Career counseling with adults who have experienced substance use highlights the importance of viewing career development as a systemic and dynamic process. Rather than being shaped solely by individual choices, career trajectories in this context are strongly influenced by personal resources, family and social relationships, and broader environmental conditions. Using My System of Career Influences (MSCI), group studies and individual case analyses show that work and vocational identity often emerge as central themes. Family and social ties can serve as critical supports but may also present sources of conflict, while contextual factors such as mobility, education, and employment opportunities further shape career pathways.
These insights reinforce the value of systemic and narrative approaches that enable individuals to identify overlooked influences, reframe life stories, and recognize personal strengths. Both have proven especially useful in facilitating reflection on complex influences and in supporting the development of a more coherent and future-oriented vocational identity. By adopting such approaches, counselors can address individual needs in a more integrative manner, foster their agency, and create conditions for a meaningful and positive future. This perspective extends the scope of career counseling to address the multifaceted realities of clients facing compounded vulnerability.