Career Planning and Couples/Families

Fundamental to career planning with couples is an understanding of the meaning of careers and the role that work has for each partner and, if they have children, for their family. Couples counselors indicate that one third of their clients report work–family stressors, and younger couples identify career issues as one of their highest concerns in counseling. Gender role socialization, gender equity, and evolving family roles have shifted career planning from individual assessment and decision-making to couple and family counseling. The purpose of this entry is to provide an overview of the career needs and work stressors of partners and families, and career planning approaches for couples.