Phoenix’s Story: Rising From the Ashes

Phoenix was a 32-year-old manager at a public service agency. Phoenix lost their job after the sudden closure of the agency due to the unexpected end of government funding. A deep sense of loss and uncertainty followed the initial shock of the announcement. Having led a passionate team and dedicated years to serving the community, Phoenix was now on an emotional rollercoaster, grappling with disappointment and anxiety about the future. The abrupt end to meaningful work and the disruption of professional relationships left a void, triggering concerns about career prospects and financial stability.

Amidst this turmoil, Phoenix also felt a flicker of hope and determination at the thought of leveraging their skills and experience in new opportunities despite the overwhelming challenges ahead. Phoenix was debating whether to return to college to take a graphic design program or to find work at a small advertising firm. Phoenix was supported by a career transition professional who helped them to face the challenges of losing their role and identifying the best pathway forward.

Over the course of five sessions, the career professional guided Phoenix through the process of creating a self-portrait. This process enabled Phoenix to gain confidence and provided clarity about their next steps.

We will produce a self-portrait for Phoenix as we go through the steps of creating a Self-Portrait described in this chapter. By the end of the chapter, you will see a full portrait emerge (see Table 4.7) that summarizes the work that was done over the course of the five sessions.

At the end of the process, Phoenix entered a graphic arts program at a community college. Phoenix stated that the process of creating a Self-Portrait helped them to understand what they wanted and realize how important it was to complete a post-secondary education program that would teach them the foundations of a new profession before entering a business setting.