Blog 2

            This week, I really enjoyed reading the Gibson (2005) article. Prior to this class, I only had used genograms to be used for medical purposes. While in undergrad, I had the opportunity to intern at Hershey Medical Center in the Cancer Genetic Counseling department. For this, I would create genograms for the patients who were coming in tracing their family history in regards to medical conditions, specifically cancer. I also did this in the Pediatric Genetic Counseling unit, although not as frequently. Therefore, approaching and utilizing genograms in a new way has been eye opening and interesting. Gibson (2005) notes that the genograms and family trees can be used by students in primary and secondary school in order trace career patterns and how the career paths chosen by family members can impact a child’s career path. Never encountering a genogram until college, I think that it is awesome to introduce this tool as early as elementary school to show students the importance of knowing family history in relation to careers, medical history, and heritage.

            Gibson (2005) also acknowledges how the utilization of career family trees and genograms “promotes communication and education between children in families” and “allows opportunities for children to learn how to self-assess and examine family career themes that affect career decision making” (p. 361). I think that both of these points emphasize exactly why the career genograms and family trees should be implemented into primary and secondary school curriculum or counseling programs. By providing an outlet that opens the communication between not just the counselor/teacher and the child, it also gives the student an opportunity to talk to their parents and the school to reach out to the parent(s) as well. By enabling this, communication in other areas, not just career related, can be opened. It also allow the parent to have the opportunity to see what the child is doing in school and give them insight into where they are looking at going in life if they have not had that discussion yet. Furthermore, by allowing the child to self-assess and examine family career themes, they may find a new path that is a better fit for them.

            For our assigned career family genogram, we are instructed to include the Holland code of the career that each relative is in. This arises from Holland’s Theory of Vocational Choice that is a Person-Environment Congruence Theory (PEC) (Brown, 2016, p. 47). The code is derived from six different work environments and then an individual seeks a work environment that is consistent with their personality Holland Code (Brown, 2016, p. 50-51). By looking at the Holland Code and the genogram, a student will be able to learn more about their relatives, but also if their personality is congruent with the environment they are currently pursuing. By utilizing the genograms and Holland Codes, an individual can be enlightened about themselves and the career options that are out there for them.

References

Brown, D. (2016). Career information, career counseling, and career development. United States of America: Person Education, Inc.

Gibson, D. M. (2005). The use of genograms in career counseling with elementary, middle, and high school students. The Career Development Quaterly, 53, 353-362.