Integrating Career Development and Mental Health Counseling

The connection between career development and mental health has long been established within research as mutually impactful. Given this reality, there are significant implications for counselors working in various settings Important societal movements focused on increasing access and equity for those with intersectional identities of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual identity. and ableism are rooted in the transformational power of career and work. This speaks to the centrality of career development in the human experience. The recent events of the pandemic have magnified awareness of the impact of struggles with career and work on overall well-being. Given these considerations, counselors are tasked with providing comprehensive and holistic support that addresses co-occurring career and mental health concerns. Integrating Career Development and Mental Health Counseling focuses on counseling-centered approaches that integrate dimensions of career and mental health. Whether providing counseling in a community agency, K-12 school, private practice, college/university, or other institution, having the capability to address career concerns is essential to comprehensive counseling support. Relevant dimensions of career theory, research, and practice are included. Theoretically and empirically supported interventions that address co-occurring career and mental health concerns are also provided.