What is Rehabilitation Counseling?
Rehabilitation Counseling is a sub-specialty of psychology related to psychotherapy. They help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities. Rehabilitation counselors work in many different settings including rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, and youth centers among others. Rehabilitation counselors must have a master's degree and need to be certified or licensed. Rehabilitation counseling is unique in that it focuses on disability advocacy and vocational counseling for individuals with disability . It is a constantly growing field that is becoming more and more prevalent.
Scope of Practice
CRCC
Rehabilitation counseling is a systematic process which assists persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals in the most integrated setting possible through the application of the counseling process. The counseling process involves communication, goal setting, and beneficial growth or change through self-advocacy, psychological, vocational, social, and behavioral interventions. The specific techniques and modalities utilized within this rehabilitation counseling process may include, but are not limited to:
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assessment and appraisal;
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diagnosis and treatment planning;
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career (vocational) counseling;
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individual and group counseling treatment interventions focused on facilitating adjustments to the medical and psychosocial impact of disability;
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case management, referral, and service coordination;
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program evaluation and research;
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interventions to remove environmental, employment, and attitudinal barriers;
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consultation services among multiple parties and regulatory systems;
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job analysis, job development, and placement services, including assistance with employment and job accommodations; and
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provision of consultation about and access to rehabilitation technology.
(Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, 2017)