Rehabilitation Counselor
A Rehabilitation Counselor is a professional who provides essential support services to individuals facing disabilities, whether these challenges are present from birth or arise from illness, injury, or addiction. Their primary goal is to enhance the independence, employability, and overall quality of life for their clients. This role encompasses a wide range of services including vocational training, medical assistance, housing support, and personal counseling, often tailored to address specific issues such as mental health or social complications.
Rehabilitation Counselors work in diverse environments such as rehabilitation facilities, mental health centers, schools, and community organizations. They engage closely with clients to assess their needs, develop rehabilitation plans, and facilitate access to necessary resources and services. A master's degree is typically required for entry into this field, along with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to social service. The profession is characterized by a dedication to working with various populations, including those from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. In terms of job outlook, the demand for Rehabilitation Counselors is expected to grow at an average rate, reflecting the ongoing need for supportive services in the community.
Rehabilitation Counselor
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Human Services
Interests: Counseling, mental health, physical rehabilitation, disability management, sociology, psychology
Earnings (Yearly Median): $44,040 per year, $21.17 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 2% (As fast as average)
Entry-Level Education Master's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Rehabilitation counselors (also called case managers, rehabilitation specialists, and human services counselors) provide vocational, medical, housing, employment, and personal support services to individuals and groups with disabilities. In general, they work to help their clients become more independent, employable, and productive. Rehabilitation counselors support clients living with disabilities present since birth or impairments resulting from illness, disease, addiction, accident, or injury. For instance, individuals experiencing employment, housing, or social complications and challenges related to HIV/AIDS, schizophrenia, or intellectual disability are generally eligible for rehabilitation counseling under the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The range of counseling services provided by rehabilitation counselors includes coordinating counseling activities at residential facilities, overseeing job training and vocational counseling programs, and creating rehabilitation plans for clients.
Work Environment. Rehabilitation counselors spend their workdays seeing clients in a wide variety of settings, including public or private rehabilitation facilities, mental health facilities, schools and universities, insurance companies, job training and placement programs, prisons and hospitals, and private counseling practices. Rehabilitation counselors may have an office or may travel to see clients. Given the diverse demands of rehabilitative counseling, rehabilitation counselors may need to work days, evenings, weekends, and on-call hours to meet client or caseload needs.
Occupation Interest. Individuals drawn to the rehabilitation counseling profession tend to be intelligent and socially conscious and able to quickly assess situations, find resources, demonstrate caring, and solve problems. Successful rehabilitation counselors display traits such as time management, knowledge of human behavior, initiative, and concern for individuals and society. Rehabilitation counselors should find satisfaction in spending time with a wide range of people, including those considered at-risk and those from diverse cultural, social, and educational backgrounds.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. A rehabilitation counselor’s daily duties and responsibilities are determined by the individual’s area of job specialization and work environment. Rehabilitation counseling specialties include physical rehabilitation, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, disability management, corrections, vocational assessment, forensic rehabilitation, pediatric rehabilitation, and geriatric rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation counselors work closely with clients to assess their situations and provide assistance. The rehabilitation counselor’s first task is assessment. The rehabilitation counselor may complete client intake interviews for residential rehabilitation or medical facilities. They may also undertake client evaluations to assess physical, mental, academic, and vocational aptitude and readiness. The rehabilitation counselor then works with clients to develop counseling goals and objectives, oversees client job search efforts, and assists clients with employment, welfare, childcare, and food stamp applications. Depending on client needs, a rehabilitation counselor may also help clients obtain assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, that enable independence and employment, organize on-site job training for clients, help clients arrange transportation and housing, or lead workshops for clients in residential facilities.
Rehabilitation counselors act as liaisons for their clients. They participate in client team meetings and provide client updates to supervisors and client families. Rehabilitation counselors also develop connections and familiarity with community social service agencies and refer clients to community services or agencies as needed.
All rehabilitation counselors ensure that rehabilitation programs meet the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Additionally, all rehabilitation counselors are responsible for completing daily client records and required documentation, such as referral and insurance forms.
In 2022, the majority of rehabilitation counselors worked in vocational rehabilitation services, followed by state governments (excluding schools and hospitals), individual and family services, intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities, and local governments (excluding schools and hospitals).
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. The primary physical environment of rehabilitation counselors varies based on their caseload and specialization. Rehabilitation counselors spend their workdays seeing clients in various settings, including public or private rehabilitation facilities, mental health facilities, schools and universities, insurance companies, job training and placement programs, prisons and hospitals, and personal counseling practices.
Human Environment. Rehabilitation counselors interact with many people. They should be comfortable meeting with colleagues, staff, client families, incarcerated people, and individuals with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities.
Technological Environment. Rehabilitation counselors use computers and telecommunication tools to perform their jobs. They must be comfortable using computers to access client records. Rehabilitation counselors should also be comfortable traveling for work, as they may be required to visit client homes and facilities frequently.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing a career as a rehabilitation counselor should prepare themselves by developing good study habits. Coursework in foreign languages, public safety, sociology, psychology, and education can provide a strong foundation for college-level work in the rehabilitation counseling field. Due to the diversity of rehabilitation counseling specialties, high school students interested in this career path may benefit from seeking internships or part-time work that exposes students to diverse groups of people and social needs.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary students interested in becoming rehabilitation counselors should work towards an undergraduate degree in counseling or a related field, such as psychology or social work. Coursework in education, public safety, and foreign languages may also prove helpful in future work. Postsecondary students can gain work experience and potential advantage in future job searches by securing internships or part-time employment in social service agencies or with individuals or groups with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Interested college students should also research and apply to master’s degree programs for rehabilitation counseling. Master’s degree programs in rehabilitative counseling typically include such courses as counseling theory, assessment, human development, ethics, evaluation, and case management; a practicum or internship is mandatory for degree completion.
Related Occupations
− Marriage and Family Therapist
− Medical Social Worker
− Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Bibliography
"Rehabilitation Counselors." US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211015.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
"Rehabilitation Counselors." US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/rehabilitation-counselors.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.