We have been doing career counseling wrong.
I was an adolescent when I discovered that there were quizzes that promised to reveal my personality, my type, and even who I was destined to marry. It was thrilling to answer a few questions and quickly get to the holy grail: the revelation about who I truly was and what my future held!
As a career counselor specializing in adolescents and young adults, I worry that our field’s emphasis on “finding your passion” and “what you are good at” through personality and vocational testing provides a similarly superficial promise to reveal “your type.”
Finding your place in the world begins with understanding who you are and what the world needs.
Where these two meet, that is your happy place.
A comprehensive approach to designing your future must begin with a reflection about what success means to you. In my work with young people, this is one of our first exercises.
You may not find answers immediately. And, your answers are likely to change as you grow into new stages of life.
Yet, reflecting on what success means to you is necessary, if you want to find a path that feels right for your soul.
What is your definition of success at this time?
Maya Angelou’s quote is the definition of success that inspires me today!
A bit about me
I was born in one country, raised in another, and lived my adult life in two others. As such, I am deeply aware that the world is full of opportunities, both educational and professional. Yet for many young people who yearn to explore options, the path is confusing and even scary. My life’s work is to help high school students and young adults find clarity about the future they want for themselves and guide the implementation of that vision. To do this effectively, I rely on nearly three decades successfully mentoring young people in Brazil, the United States and Costa Rica, and on my formal education — a master’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from Brandeis University. (My masters focused on adolescent development and psychology while my doctorate focused on the culture of youth services in the United States. The theme has always been young people!)
Um pouco sobre mim
Nasci em um país, fui criada em outro e vivi minha vida adulta em outros dois. Por isso, tenho plena consciência de que o mundo está repleto de oportunidades, tanto educacionais quanto profissionais. No entanto, para muitas pessoas jovens que anseiam explorar suas opções, o caminho é incerto e até assustador. Meu trabalho é ajudar estudantes do ensino médio e jovens adultos a encontrarem clareza sobre o futuro que desejam para si e orientá-los na implementação dessa visão. Para fazer isso com eficácia, conto com quase tres décadas de experiência em mentoria de jovens no Brasil, Estados Unidos e Costa Rica, e com minha formação acadêmica — um mestrado pela Universidade de Harvard e um doutorado pela Universidade de Brandeis. (Meu mestrado teve como foco o desenvolvimento e a psicologia da adolescência, enquanto meu doutorado focou na cultura dos serviços para jovens nos Estados Unidos. O tema sempre foram jovens e suas vidas!)
Languages/Idiomas
I work with young people, families, and school counselors from all countries in the Americas, in person and online. Our work can take place entirely in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.
Trabalho com jovens, famílias e orientadores educacionais de todos os países das Américas, tanto presencialmente quanto online. Nosso trabalho pode ser realizado integralmente em inglês, português ou espanhol.
Trabajo con jóvenes, familias y orientadores educativos de todos los países de América, tanto de forma presencial como en línea. Nuestro trabajo puede realizarse en inglés, portugués o español.
