About Richard
“Nothing gives me more satisfaction than working with people to achieve what they are truly capable of.”
My personal belief is that every individual has unlimited potential to create the life they truly desire. In order for people to reach their potential however, a key aspect is to source accurate information about the changing world of work on which they can then make informed decisions. Another aspect of making informed decisions about what one wants out of life is understanding who you really are.
The whole career/life/work transition process is like peeling away layers of an onion to get to the core. This process requires alot of determination - if done without paying attention to the task at hand it can become frustrating, unfulfilling and the task is often abandoned, however if proper effort is applied the process is very rewarding.
Richard has worked in vocational settings since 1990 and he worked as a career consultant from 2001 – 2010 for Career Services rapuara. During this period Richard worked with a diverse range of people including - new migrants, people facing redundancy, people with some level of ‘disability’, people returning to work after an injury, tertiary graduates and secondary school students. Since 2010 he has subcontracted to ACC, and brokered employment for people accessing services from a range of government and community agencies. In 2020 -2021 Richard undertook a contract with the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) providing phone guidance to clients throughout New Zealand working in areas of redundancy and job transition. Richard has also maintained contracts with two EAP providers throughout this time. Richard served on the Auckland committee of CDANZ (Career Development Association of New Zealand from 2006 -2016. In 2014 Richard presented a paper - Integrating Lives - Shaping Society: Implications for Career Professionals Providing Guidance to Youth (14-25 years) With Mental Health Disorders - at the CDANZ National Symposium in Auckland. From 2005 -2017 Richard was a Board Member of JAG (Justice Action Group For People with Disabilities). Richard had a Graduate Diploma in Career Development, a Diploma in Teaching People with Disabilities, and Certificates in Community Work and Adult & Tertiary Education.
Richard’s practice draws on principles and techniques from a number of career and counselling theories to acknowledge the uniqueness of each individual these include:
Social Learning Theory.
A behavioural model of career assistance has been developed by John Krumbotlz and his associates. Social Learning Theory (1975) recognises the influence of others in shaping our responses to situations and the theory states that:
Career decision making is a learned skill. People who have made career choices need help too as decisions may have been based on inaccurate or outdated sources
Success is measured by (people's) demonstrated skill in decision making.
Evaluations of decision making skills are required. People need not feel guilty if they are undecided about 'career'.
Social learning theory is based on teaching people new career decision making skills with the emphasis placed on the present and not the past. These skills are achieved through reinforcement, role modelling and simulation.
Interactive Drawing Theory.
Interactive Drawing Therapy is a powerful, fast and innovative method of contacting structures and functions of the unconscious to facilitate disclosure, assessment, healing and transformation to help people identify where they are stuck and move forward. IDT is easy to learn, user friendly and can stand alone or be used in conjunction with other counselling techniques. Being referable, the recorded drawings and words sustain the momentum of change long after the session.
IDT requires no artistic talent or drawing ability; it does not involve making art objects and is quite different from conventional art therapy. IDT allows the words, images and feelings of the client to reveal where they are in the counselling process, the nature of underlying issues and how best to intervene. It is particularly useful with people who are not verbally fluent.
Brief Solution Theory.
Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT), focuses on what people want to achieve rather than on what made them seek help in the first place. The approach does not focus on the past, but instead, focuses on the present and future. In SFBT, respectful curiosity is used with people to envision their preferred future. To support this, questions are asked about the person’s story, that draw on their strengths and resources to bring about change.
Solution focused work can be seen as a way of working that focuses exclusively or predominantly on two issues.
Supporting people to explore their preferred futures.
Exploring when, where, with whom and how pieces of that preferred future are already happening.
The SFBT approach is practical and can be achieved with no specific theoretical framework beyond the intention to keep as close as possible to these two points.
Which one applies to you?
“Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.”