Rehabilitation Counselors
Overview
Rehabilitation counselors help people with disabilities live independently and find meaningful work by providing counseling and creating personalized treatment plans. They work as part of healthcare teams, using modern assessment tools and assistive technologies to evaluate clients' strengths and connect them with resources like job training or adaptive equipment. These professionals collaborate with doctors, therapists, and employers to advocate for disability rights and workplace accommodations. A bachelor's degree in rehabilitation counseling, psychology, or social work is typically required, with many positions preferring a master's degree.
Did you know?
Licensing and certification requirements for rehabilitation support specialists vary significantly across different states, requiring careful research of local regulations and ongoing professional development.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$48,045.29 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Management of Financial Resources
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- Confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals to develop and implement client rehabilitation programs.
- Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups.
- Arrange for physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients' needs and developing rehabilitation plans.
- Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.
- Participate in job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.
- Collaborate with community agencies to establish facilities and programs for persons with disabilities.
- Collaborate with clients' families to implement rehabilitation plans, such as behavioral, residential, social, or employment goals.
- Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
- Develop diagnostic procedures to determine clients' needs.
- Manage budgets and direct case service allocations, authorizing expenditures and payments.
- Supervise rehabilitation counselors and staff.
- Arrange for on-site job coaching or assistive devices, such as specially equipped wheelchairs, to help clients adapt to work or school environments.
- Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
Career Considerations
State-Specific Certification Requirements
Licensing and certification requirements for rehabilitation support specialists vary significantly across different states, requiring careful research of local regulations and ongoing professional development.
Emotional Resilience and Communication Skills
Success in this field demands strong emotional intelligence and exceptional interpersonal skills to effectively support clients through challenging recovery processes.
Growing Job Market with Advancement Opportunities
The rehabilitation field is experiencing steady growth in the US due to an aging population and increased focus on community-based care, offering multiple career progression paths.