The Effectiveness of Career Counseling with a Narrative Therapy Approach on Career Adaptability, Procrastination, and Quality of Wok Life

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of career counseling with a narrative therapy approach on career adaptability, procrastination, and quality of work life in the education employees of Isfahan province.

The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test and control group design. The statistical population included all education staff of Isfahan province including 140 employees. 30 employees were selected through census sampling method. These employees then randomly assign into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received career counseling with a narrative therapy approach in seven sessions (60 to 90-minutes sessions per week). The study variables were assessed using the Tuckman Procrastination Scale (TPS) (1991), Savickas and Porfeli Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) (2012), and Walton Quality of Work Life Questionnaire (WQWLQ) (1973). Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) using SPSS-24 software.

The results showed that the intervention sessions decreased procrastination and promoted career adaptability and quality of working life in the experimental group in the post-test phase. The impact rates for procrastination, adaptability, and quality of working life were 0.30, 0.80, and 0.35 respectively. In other words, it can be said that career counseling with a narrative therapy approach has reduced the scores of procrastination in the experimental group in the post-test stage and has increased the scores of career adaptability and quality of work life.

Based on findings of this study, it can be concluded that career counseling with a narrative therapy approach can help improvhng employees’ job performance and productivity. So, it is suggested that higher education institutions include career counseling program based on a narrative approach in their employees’ training programs.