The case of E and the story of E as a person are embedded in a
gendered and cultural context. It is expected that these dimensions
will be evident in the actions, projects, and career that she will en-
gage in. Indeed, the counseling itself is a project that is embedded
culturally.
Several aspects of E’s case stand out as a basis on which to estab-
lish a working relationship (a counseling project) with her. It is im-
portant to recognize and explore her feelings of confusion. Her goals
for counseling provide the basis for articulating the counseling
project. Even her ideals, such as wanting to be like Sandra Day
O’Connor, provide an initial basis for sharing her enthusiasm. The
critical factor, with regard to any additional information the coun-
selor may need, is that E provides it in the form of narratives. Coun-
seling has to give her the opportunity to construct and share a
narrative with the counselor. Even the test scores that have been
provided can be built into the goals and narratives that she has.
Some of the difficulties E is experiencing appear to be at the
action level. E and her counselor may want to look at her project-
related actions closely by videotaping their conversations, identify-
ing the thoughts and feelings that guide these conversations, and
constructing written or verbal narratives pertinent to these actions
(the self-confrontation procedure described earlier). Similarly, this
method may be used if members of her family or significant friends
with whom she engages in project-related action can be identified
and are willing to participate in counseling with her.
The case summary does not include much evidence of emotion.
It would be useful in counseling to focus on how emotion figures in
her narratives, as well as how she uses it to energize her goals. One
of the issues that E may be facing is that of formulating goals. The
counselor may help E describe, as narratives, the short-term and
focused projects in which she is engaged.
Another area for exploration is how her occupationally related
concerns and processes are related to other actions and projects in
her life. For example, how do they relate to the family relational
project and the identity project mentioned earlier. In exploring this
240 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT