CCA Career Transitions & Life-Span Development Flashcards

Schlossberg's '4 S' model for coping with career transitions includes Situation, Self, Support, and:

Answer: Strategies

Schlossberg's 4 S Model identifies four resources that affect transition coping: Situation (context of the change), Self (personal characteristics), Support (social resources), and Strategies (coping behaviors).

Erikson's stage of 'Generativity vs. Stagnation' is most relevant to career counseling clients who are:

Answer: Middle-aged adults questioning their career legacy and contributions to others

Erikson's Generativity vs. Stagnation stage (roughly ages 40-65) involves the desire to contribute meaningfully to the next generation or society—highly relevant to mid-career meaning and purpose issues.

A CCA working with a recently retired client who is struggling with loss of professional identity should FIRST address:

Answer: Role discontinuity and rebuilding self-concept outside of occupational identity

For many retirees, professional role loss creates identity disruption; the CCA should first help the client explore new sources of meaning, identity, and social connection beyond work.

Which concept from career development theory describes an individual's internal career anchor that resists change even when external opportunities arise?

Answer: Schein's career anchor

Edgar Schein's career anchor theory describes enduring patterns of self-perceived talents, values, and motives that guide and constrain career decisions—anchors individuals return to even if pulled away.

A 35-year-old client in a stable but unfulfilling career is considering a major pivot. According to career development theory, this is BEST described as:

Answer: A voluntary career transition driven by intrinsic motivation and values realignment

Voluntary career pivots driven by intrinsic motivation—desire for meaning, alignment with values, or personal growth—are distinct from involuntary disruptions and require purpose-focused counseling approaches.

When working with a client navigating a career transition, the CCA's primary role during the 'endings' phase (per Bridges' Transition Model) is to:

Answer: Help the client process loss, let go of old identity, and acknowledge what they are leaving behind

Bridges' Transition Model identifies three phases—Endings, Neutral Zone, and New Beginnings—and the Endings phase requires emotional processing of loss before productive forward movement is possible.