Please click on any of the letters above to find the corresponding theory. I have, as far as possible, classified theories using the different icons below. Classification is not always clearly possible or easy and some theories fall in between, or straddle, two or more categories. The categorisation I made is therefore slightly tenuous. It should fit in with the requirements for the Level 6 Qualification in Career Guidance, however.

		Differentialism			Theories focusing on the needs or specific sociocultural groups			Learning theories
		Developmentalism			Theories linked to uplanned events management			Motivational theories
		Structuralism			Constructivism			Transition theories and theories of change
		Opportunity Structure			Theories derived from psychology/psychotherapy/counselling			Vocational behaviour theories
		Social Learning						Theories of deicsion making and avoidance
		Community Interaction						Coaching Theories

		This symbol indicates theories that would be of particular interest for those studying for the Level 6 Qualification in Career Guidance. Please be aware that these are not the only theories that apply and it would in my view be important to familiarise yourself with other theories as well. In addition to this, there is a specific question (Lo. 6.6.1 and 6.6.2) which focuses on new theories. I think it would also be important to focus on those theories that are specifically important or relevant to your specific work context (eg. working with children or specifically with adults).

  As mentioned before, it is not my intention to offer an exhaustive explanation and analysis of each and every Theory. It’s relatively easy to find that information on the many websites and in the many resources out there. It’s my intention to offer something in addition to this, a useful summary that supports different learning styles and an exploration of the tools we can use with clients, linked to the different theories. I would also like to offer a succinct critique with each Theory to get you started. Especially if you are completing your Level 6 Qualification in Career Guidance and Development, it’s imperative that you form your own critique and make up your own mind about each of the different theories you encounter. In addition, some tips for your research - Click/Tap for further information   ​ ​ ​ ​

A
		Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT) – Tom Luken & Albert de Folter 2000 & 2012
B
		Boundaryless Career – Arthur & Rousseau 1996
C
		Career Anchors – Edgar H. Schein 1975
		Career Choice and Attainment Model – Kimberly A.S.Howard 2010
		Career Construction Theory & Life Design – Narrative approach – Mark Savickas 2005
		Career Counseling with Underserved Populations Model – Mark Pope 2011
		Career Engagement Model – Roberta A. Neault & Deirdre A. Pickerell 2011
		Career Inaction Theory – Verbruggen and De Vos, 2019
		Career Scotland Model (see NTU Career Continuum)
		Career Self Determination Theory – Charles P. Chen 2017
		Careership Theory – Phil Hodkinson and Andrew C. Sparkes 1996
		Career Writing Method – Reinekke Lengelle & Frans Meijers 2017
		Change Management Model – Kurt Lewin 1947
		Change Model – Cynthia Scott and Dennis Jaffe 1988
		Chaos Theory of Careers – Pryor and Bright 2011
		Client-centred Theory – Patterson 1964, Rogers 1942 & 1951
		Cognitive Information Processing Theory – Sampson, Lenz, Reardon, & Peterson 1999
		Coherent Career Practice – Kris Magnusson & Dave Redekopp 2011
		Community Interaction Theory – Bill Law 1981 & 1996
		Constructivist Theory – Chartrand et al., 1995; Cochran, 1997; Collin & Young, 1986; Peavy, 1992; Savickas, 1993 & 1997; Young et al. 1996; Wendy Patton & Mary McMahon 2006
		Contextual Action Theory (CAT) – Lev Vygotsky, L. Valach & Young, R. A. 2002
		Continuous Participation Model – Danielle Rivern-Simard 2005
		Cormier and Hackney Model – Harold L. Hackney & Sherry Cormier, 1993
		Culture Infused Counselling Theory (CICC) – Nancy Arthur 2013
D
		Decision Making Model – Tanya Arroba 1977
		Decision Making Model – Tiedeman and O’Hara 1963
		Developmental Theory – Ginzberg et al. 1951
		Developmental Theory – Life Span Development – Donald Super 1957 and Donald Super et al. 1961 & 1980
		Differentialism – see Environmental Theory
		DOTS Model – Law & Watts, 1977 & 1996
E
		Environmental Theory – Matching theories – Trait and Factor Theory – Frank Parsons 1908
		Environmental Theory – Matching theories – Trait and Factor Theory – Alec Rodger 1952
		Environmental Theory – Matching theories – Trait and Factor Theory – John L. Holland 1966, 1973, 1985, 1992
		Expectancy Motivation Theory – Victor Vroom 1964
		Experiential Learning Theory – David Kolb 1985
F
		The First Model – Tol Bedford 1982
		The Big 5 – Five-factor Model (FFM) or OCEAN Model* – Ernest Tupes & Raymond Christal 1961
G
		GROW Model -Sir John Whitmore 1992
H
		[Planned] Happenstance Learning Theory – Krumboltz & Levin 1999 – 2004; Mitchell et al. 1999
		Hierarchy of Needs – Maslow 1954
		Hope-Action Theory -Spencer Niles, Norman Amundson, Hyung Joon Yoon, 2010
I
		Integrative Life Planning Theory – Sunny Hansen 1997
J
K
L
		Learning Theory of Careers Choice and Counselling (LTCC) – Mitchell and Krumboltz 1996
		Life-is-Career Theory – Miller-Tiedeman 1999
		Life Span Development – Donald Super 1957 – 1980
M
		Matching Theory – See Environmental Theory
		Motivational Interviewing – William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick  1983
		Motivation Hygiene Theory – 2 Factor Theory – Frederick Herzberg 1968
		Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Model* – Myers and Briggs 1944
N
		Narrative Career Counselling – Savickas (eg 1997), Cochran (eg 1997) & Peavy (eg 2000)
		NTU Career Continuum/Careers Scotland Model
O
		Opportunity Structure Theory – Roberts 1968 – 1997
P
		Planned Happenstance Learning Theory – Krumboltz & Levin 1999 – 2004; Mitchell et al., 1999
		Protean Career – Douglas T. Hall 1976
		Psychodynamic Theories – Mark Savickas 1989
		Psychology of working – David L. Blustein, Ryan D. Duffy, Matthew A. Diemer, Kelsey L. Autin 2013
R
		Reflective Cycle (Gibbs’) – Graham Gibbs 1988
		Reflection-in-action Model – Schön 1983
S
		7 Stage Model of Change – Ronald Lippitt 1958
		SeSiFU Model – Bill Law – see further down on DOTS page
		Single Interaction Model – Hazel L. Reid and Alison J. Fielding 2007
		Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF)* – Raymond Cattell 1946, 1949, 1965
		Skilled Helper Model – Gerard Egan 1998
		Skills Development Scotland Model – Liane Hambly 2008
		Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) – Hackett & Betz, 1981; Lent, Brown, & Hackett 1994
		Social Learning Theory – Albert Bandura 1977 & 1986
		Social Learning Theory (SLTCDM) – Krumboltz et al 1976, Mitchell & Krumboltz 1990 & 1996
		Solution Focused Career Theory – Judi Miller 2004
		Sparks Theory – Minna Kattelus 2010 – 2015
		Stages of Change Model – Transtheoretical Model – James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente – 1983
		3 Step Storyboarding – Bill Law 2008
		Strengths-based Approach – Schutt 2007
		Structural Theory (see Opportunity Structure Theory) – Roberts 1968 – 1997
		Synergistic Theory of Organisational Career Development – Kerry Bernes 1999
		Systems Theory Framework of Career Development – Wendy Patton & Mary McMahon 2006
T
		The Big 5 – Five-factor Model (FFM) or OCEAN Model* – Ernest Tupes & Raymond Christal 1961
		Theory of Career Choice and Development – Psychodynamic Theories – Anne Roe 1956
		Theory of Circumscription and Compromise – Linda Gottfredson 1981
		Trait and Factor Theory of Occupational Choice – see Environmental Theory
		Transition Theory – Schlossberg 1981 & 1989
		Transition Cycle – N. Nicholson and M. A. West 1988
		Transtheoretical Model – Stages of Change Model – James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente – 1983
		Two Factor Theory – Frederick Herzberg 1968 – see Motivaton Hygiene Theory
V
		Values-Based Model of Career Choice – D Brown 1995, 1996 & 2002; Brown & Crace 1996
W
		The ‘What’ Model – Rolfe, Freshwater & Jasper 2001
		The WOOP Model – Gabriele Oettingen, 2014
		Work Adjustment Theory – Dawis & Lofquist 1984
X
Y
Z