Virtually no assessment is made of the impact of counseling on the client's presenting problem. Counselors seldom evaluate their programs with a view to improving them, and when such evaluation is done, clients are seldom consulted in the process. The positive reaction to these findings suggests that counselors are beginning to see that without data to attest to their successes, they are vulnerable and that evaluation data may be part of the solution. However, few models exist for evaluating the actual effects of career and employment counseling, and managers and consultants do not place a high priority on evaluating counseling effects. Counselors and managers need leadership in developing and implementing new assessment models.
Career counseling is a complex task.
Client expectations change during counseling. Counselors who experience frequent changes in client expectations have higher levels of stress and frustration. Generally, counselors report that their own stress and frustration levels are a barrier to client progress. Counselors report that their clients also have other barriers. It will become increasingly important for counselors to address the obvious career-related problem within the context of the client's life if the career outcomes are to be realized.