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Rehabilitation Counselors

Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.

What you’d do

  • Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
  • Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
  • Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups.
  • Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Speaking
  • Coordination
  • Service Orientation

How to get there

Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

Also called

  • CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor)
  • Job Coach
  • Vocational Placement Specialist
  • VRC (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor)
  • Classification Counselor
  • Employment Advisor

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