Rehabilitation Counselor

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. 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

According to a 2012 survey by Salary.com, vocational rehabilitation counselors earn a median salary of $60,702, while the top 10 percent of people in this field earn $65,436 or more annually.

Rehabilitation counselors work in many different environments. They may include the following:

• Community, private and government-sponsored rehabilitation programs
• Drug rehabilitation centers
• Schools and colleges
• Residential care houses, which help patients adjust to living independently with their disabilities

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.