Effect of individual career counseling on psychological distress: impact of career intervention components, working alliance, and career indecision

This study examined the impact of intervention components, working alliance, and career indecision on the change in psychological distress during the career counseling processes. Participants were 111 university students who received an average of 3.19 sessions of naturally occurring career counseling. Results indicated that: (a) written exercises in-session, individualized feedback and working alliance significantly predict change in psychological distress; and (b) effects of both career intervention components and working alliance on psychological distress were mediated by change in career indecision.