Dr Mary McMahon

Honorary Associate Professor

School of Education
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Overview

Career counselling: theory and processes; Career development theory; Career programs; Qualitative career assessment; Supervision

Dr McMahon teaches in the areas of career development theory, career guidance and counselling, and supervision. She is particularly interested in the career development of children and adolescents and how young people may be supported by career programs. In the area of career counselling, she is interested in the application of constructivist approaches especially the use of qualitative career assessment. Within the area of supervision, she is interested in assisting guidance officers and school counsellors develop their supervision practices. Her recent focus within this area is on the use of technology to support rural and remote personnel.

Qualifications

  • Diploma of Teaching, Mt Gravatt CAE
  • Bachelor of Education, Bris. CAE
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
  • Master of Education (Research), Queensland University of Technology
  • Graduate Diploma in Counselling, Bris. CAE

Publications

View all Publications

Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2021). Career Development from a Systems Perspective: The Systems Theory Framework. Handbook of Systems Sciences. (pp. 1405-1424) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-0720-5_30

  • McMahon, Mary and Arthur, Nancy (2018). Career development theory. Contemporary Theories of Career Development. (pp. 3-19) Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315276175-2

  • Arthur, Nancy and McMahon, Mary (2018). Contemporary career development theories: Expanding international perspectives. Contemporary Theories of Career Development. (pp. 241-257) Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315276175-20

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2017). Adult career counselling: narratives of adaptability and resilience. Psychology of career adaptability, employability and resilience. (pp. 189-204) edited by Kobus Maree. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-66954-0_12

  • Patton, W., McMahon, M. and Watson, M. (2017). Career development and systems theory: enhancing our understanding of career. Career psychology in the South African context. (pp. 85-104) edited by G. B. Stead and M. B. Watson. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.

  • Crause, Ewald, Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2017). Career development learning in childhood: theory, research, policy, and practice. Career exploration and development in childhood: perspectives from theory, practice and research. (pp. 186-198) edited by Mark Watson and Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315683362

  • McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2017). Children as storytellers: constructing identity through story. Career exploration and development in childhood: perspectives from theory, practice and research. (pp. 60-70) edited by Mark Watson and Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315683362

  • Patton, Wendy and McMahon, Mary (2017). Constructivism: what does it mean for career counselling?. Career counselling: constructivist approaches. (pp. 3-16) edited by Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary (2017). Creativity and constructivist career counselling. Career counselling: constructivist approaches. (pp. 222-232) edited by Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2017). Qualitative career assessment. Career counselling: constructivist approaches. (pp. 235-249) edited by Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2017). Telling stories of childhood career development. Career exploration and development in childhood: perspectives from theory, practice and research. (pp. 1-8) edited by Mark Watson and Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315683362

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2017). The rise of constructivist career counselling. Career counselling: constructivist approaches. (pp. 270-273) edited by Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2017). The systems theory framework: a conceptual and practical map for story telling in career counselling. Career counselling: constructivist approaches. (pp. 113-126) edited by Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

  • Bimrose, J., McMahon, M. and Watson, M. (2017). Women and career development. Career psychology in the South African Context. (pp. 173-183) edited by G. B. Stead and M. B. Watson. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.

  • McMahon, Mary (2017). Working with storytellers: a metaphor for career counselling. Career counselling: constructivist approaches. (pp. 17-28) edited by Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

  • McMahon, M. and Watson, M. (2016). Epilogue. Career exploration and development in childhood. (pp. 199-203) edited by Mark Watson and Mary McMahon. Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315683362-27

  • McMahon, Mary, Patton, Wendy and Watson, Mark (2016). From the systems theory framework to my system of career influences with a black South African male. Postmodern Career Counseling: A Handbook of Culture, Context, and Cases. (pp. 285-298) edited by Louis A. Busacca and Mark C. Rehfuss. Alexandria, United States: American Counseling Association.

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2015). An introduction to career assessment. Career Assessment: Qualitative Approaches. (pp. 3-11) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6300-034-5_1

  • Bimrose, Jenny, McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2015). Epilogue. Women's career development throughout the lifespan: An international exploration. (pp. 263-264) edited by Jenny Bimrose, Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Abingdon Oxon, U.K.: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203587898-32

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2015). From narratives to action and a life design approach. Handbook of life design : from practice to theory and from theory to practice. (pp. 75-86) edited by Laura Nota and Jerome Rossier. Boston, MA United States: Hogrefe Publishing.

  • Liu, Jianwei and McMahon, Mary (2015). I & the world of work: A career exploration program for primary school students. Ideas for career practitioners : celebrating excellence in career practice. (pp. 171-177) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Samford Valley, QLD Australia: Australian Academic Press.

  • McMahon, Mary, Watson, Mark and Bimrose, Jenny (2015). Implications for career practice. Women's career development throughout the lifespan: An international exploration. (pp. 253-262) edited by Jenny Bimrose, Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203587898-31

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2015). Incorporating career assessment into career counselling. Career assessment: qualitative approaches. (pp. 49-58) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6300-034-5_6

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2015). Influences on career decisions. Ideas for career practitioners : celebrating excellence in career practice. (pp. 199-201) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Samford Valley, QLD Australia: Australian Academic Press.

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2015). Integrative structured interview process. Career Assessment: Qualitative Approaches. (pp. 199-205) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6300-034-5_23

  • Bimrose, Jenny, McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2015). Introduction. Women's career development throughout the lifespan: An international exploration. (pp. 1-7) edited by Jenny Bimrose, Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Abingdon Oxon, U.K.: Routledge.

  • Watson, Mark, Bimrose, Jenny and McMahon, Mary (2015). Methodological considerations. Women's career development throughout the lifespan: An international exploration. (pp. 79-87) edited by Jenny Bimrose, Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Abingdon Oxon, U.K.: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203587898-16

  • McMahon, Mary, Patton, Wendy and Watson, Mark (2015). My system of career influences. Career Assessment: Qualitative Approaches. (pp. 169-177) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6300-034-5_20

  • McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2015). Qualitative career assessment: future directions. Career assessment: qualitative approaches. (pp. 257-262) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6300-034-5_29

  • McMahon, Mary, Limerick, Brigid and Gillies, Jan (2015). Structured mentoring: A career guidance activity for girls. Ideas for career practitioners : celebrating excellence in career practice. (pp. 191-198) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Samford Valley, QLD Australia: Australian Academic Press.

  • McMahon, Mary (2015). Systemic thinking: a foundation for ‘doing’ narrative career counselling. Exploring new horizons in career counselling: turning challenge into opportunities. (pp. 99-115) edited by Kobus Maree and Annamaria Di Fabio. Rotterdam, Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6300-154-0_6

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2015). Using timelines in career counselling. Ideas for career practitioners : celebrating excellence in career practice. (pp. 202-203) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Samford Valley, QLD Australia: Australian Academic Press.

  • McMahon, Mary (2015). Voices of older women from Australia. Women's career development throughout the lifespan: An international exploration. (pp. 101-112) edited by Jenny Bimrose, Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. Abingdon Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary (2014). Constructing career identity through systemic thinking. Psycho-Social Career Meta-Capacities: Dynamics of contemporary career development. (pp. 75-86) edited by Melinda Coetzee. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-00645-1_5

  • McMahon, Mary, Watson, Mark and Patton, Wendy (2014). Context-resonant systems perspectives in career theory. Handbook of career development: international perspectives. (pp. 29-41) edited by Gideon Arulmani, Anuradha J. Bakshi, Frederick T. L. Leong and A. G. Watts. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9460-7_3

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2014). Making meaning of quantitative assessment in career counseling through a storytelling approach. Handbook of career development: international perspectives. (pp. 631-644) edited by Gideon Arulmani, Anuradha J. Bakshi, Frederick T. L. Leong and A. G. Watts. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9460-7_35

  • McMahon, Mary (2014). New trends in theory development in career psychology. Handbook of career development: international perspectives. (pp. 13-27) edited by Gideon Arulmani, Anuradha J. Bakshi, Frederick T. L. Leong and A. G. Watts. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9460-7_2

  • Bimrose, Jenny, McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2014). Older women's retrospective narratives of their work and learning pathways. Handbook of career development: international perspectives. (pp. 555-570) edited by Gideon Arulmani, Anuradha J. Bakshi, Frederick T. L. Leong and A. G. Watts. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9460-7_31

  • McMahon, Mary, Watson, Mark and Bimrose, Jenny (2013). Older women's careers: Systemic perspectives. Conceptualising Women's Working Lives: Moving the Boundaries of Discourse. (pp. 119-133) edited by Wendy Patton. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6209-209-9

  • McMahon, Mary, Watson, Mark and Bimrose, Jenny (2013). Older women's careers: systemic perspectives. Conceptualising women's working lives: moving the boundaries of discourse. (pp. 119-134) edited by Wendy Patton. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers. doi: 10.1007/978-94-6209-209-9_7

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2013). Qualitative career assessment in South Africa. Psychological assessment in South Africa : research and applications. (pp. 474-487) edited by Sumaya Laher and Kate Cockcroft. Johannesburg, SA: Wits University Press.

  • Watson, Mark, McMahon, Mary and Stroud, Louise (2012). Career development in children. Child and adolescent development: A South African socio-cultural perspective. (pp. 269-286) edited by Joanne Hardman, Jenny Jansen, Mokgadi Molestane, David Neves, Crain Soudien, Louise Stroud, Sharlene Swartz and Lauren Wild. Cape Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press.

  • McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2012). Career development: 21st century global issues and challenges. Career development: global issues and challenges. (pp. 1-10) edited by Mark Watson and Mary McMahon. New York, USA: Nova Science Publishers.

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2012). Globalisation and career development: A challenging future. Career development: Global issues and challenges. (pp. 143-154) edited by Mark Watson and Mary McMahon. New York, United States: Nova Science Publishers.

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2012). Planning your thesis: systemic and personal issues. Complete your thesis or dissertation successfully: practical guidelines. (pp. 12-17) edited by J. G. (Kobus) Maree. Cape Town, South Africa: Juta.

  • McMahon, Mary (2012). Worklife. The home therapist: A practical, self-help guide for everyday psychological problems. (pp. 395-397) edited by John Barletta and Jan Bond. Bowen Hills, Australia: Australian Academic Press.

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2012). Writing your first draft. First steps in journal article writing. (pp. 57-64) edited by J G (Kobus) Maree. Cape Town, South Africa: Juta.

  • Watson, Mark, McMahon, Mary, Mkhize, Nhlanhla, Schweitzer, Robert D. and Mpofu, Elias (2011). Career counseling people of African ancestry. Counseling people of African ancestry. (pp. 281-293) edited by Elias Mpofu. New York, USA: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511977350.021

  • McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2011). Career counselling: What's the story?. Career counseling and constructivism: Elaboration of constructs. (pp. 13-24) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. New York, U.S.A.: Nova Science Publisher Inc.

  • McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2011). Constructivism and career counseling: Past, present and future. Career counseling and constructivism: Elaboration of constructs. (pp. 145-152) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. New York, U.S.A.: Nova Science Publishers, Inc..

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2011). The narrative of constructivism and career counseling. Career counseling and constructivism: Elaboration of constructs. (pp. 1-11) edited by Mary McMahon and Mark Watson. New York, U.S.A.: Nova Science Publishers, Inc..

  • McMahon, M. (2010). Career counseling and story telling: constructing a 21st narrative for practice. Career development. (pp. 1-23) edited by Hjalmar Ohlsson and Hanne Borg. New York, United States: Nova Science.

  • Watson, Mark and McMahon, Mary (2010). Creative approaches to gathering baseline information. Career counselling methods that work. (pp. 101-111) edited by Kobus Maree. Cape Town, South Africa: Juta.

  • McMahon, Mary and Watson, Mark (2010). Story telling: Moving from thin stories to thick and rich stories. Career counselling methods that work. (pp. 53-63) edited by Kobus Maree. Cape Town, South Africa: Juta.

  • McMahon, Mary (2010). Sviluppo professionale, apprendimento e assessment qualitativo: L'esempio del My System of Career Influnces [Career development, learning and qualitative career assessment: The example of the MSCI]. Sfide e nuovi orizzonti per l'orientamento: Metodologie e buone pratiche [Challenges and new horizons for the orientation: Methodologies and best practice]. (pp. 136-144) edited by Laura Nota and Salvatore Soresi. Firenze, Italy: Giunti O.S. Organizzazioni Speciali.

  • McMahon, Mary L. and Watson, Mark (2008). Integration and identity issues: Response 1. Case Incidents in Counseling for International Transitions. (pp. 173-179) edited by Nancy Arthur and Paul Pedersen. Alexandria, U.S.A.: American Counseling Association.

  • McMahon, M. (2008). Qualitative career assessment: A higher profile in the 21st century?. International Handbook of Career Guidance. (pp. 587-601) edited by Athanasou, J. and Van Esbroeck, R.. The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-6230-8_29

  • McMahon, Mary (2007). Career counseling and metaphor. Understanding careers: The metaphors of working lives. (pp. 270-297) edited by Kerr Inkson. Thousand Oaks, U.S.A.: Sage Publications. doi: 10.4135/9781483328867.n12

  • Watson, M. and McMahon, M.L. (2007). Children's career development learning: A foundation for lifelong career development. Career Development in Childhood and Adolescence. (pp. 29-46) edited by Skorikov, V.B. and Patton, W.. Rotterdam, Netherlands: Sense Publishers.

  • McMahon, M.L. (2007). Life story counselling: Producing new identities in career counselling. Shaping the story: A guide to facilitating narrative career counselling. (pp. 63-72) edited by Kobus Maree. Pretoria, South Africa: Van Schaik Publishers.

  • Patton, W., McMahon, M.L. and Watson, M. (2006). Career development and systems theory: Enhancing our understanding of career. Career psychology in the South African context. (pp. 65-78) edited by G.B. Stead and M.B. Watson. Pretoria, South Africa: Van Schaik.

  • Patton, Wendy and McMahon, Mary (2006). Constructivism: What does it mean for career counselling?. Career counselling: Constructivist approaches. (pp. 3-15) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge.

  • Viljamaa, Heidi, Patton, Wendy and McMahon, Mary (2006). Constructivist career tools on the internet: Challenges and potentials. Career counselling: Constructivist approaches. (pp. 187-201) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary (2006). Creativity and career counselling: a story still to be narrated. Career counselling: Constructivist approaches. (pp. 150-160) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2006). Qualitative career assessment. Career counselling: Constructivist approaches. (pp. 163-175) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary (2006). Support and supervision: A lifelong learning process. Providing support and supervision: An introduction for professionals working with young people. (pp. 124-135) edited by Hazel L. Reid and Jane Westergaard. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge.

  • McMahon, M. and Patton, W. (2006). The systems theory framework: A conceptual and practical map for career counselling. Career Counselling: Constructivist approaches. (pp. 94-109) edited by M. McMahon and W. Patton. London, U.K.: Routledge.

  • McMahon, Mary (2006). Working with storytellers: A metaphor for career counselling. Career Counselling: Constructivist Approaches. (pp. 16-29) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge.

  • Patton, W. and McMahon, M. (2005). (En)gendering socially just approaches to career guidance. Critical reflections on career education and guidance : promoting social justice within a global economy. (pp. 86-99) edited by B. Irving and B. Malik. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

  • McMahon, Mary (2004). Career counsellors as reflective practitioners and lifelong learners: What is the place of supervision?. Constructing the future: Reflection on practice. (pp. 55-68) edited by Hazel Reid and Jenny Bimrose. Stourbridge, England: Institute of Career Guidance.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2003). Influences on career decisions. Ideas for career practitioners: Celebrating excellence in Australian career practice. (pp. 130-132) edited by M. McMahon and W. Patton. Brisbane, Australia: Australian Academic Press.

  • McMahon, M., Limerick, B. and Gillies, J. (2003). Structured mentoring: a career guidance activity for school students. Ideas for career practitioners: celebrating excellence in Australian career practice. (pp. 122-129) edited by M. McMahon and W. Patton. Brisbane, QLD: Australian Academic Press.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2003). Using timelines in career counselling. Ideas for career practitioners: celebrating excellence in Australian career practice. (pp. 133-134) edited by M. McMahon and W. Patton. Brisbane, QLD: Australian Academic Press.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2002). Building Positive Work Habits and Attitudes. Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the 21st Century: New Roles and Challenges for Guidance and Counselling. (pp. 115-130) edited by Bryan Hiebert and William Borgen. Paris, France: UNESCO. Section for Technical and Vocational Education.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2002). Group supervision: A delicate balancing act. Supervision in the helping professions: a practical approach. (pp. 55-66) edited by M. McMahon and W. Patton. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Education.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2002). School counsellor supervision: Less rhetoric and more reality. Supervision in the helping professions: a practical approach. (pp. 223-234) edited by M. McMahon and W. Patton. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Education.

  • McMahon, Mary (2002). Some supervision practicalities. Supervision in the helping professions: a practical approach. (pp. 17-26) edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Education.

  • McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2002). Supervision: Lifelong learning for career counsellors. Supervision in the helping professions: a practical approach. (pp. 235-248) edited by M. McMahon and W. Patton. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Education.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Edited Outputs

Other Outputs

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Completed Supervision