Dickinson’s Career Center is pleased to introduce a cutting-edge program for students. The Labyrinth system blends new career-coaching concepts with traditional psychological theory to meet the academic and career needs of liberal-arts students.

The program is designed to help students clarify their goals (no matter how small or grand). They’ll identify their existing skills and create a plan to acquire new skills; develop a support network; and analyze and correct the problems which might keep them from attaining their goals.

The program can be applied from freshman year on. It will help students appraise themselves realistically, manage stress effectively and build strong relationships with faculty and alumni.

Students enter the Labyrinth by meeting with a career counselor. At the first session they work with the counselor to outline their plans and develop short- and long-term goals. Each plan is individually designed and counselors will contact students on a regular basis to provide feedback and support.

Students also receive a copy of the Labyrinth Workbook, which was written and designed by Dickinson staff. It includes over 40 exercises on topics like self-assessment, analyzing the job market, goal-setting, time and space management, defeating obstacles and staying motivated.

The program will teach students to recognize and change the patterns that hold them back. They will also gain an understanding of learned optimism and emotional intelligence—two important aspects of the job search that are not usually taught at career centers.

Students who participate in the program will learn to be active in their approach to academics and to the workplace. They’ll develop the intrinsic motivation to succeed in whatever area they choose, and will ultimately develop skills and knowledge that will serve them throughout their lives.

The program was designed by Career Center Director Kate S. Brooks. She holds a doctorate in educational psychology and is a nationally certified counselor, a licensed professional counselor and has completed continuing-education credits in career coaching.

For more information, call the Career Center at (717) 245-1740.