What are your initial thoughts about this client’s request for career counseling assistance?

Answer questions below about this case
A 46-year-old male has lost his job due to his plant closing and moving overseas. He has worked at this job for 22 years. He works on the assembly line to help build Toyota cars and trucks. He really loves his work. He has only a high school education. He currently has two children in college, one is a freshman and the other is a sophomore. His company pays for them to go the college.
His wife works at the local Wal-Mart in the deli. There have also been rumors of their laying off people at her job. They have always depended on his income to live the lifestyle they currently have, which is modest at best. Since the husband has been informed about his lay off in the next 90 days, he has become distant. He has started staying out after work and going to happy hours. He has never been a drinker. His temper is short both at home and at work. He feels like life has dealt him a bad hand. He’s wondering why after all these years his company, along with several other companies, are moving overseas putting many Americans out of work.
The company has agreed to give people half of their pension pay. He knows he can apply for unemployment. He states this would not even begin to pay his mortgage. He and his wife have $15,000.00 in their savings. He’s really worried how they are going to make it. He has just bought his wife a new car. Additionally, about a year ago he purchased the children a car so they would have transportation while away at college.
Recently, his mother-in-law has taken very ill and has moved in with them. He feels like the world is crashing in on him. He talks about how he suffers from headaches, which he has not had in the past. On the last doctor’s appointment two weeks ago, they told him his blood pressure and cholesterol were exceptionally high so they had to put him on medication(s).
Please help me, I do not know what to do. I do not want to lose everything I have worked so hard for. I do not know how to tell my children they might not be able to continue college. They are really smart children. My wife and I have always wanted our children to complete college since we did not get a chance to go. I feel too old to look for a new job. To tell you truth, I am not even sure where to begin. I really do not have any talent. All I know is how to build cars and trucks. Can you help me?
1. What are your initial thoughts about this client’s request for career counseling assistance?
2. What are the issues the client is facing?
3. How would you proceed in the sessions to follow? What type of career-counseling techniques or activities would you suggest and why?
4. What are some short-term goals you would use to assist this client?
5. What are some long-term goals you would use to assist this client?
6. What career counseling theory applies to this client and why?
7. How would your approach change in this counseling situation if the client was a person of color?

Last Completed Projects