Rehabilitation counselors work with individuals with disabilities to improve their quality of life through the pursuit of independent living and employment. Counseling is provided to assist individuals in coping with personal, attitudinal, social, and vocational barriers that result from the constraints of a chronic illness or disability and inequitable environments. They assess the individual’s strengths and limitations, provide personal and vocational counseling, develop and oversee rehabilitation programming and treatment planning, consult as a member of interdisciplinary teams, offer vocational training, and provide job placement and post-employment support services. Other services offered by the rehabilitation counselor include case management and service coordination, advocacy and education work, and consultation (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2020). The intent of this work is to empower the individual to develop personal resiliency and vocational skills, become employed, live independently, and integrate into the community through the reduction or removal of attitudinal and architectural barriers.
Rehabilitation counselors work with individuals who have an array of disabilities including, but not limited to, physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, mental health conditions, substance use disorders, cognitive and intellectual disabilities, neurological disorders, and chronic illness and health–related conditions. They may also work with specialized populations, such as transition-aged youth, justice-involved clients, injured workers, or veterans.
Nearly 1 in 4 people have a disability (CDC, 2020), so as experts in disability, the demand for rehabilitation counselors is high. At present, projections for rehabilitation counselors are expected to grow by at least 10% in throughout the country by the year 2030 (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2020). The Commission on the Rehabilitation Counselor Certification’s recent salary report for rehabilitation counselors showed a mean wage of $73,851 for those working full-time, with the highest salaries in the Northeast (CRCC, 2021). Rehabilitation counselors may work in a wide variety of counseling and human services settings including state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, substance use treatment programs, Veteran’s Affairs hospitals and clinics, Independent Living Centers, educational settings (secondary and college/university), private rehabilitation companies, transitional homes, rehabilitation facilities, mental health centers, correctional facilities, insurance companies, business and industry, and private practices.
Various job titles given to the rehabilitation counselor may include but are not limited to: rehabilitation counselor, vocational rehabilitation counselor, vocational rehabilitation specialist, job placement specialist, case manager, employment specialist, vocational evaluator, disability services coordinator, or rehabilitation consultant.
National certification is offered through the CRCC, and counselors who pass the exam are given the designation of a CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor), which is recognized nationally. In addition, rehabilitation counselors who are licensed as a professional counselor in their respective states may have the opportunity to practice privately. Students in the Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health Program are also prepared to seek licensure as a mental health counselor (LMHC) in the state of New York. Additional information about rehabilitation counseling may be found online by searching the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Career OneStop, or O*NET. These sites offer detailed information about roles and functions, work conditions, salary, and employment projections.