Step 3: Define Problem and Analyze Causes. The counselor and
client come to a preliminary understanding of the problem
(Krumboltz & Baker, 1973; Yost & Corbishley, 1987), defined in
terms of a gap between an existing state of career indecision and
a desired state of career decidedness (Cochran, 1994). The coun-
selor provides a summary statement that describes the nature of
the gap and potential causes for the gap, followed by client input
regarding the accuracy of the statement.
Step 4: Formulate Goals. The counselor and client collaboratively
develop a set of attainable goals (Blustein, 1992; Brown & Brooks,
1991; Crites, 1981; Yost & Corbishley, 1987) to remove the gap.
Goals, stated in behavioral terms, are written on an Individual
Learning Plan (ILP), which is described more fully in the following
section. The counselor’s willingness to collaborate with the client in
setting goals provides an important message that the client is in con-
trol of the process and is capable of contributing positively to the
counseling process. The agreement on a set of concrete goals also
sets forth a set of expectations for both the client and the counselor
and enhances the development of a working therapeutic alliance.
Step 5: Develop Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The practi-
tioner collaborates with the client in developing an ILP that iden-
tifies a sequence of resources and activities to help the client attain
his or her goals for career problem solving and decision making.
Creating the ILP involves a modified brainstorming process that is
designed to first maximize a creative elaboration of possible resource
and activity options, then select and sequence the most promising
options. The ILP completion sequence involves (1) identifying a
resource or activity, (2) noting the purpose of using the resource or
completing the activity, (3) noting the estimated time commit-
ment, (4) noting the goal served by using the resource or complet-
ing the activity, and (5) selecting a priority sequence for using all
resources and completing all activities.
340 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT