Vocational rehabilitation counselors help people recover from physical injuries, mental disorders, and substance abuse issues to find employment. They meet with clients to monitor progress, discuss options, and improve work skills. Counselors work with a range of clients and require a master’s degree and ongoing education.
A vocational rehabilitation counselor is a licensed professional who helps people recover from physical injuries, mental disorders and substance abuse issues so that they can find meaningful employment or successfully return to their former jobs. Counselors meet regularly with clients to monitor their progress in recovery, discuss their options, and help them develop and improve their work skills. Many professionals have access to government funding information and job placement resources to help their clients further.
People who are recovering from accidents, addictions, or chronic mental illness often face difficulties returning to work or looking for new jobs. Vocational rehabilitation counselors provide essential encouragement and information for these people. A counselor may interview a client to determine their vocational goals, abilities, and limitations. He or she will explain the options a client may have and support them in their active job search. A vocational rehabilitation counselor can help a client access career placement resources, organize a resume, fill out applications and arrange interviews.
The type of clients a professional rehabilitation counselor may work with can vary greatly, from individuals who are experiencing stress or depression to accident victims who have developed serious physical or mental disabilities. A counselor must be comfortable working with a wide range of people and dealing with very different disorders. It may be necessary for him to research a specific client’s condition to better understand what the person is going through and determine the best means of helping the person recover.
To become a professional rehabilitation counselor, a person typically must obtain at least a master’s degree in counseling. Upon completion of the master’s program, a new adviser can start working under the supervision of experienced advisers for about two years. A counselor is frequently evaluated on performance and given advice on how to improve services. After the probationary period, he or she may take a written licensing exam administered by their state or country. Additional certification is generally not required, although some counselors choose to take nationally recognized certification exams to strengthen their credentials and increase their chances of finding work.
Constant advances in medicine, treatment techniques, prosthetic devices, and equipment in the workplace require a professional rehabilitation counselor to engage in ongoing education and research. He or she needs to keep up to date on these advancements in order to help clients take advantage of every opportunity to recover from their impairments and engage in meaningful work. In fact, some states and countries require counselors to take continuing education courses to maintain their licenses.
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