Instructions

 

You can either do this in writing with individual or in oral. If you are working with a group, this is a good exercise to do in oral.

 

The question in writing task / the question for all participants in a group: 

Choose a convenient moment in time from here forward for you. One year, two years, three years? Let's imagine that everything is fine.

a) How are things for you, when they are fine?

b) From where / from whom did you get support and strength? What kind of support or strength did you get?

c) You have been in a situation where (career counsellor will decide upon suitable situation:) you felt that making career choices was difficult / had felt working stressful / etc. How did you overcome that situation? 

The client writes his/her imagined story, how is his/her life in that moment in time in the future. If this is discussed in a group, each participant answers one set of questions (a-c) at a time. 

 

 

 

Alternative exercise: a postcard to grandma 

"Write a letter / postcard to your grandma, where you tell her where you are working at the moment, what are your best competences and what are you going to do in 3-5 years." Each participant reads the card out loud to the group. The group will address focusing questions. 

 

 

 

Alternative exercise: a birthday writing 

Birthday writings can be used for example to begin to understand one's career goals. In the writing the participant will examine his/her future through writing a birthday writing about him/herself, that he/she hopes will be written by others when he/she turns 50 or 60 years (the age picked up by career counsellor who knows the ages of participants). The task: "Usually special day writings consist of a wide description of person's career and shorter descriptions of positions of responsibility, hobbies / interests and family. How would you like to imagine your life at 50 or 60 years of age? What kind of life have you lived so far?"