This case study involves a female high school student. Data gathered from the initial informal history obtaining session revealed that this client was planning to become a lawyer after graduating from high school. She planned to go to a four year college out of state. During college she planned to study pre-law, business management, math, and social skills. She described herself as being expressive, able to know others, willing to take risks, determined, goal-oriented, and she reported having a support system. She stated that she required training, knowledge of current events, and assistance in presenting in front of others. She also required information regarding laws, both corporate and criminal. Her leisure activities included running, boating, skiing, socializing, and sleeping. She reported hating to read, work, and clean. Finally, the client reported feeling "not very" sure regarding her choices.
The second assessment session revealed data regarding the client's interests. The CDM (Career Decision-Making System, Revised) by Harrington and O'Shea, was used to assess career choices and interests. The client stated that her first choice of career is in the legal field, and her second choice is in management. When listing the subjects she liked most in school, her choices were not consistent with her career choices. For example, she listed liking drama, communications, Spanish, and arithmetic. The number one choice of drama is not consistent with the choices of being interested in law and business.
The client's work values included high achievement, good salary, job security, and creativity, in that order. She listed her abilities as leadership, language, persuasive, and teaching, in that order. The values and abilities listed were more consistent with her career choices. Law and business offer fields with secure and well-paying jobs that require leadership and persuasion.
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