Counseling for Career Decision-Making Difficulties: Measures and Methods

Career indecision may be the primary reason people go to career counselors. Much effort has been exerted to identify and investigate the causes of clients' career decision-making difficulties. With the aim of facilitating clients' career decision making, the use of career indecision assessments can promote the effectiveness and efficiency of face-to-face career counseling. The authors review three evidence-based, cost-free assessments derived from decision theory: the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire, the Emotional and Personality-Related Career Decision-Making Difficulties questionnaire, and the Career Decision-Making Profile questionnaire. The unique features of these assessments are described, and the ways they can contribute to facilitating career decision making in career counseling are explored with a case study example.