Rehabilitation Counseling

Rehabilitation counselors guide people with mental, physical, developmental and emotional disabilities through the complete rehabilitation process—from the diagnosis or injury stage through personal recovery, independence and employment. Each individual faces unique challenges in overcoming disability; rehabilitation counselors offer emotional support and professional guidance through this difficult process.

These professionals focus their energy and counseling expertise on helping people with disabilities attain their personal and professional goals while living independent lives to the highest extent possible. Rehabilitation counselors focus on what each individual can accomplish (and improving this range), not on their personal limitations.

Rehabilitation counselors perform the following duties:

• Work with patients in rehabilitation programs funded by communities, private organizations and government programs, such as the Veteran's Administration or Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
• Customize rehabilitation programs for patients
• Educate patients about how to live independent lives with their disabilities
• Connect patients with support groups, sports organizations and other community and social organizations that provide emotional support and understanding
• Develop disability technology
• Educate employers and patients about the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Coordinate with job placement agencies and other vocational rehabilitation counselors that refer disabled individuals to employers

Work Environment

Community, private and government-sponsored rehabilitation programs most often employ rehabilitation counselors. They are also employed at drug rehabilitation centers, schools, colleges and residential care houses, which are equipped with the necessary tools to help patients adjust to living independently with their disabilities.

Training and Education

If you are interested in becoming a rehabilitation counselor, the first step is to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology, human services or rehabilitative services (this once-rare undergraduate degree is becoming more common). While some people stop there, most successful professionals hold two-year master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling.

Some states have certification or licensing requirements to practice rehabilitation counseling; check with your state counseling requirements to find out more.