Mature Students Speak Up: Career Exploration and the Working Alliance

Abstract

This exploratory study was undertaken to learn more about how mature students perceive the career counselling process in a post-secondary institution. Through the use of critical incident technique this study examined how three mature students interpret their relationship between themselves and their counsellors. Significant factors identified as contributing to a positive interpersonal connective bond were considering the whole of the clients’ experience, integrating career and personal concerns, introducing assessment tools appropriately, and utilizing counsellor self-disclosure appropriately. This study highlights the importance of utilizing critical incident technique in career counselling, the importance of the working alliance for mature students, and identifies possible counselling applications to consider when working with this population.