Multicultural Career Assessment Models

Healy's Career Appraisal Model

Healy's model served as one of the early forerunners of career counseling models that incorporated cultural variables. Healy criticized traditional career models for the hierarchical counselor-client relationship and the lack of emphasis on environmental barriers in the implementation of career goals. As an alternative to the traditional approaches, Healy proposed a reformed career appraisal model that explicitly recognized contextual issues. Furthermore, this model advocated for collaboration with clients, empowerment of clients to take an active role in their career development, and follow-up with clients to help them implement goals.

Career Assessment Models for African American Clients

In this model from Swanson and Bowman, four steps for tasks and decisions for the career assessment of African Americans were outlined. The four steps include establishing rapport, choosing a formal assessment process, determining the type of assessment and assessment instrument, and providing an effective test interpretation by emphasizing the counselor's experience.

Career Assessment Models for Racial/Ethnic Minority Women

Feminist theories highlight the importance of understanding the impact of sexism and the oppression of women's lives. These feminist tenets have served as a foundation for the development of career assessment [Page 1577]models for women of color, whereby the influence of gender socialization and social barriers in the career development of women are emphasized and acknowledged. One approach to career assessment by Forrest and Brooks identifies four important aspects of this process that are grounded in feminist ideology. First, the client and the counselor are considered equal. Second, an awareness of sociocultural conditions that have limited women's experiences and opportunities is critical, and these factors contribute to women's career problems. Third, women must understand how these career problems affect their own social, economic, and political environment. Finally, the goal of feminist therapy is to enable women to be independent, which is essential for their mental health.

...