Integrative Life Planning

Book excerpt: In the field of career development, Integrative Life Planning is a landmark book that recognizes the radical shifts in today's lifestyles and workplaces and offers a holistic counseling approach that joins career planning with the life path of an individual. Written by L. Sunny Hansen—a pioneer in career development—this important resource details her highly regarded concept of integrative life planning (ILP). As the book reveals, using the ILP framework enables career professionals, counselors, and their clients to develop career and life patterns that are holistic and focused on both individual satisfaction and community benefit. Integrative Life Planning provides an analysis of Hansen's revolutionary ILP concept that is anchored in an interdisciplinary framework of six critical tasks: finding work that needs doing in changing global contexts; weaving our lives into a meaningful whole, connecting family and work; valuing pluralism and inclusivity, exploring spirituality and life purpose; and managing personal transitions and organizational change. The book offers a wealth of ideas and information on each of the critical tasks as well as illustrative strategies and career interventions that can be used or adapted when implementing the ILP concept. ILP is an ideal approach for dealing with changes in work, family, learning, and society. Using a quilt metaphor, it integrates many aspects of individuals, families, and organizations including both the personal and the professional. In this pioneering work, the author advocates for people to make life choices and decisions consistent with the changes of a dynamic global society. The ILP concept takes into account self-satisfaction and the common good; personal accomplishment and community benefit. Hansen argues persuasively that this global approach can lead to more meaningful lives, more humane relationships, and a more caring society.