WHAT IS REHABILITATION COUNSELING?

Rehabilitation counseling is a systematic process that 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:

  • Assessment and appraisal
  • Diagnosis and treatment planning
  • Career (vocational) counseling
  • Individual and group counseling treatment interventions focused on facilitating adjustment to the medical and psychosocial impact of disability
  • Case management, referral, and service coordination
  • Program evaluation and research
  • Interventions to remove environmental, employment, and attitudinal barriers
  • Consultation services among multiple parties and regulatory systems.
  • Job analysis, job development, and placement services, including assistance with employment and job accommodations
  • Provision of consultation about and access to rehabilitation technology

 
Rehabilitation counselors provide services within the Scope of Practice for Rehabilitation Counseling. They demonstrate beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and skills to provide competent rehabilitation counseling services and to work collaboratively with diverse groups of individuals, including clients, as well as with programs, institutions, employers, and service delivery systems and provide both direct (e.g., counseling) and indirect (e.g., case review, feasibility evaluation) services. Regardless of the specific tasks, work settings, or technology used, rehabilitation counselors demonstrate adherence to ethical standards and make reasonable efforts to ensure the standards are vigorously enforced.

Source: Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. (2023). Scope of practice statement. Retrieved May 2, 2023 from https://crccertification.com/scope-of-practice/ 

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