| What does a rehabilitation counselor do? | | | | setting possible through the application of the |
| Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the | | | | counseling process. The counseling process involves |
| personal, social, and vocational effects of disabilities | | | | communication, goal setting, and beneficial growth or |
| including addictions. They counsel people with disabilities | | | | change through self-advocacy, psychological, |
| resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, | | | | vocational, social, and behavioral interventions. The |
| or the stress of daily life. They evaluate the strengths | | | | specific techniques and modalities utilized within this |
| and limitations of individuals, provide personal and | | | | rehabilitation counseling process may include, but are |
| vocational counseling, and arrange for medical care, | | | | not limited to: |
| vocational training, and job placement. Rehabilitation | | | | • assessment and appraisal; |
| counselors interview both individuals with disabilities and | | | | • diagnosis and treatment planning; |
| their families, evaluate school and medical reports, and | | | | • career (vocational) counseling; |
| confer and plan with physicians, psychologists, | | | | • individual and group counseling treatment |
| occupational therapists, and employers to determine | | | | interventions focused on facilitating adjustments to the |
| the capabilities and skills of the individual. Conferring | | | | medical and psychosocial impact of disability; |
| with the client, they develop a rehabilitation program | | | | •case management, referral, and service |
| that helps the client enjoy the highest possible quality | | | | coordination; |
| of life. | | | | •program evaluation and research; |
| Rehabilitation Counselors differ from mental health | | | | • interventions to remove environmental, |
| counselors or psychologists on some very key points. | | | | employment, and attitudinal barriers; |
| The most notable being that rehabilitation counselors | | | | •consultation services among multiple parties |
| not only provide counseling, but also testing, vocational | | | | and regulatory systems; |
| placement, advocacy and case management services. | | | | •job analysis, job development, and placement |
| The core values of a rehabilitation counselor include | | | | services, including assistance with employment and job |
| the following: | | | | accommodations; and |
| 1. Facilitation of independence, integration, and inclusion | | | | • the provision of consultation about and |
| of people with disabilities in employment and the | | | | access to rehabilitation technology. |
| community | | | | Where do Rehabilitation Counselors Work? |
| 2.Belief in the dignity and worth of all people. | | | | Many rehabilitation counselors are employed in Human |
| 3.Commitment to a sense of equal justice based on a | | | | Resources departments to aid organizations in |
| model of accommodation to provide and equalize the | | | | developing reasonable accommodations, ensuring they |
| opportunities to participate in all rights and privileges | | | | are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, |
| available to all people; and a commitment to supporting | | | | conducting job analysis to determine the requisite |
| persons with disabilities in advocacy activities to | | | | knowledge, skills and abilities for each position at the |
| achieve this status and empower themselves. | | | | agency and providing in-house counseling and/or case |
| 4.Emphasis on the holistic nature of human function | | | | management to employees. Another group of |
| 5.Recognition of the importance of focusing on the | | | | rehabilitation counselors work in community health and |
| assets of the person. | | | | vocational rehabilitation centers providing addictions and |
| 6.Commitment to models of service delivery that | | | | mental health counseling, case management and job |
| emphasize integrated, comprehensive services which | | | | placement services. Yet others work in private |
| are mutually planned by the consumer and the | | | | practice doing counseling, expert witness consultation, |
| rehabilitation counselor. | | | | life care planning, personal training (with additional |
| According to the Commission for Rehabilitation | | | | certification), teaching or research. Finally, rehabilitation |
| Counselor Certification (Commission on Rehabilitation | | | | counselors serve a vital role in hospitals where they |
| Counselor Certification. (2003). Scope of Practice for | | | | provide post-injury counseling ande adovocacy to |
| Rehabilitation Counseling. (Retrieved 6/30/2007 from, | | | | persons who are recovering from a traumatic brain |
| the following duties are part of the scope of practice | | | | injury, loss of a limb or other life-altering accident or |
| of a Rehabilitation Counselor. "Rehabilitation counseling | | | | illness. In short, if you love to help people, embrace a |
| is a systematic process which assists persons with | | | | holistic philosophy and enjoy working as part of a |
| physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and | | | | multidisciplinary team, rehabilitation counseling provides |
| emotional disabilities to achieve their personal, career, | | | | you with a wide variety of possible job opportunities. |
| and independent living goals in the most integrated | | | | |