sense of unfulfillment. Through reflective dialogue, James identified that mentoring others and working on impactful projects gave him purpose.
- The therapist encouraged James to embrace career freedom and responsibility. For example, James explored how he could choose roles reflecting his values, such as joining a community-focused tech initiative.
- Using logotherapy-inspired exercises (a branch of Existential Therapy), the counsellor asked James to envision a future where his work felt meaningful. James set a goal to pursue a part-time course in project management to transition into a leadership role.
Outcome: James reported a renewed sense of purpose. He enrolled in a project management course in Kelowna and volunteered with a local tech nonprofit, enhancing his sense of impact and community connection. His existential concerns significantly decreased, and he felt much more involved and valued in his community.
Career Counselling Kelowna: Integration, Results, and Termination of Kelowna Therapy
Integration and Termination
Goals: Consolidate progress, plan for ongoing career growth, and prepare for therapy conclusion.
Process:
- The counsellor reviewed James’ progress, reinforcing REBT and CBT strategies for managing future career uncertainties. James practiced a “self-coaching” script to address doubts independently.
- Using Existential Therapy, the therapist helped James reflect on his alignment with his values. James articulated that he now saw his career as “a way to contribute meaningfully, while growing.”
- The counsellor and James agreed on a maintenance plan: James would continue journaling rational self-statements, pursue networking opportunities, and periodically reassess his career goals and his sense of personal fullfillment. Follow-up sessions were offered as needed.
Outcome: James rated his career-related anxiety at 2/10 and felt confident navigating his transition. He described feeling “empowered and purposeful” and valued his new direction in project management.
Results
James achieved significant improvements:
- Anxiety Reduction: Self-reported career anxiety decreased from 8/10 to 2/10.
- Confidence: James’ self-perception shifted from “stuck and too old” to “experienced and capable of growth.”
- Purpose: James found meaning through roles aligning with his values of impact and collaboration, supported by his course and volunteering.
- Behavioral Changes: He actively networked, applied for new roles, and maintained a proactive career exploration routine.
Why This Approach Worked
- REBT: Tackled James’ irrational beliefs, reducing anxiety by challenging the root of his career indecision. The ABC model helped him disrupt negative thought patterns.
- CBT: Provided practical tools (thought records, behavioral experiments) to reframe limiting thoughts and build confidence through evidence-based actions.
- Existential Therapy: Addressed James’ deeper questions about meaning, guiding him to align his career with his values, complementing cognitive work.
Integration: Combining REBT’s focus on irrational beliefs, CBT’s structured strategies, and Existential Therapy’s exploration of purpose; Created a holistic approach addressing immediate career concerns and long-term fulfillment.
Written By: Tim Lamont, C.C.C.
Disclaimer: The client name, details, and background used in this case study were generated with the assistance of Grok, an AI developed by xAI. AI enhances the results found within the case study, however it can make mistakes. The information and analysis presented in this case study have been critically reviewed and validated by a human therapist, who remains solely responsible for its application. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. Therapists at Unyielding Health & Wellness uphold client confidentiality to the highest standard in accordance with Canadian and British Columbian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
