What is Career Counseling and Who Can Benefit?

Defining Career Counseling

Career Counseling is a professional and supportive relationship where a trained counselor helps individuals explore, navigate, and thrive in their career journey. At Holistically Divine Counseling (HDC), our career counseling services are designed to empower you—whether you’re just starting out, making a career transition, or seeking greater purpose in your work.

Through this process, you’ll receive guidance and insight in key areas such as:

• Building a trusting relationship with your counselor so you feel seen, heard, and supported.
• Identifying your concerns, whether it’s job dissatisfaction, burnout, or uncertainty about your next steps.
• Setting meaningful career goals that align with your values, strengths, and passions.
• Implementing personalized strategies to overcome obstacles and move forward with confidence.
• Tracking your progress so you can see your growth and celebrate milestones along the way.

Who Should Consider Career Counseling?

Career counseling isn’t just for people who feel “lost.” Anyone seeking clarity, direction, or growth in their professional journey can benefit from career counseling. At HDC, we support clients at every stage of life and work.

Here’s a few examples of who can benefit:

Students & Recent Graduates
If you’re choosing a major, applying to internships, or navigating your first job, career counseling can help you make confident, informed decisions that align with your gifts and goals.

Working Professionals
Whether you’re climbing the ladder or feeling stuck in your current role, career counseling offers the tools to manage burnout, improve work-life balance, or explore new opportunities without starting from scratch.

Career Changers
Considering a new industry? Wanting to pursue your passion or purpose? Career counseling can help you map out a realistic, fulfilling plan to transition with courage instead of chaos.

Anyone Seeking Meaningful Work
You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit. If you’re feeling unfulfilled, stuck, or simply wondering, “Is this it?”, career counseling can offer a fresh perspective. We also support individuals looking to change careers due to high industry burnout rates, especially in healthcare, education, and social services, who are ready to explore new paths that align with their values, wellness, and long-term goals.

The Key Benefits of Engaging with Career Counselors

Gaining Career Clarity and Direction

Career counseling helps you understand who you are, what you value, and where you want to go. Through guided self-reflection, assessments, and personalized conversations, you’ll gain a clearer vision for your professional path and make decisions rooted in purpose.

Developing Effective Job Search Strategies

Navigating the job market can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Career counselors help you create a strategic plan, from targeting the right roles and industries to using networking tools like LinkedIn, to streamline your search and increase your success rate.

Improving Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interview Skills

Your first impression matters. We help you craft compelling, tailored resumes and cover letters that highlight your strengths and accomplishments in a way that reflects your unique story. We also provide interview coaching so you can show up confidently, communicate your value, and leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re re-entering the workforce or navigating a new industry, we support you in rebuilding your confidence to clearly articulate your skills, experiences, and abilities because how you see yourself shapes how others see you, too.

Navigating Career Transitions and Challenges

Whether you’re changing industries, re-entering the workforce, or facing burnout, career counseling provides tools and emotional support to help you adapt and move forward with confidence. At HDC, we guide you through these transitions using a values alignment framework to ensure your next steps reflect who you truly are and the values you hold. We also utilize a solution-focused approach that emphasizes your strengths, possibilities, and actionable next steps. We help you process what’s no longer working, clarify what matters most, and create a path forward rooted in purpose and progress.

Boosting Confidence and Overcoming Obstacles

Career decisions often come with fear, self-doubt, or imposter syndrome, and they can leave you feeling stuck or uncertain about how to move forward. We support you in getting unstuck by offering encouragement, practical strategies, and mindset coaching. Our goal is to help you shift from hesitation to action, so you can move through roadblocks and pursue your goals with clarity and courage.

What Do Career Counseling Services Typically Include?

Career Assessments and Exploration Tools

Gain the clarity you need to confidently choose a career path that fits who you are.

At HDC, we believe meaningful career choices begin with self-awareness. During the self-assessment phase, we guide you through a thoughtful process using evidence-based tools to explore who you are and what matters most.

We start by identifying your personality preferences using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to better understand how you make decisions, interact with others, and thrive in certain work environments. Next, we assess your interests with the Strong Interest Inventory, helping us uncover industries, roles, and activities that align with your natural inclinations and spark your motivation.

Finally, we explore your core values, because a fulfilling career isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it. This comprehensive approach allows us to match you with career paths that feel natural, energizing, and aligned with your life purpose. You’ll walk away with clarity around your occupational identity and confidence in the career decisions ahead.

Personalized Career Path Planning

We help you reflect on the story you’ve lived and begin shaping the one you want to tell. Together, we craft a roadmap that not only outlines your next steps, but honors your unique journey and aspirations. This approach embraces the developmental nature of career as a lifelong process.

Resume and Cover Letter Writing & Review

Your documents should tell the story of who you are, not just what you’ve done. We help you articulate your skills, experiences, and values in a compelling way, while also supporting you in rebuilding your confidence to advocate for your capabilities and professional worth.

Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews

We prepare you to walk into interviews with clarity, confidence, and a strategy. Through personalized coaching and mock interviews, we focus on developing your ability to answer questions with authenticity, precision, and alignment to your values. You’ll learn how to structure your responses, highlight your strengths, and speak to your experiences under pressure.

From confidently answering “tell me about yourself,” to navigating behavioral and values-based questions, we help you shape a compelling narrative that reflects who you are and what you bring to the table. You’ll leave with practical techniques to manage anxiety, communicate your skills with clarity, and show up with presence so your next opportunity feels like the right fit, not just the next step.

Job Search Strategy and Networking Guidance

We guide you in navigating the job market with intention, teaching you how to network in alignment with your personality and purpose. Our solution-focused approach helps you identify strategies that are realistic, repeatable, and relevant to your goals.

Salary Negotiation Support

We’ll help you prepare for these crucial conversations by reinforcing your worth and role expectations. We teach you how to advocate for yourself with professionalism and peace without compromising your values or your wellness.

Workplace Adjustment and Career Development Coaching

We support clients navigating transitions like promotions, burnout, toxic work environments, or returning to work after a break. This includes integrating tools from the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, especially occupational wellness, to foster healthier boundaries, reduce stress, and restore joy in your professional life.

Types of Career Counseling Providers: Where to Find Help

At HDC, you’re working with licensed career counselors and therapists who bring clinical expertise and holistic insight into your career journey.

Common providers include:

Licensed Career Counselors & Therapists

These professionals hold clinical credentials and are trained in both mental health and career development. They’re ideal for clients navigating complex emotions around work such as burnout, imposter syndrome, trauma, or identity-related concerns. At HDC, our licensed counselors integrate therapeutic insight, career theory, and holistic wellness to support the whole you.

Certified Career Coaches

Career coaches often focus on practical, forward-facing strategies such as goal setting, networking, or accountability. Typically they do not offer career counseling and are not clinically licensed. This option may work well for individuals who are clear on what they want and are seeking structure and momentum, rather than emotional or psychological support.

College and University Career Centers

Great for students and recent graduates, career centers provide free or low-cost services such as resume reviews, job fairs, and internship placement. While services are typically time-limited and more generalized, they’re a valuable starting point for career exploration, especially when paired with additional coaching or counseling support.

Government and Non-Profit Agencies

These organizations offer accessible services, particularly for individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or part of workforce development programs. Services might include job readiness workshops, skills assessments, and community resource referrals. While support may be more standardized, it can be a helpful entry point into career services.

Private Career Counseling Firms

These providers offer personalized, often premium-level support. Firms may specialize in career transitions, executive coaching, or industry-specific development. At HDC, we combine the personalized attention of a private practice with the compassion, clinical training, and values-based approach you won’t find in many traditional firms.

What to Expect from the Career Counseling Process

Career counseling is a collaborative process rooted in relationship, trust, and transformation. Here’s what you can expect:

Initial Consultation and Goal Setting

We start by understanding your story, including your challenges, your dreams, and your current reality. Together, we identify where you feel stuck and what you’re hoping to gain from career counseling services.

Assessment and Information Gathering

Using interest inventories, values clarification exercises, and personality insights, we gather information to inform your next steps and reconnect you with your core self.

Developing an Action Plan

We co-create a customized plan grounded in your values and supported by actionable strategies.

Ongoing Sessions and Support

As life evolves, so do your goals. We offer continued guidance to help you adjust, reflect, and celebrate milestones. Our approach blends solution-focused counseling with a deep respect for your emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being.

How to Choose the Right Career Counseling Services for You

Identifying Your Specific Needs and Goals

Ask yourself, are you looking for career clarity, job search support, or a deeper transformation? We help you explore these questions in a safe, affirming space.

Researching Potential Counselors and Coaches

Choosing the right career counseling services is a deeply personal decision, one that can shape your confidence, direction, and long-term fulfillment. As you explore your options, take time to consider each provider’s background, credentials, and specialization. Look for licensed professionals or certified coaches with experience in both mental health and career development, especially those who understand the unique challenges faced by career changers, recent graduates, or professionals navigating burnout. It’s equally important to reflect on whether their values and communication style resonate with you.

Read through their website, browse their content, and get a feel for how they approach their work. Most importantly, take advantage of any initial consultations they offer. At HDC, we provide a complimentary 15-minute consultation so you can ask questions, share your goals, and decide whether our approach feels aligned with what you need.

Your career journey is too important to walk alone, and the right support can make all the difference.

Considering Virtual vs. In-Person Options

As you begin your career development journey, it’s important to identify what format works best for you. Some individuals feel more grounded and connected in person, while others prefer the flexibility and privacy of virtual sessions. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What matters most is choosing the environment where you feel most supported and engaged.

We offer both virtual and in-person career counseling services to meet you where you are geographically, emotionally, and logistically. If you have a preference, be sure to share it during your consultation so we can ensure your experience is aligned with your comfort and needs. Your career journey is personal, and how you receive support should reflect that.

Finding Local Career Counseling Services

Search for “career counseling services near me” or explore holistic practices like HDC that combine mental wellness with professional development.

Exploring Free and Low-Cost Resources

At HDC, we’re committed to making career counseling accessible. If you’re facing financial barriers, we invite you to start with a 15-minute consultation so we can explore how our services may still be a fit through sliding scale options, flexible packages, or shorter-term support.

If private counseling isn’t the right step for you at this time, there are also community-based resources available that offer free or low-cost support. These include ChiCookWorks for Cook County residents, the Career & Networking Center in Naperville, WorkNet DuPage serving DuPage County, and the Chicago Training Center (CTC), which offers workforce development resources. Additionally, university career centers and local workforce boards often provide career exploration services at little to no cost.

No matter your situation, you deserve to feel seen, supported, and equipped. We’re here to help you take the next step, whatever that looks like for you.