Master of Science
in Rehabilitation Counseling
The
Rehabilitation Counseling Profession:
What is Rehabilitation Counseling?
Rehabilitation Counselors are counselors who possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to collaborate in a professional counseling relationship with people who have disabilities to achieve their personal, social, psychological, and career goals. Rehabilitation counseling is a specialization within the field of counseling that provides an effective process to assist individuals with disabilities to choose, get and keep roles they value in the community. Among the roles individuals are interested in attaining and maintaining are worker, student, independent community resident, and member of a social network. Through professional practice of rehabilitation counseling, the process of finding or renewing purpose and meaning in life is enhanced as individuals with disabilities gain or regain roles that they prefer and value in the community. Rehabilitation counselors are prepared to help people of all ages with psychiatric, physical, or developmental disabilities to assist them to discover their potential as independent, self-sufficient citizens in the community.
Why select a career in Rehabilitation Counseling?
Rehabilitation Counseling is emerging as the career of choice for
high energy people who want to be creative and independent while they make a very real difference in people’s lives. By becoming a professional in Rehabilitation Counseling, you will have many exciting opportunities to:
- Experience the deep satisfaction of making an impact on the quality of many lives, including your own!
- Work in a creative, compelling, professional environment infused with passion, idealism, and realism.
- Know that the goal is empowerment and involves working with clients to facilitate their choosing, getting and keeping roles they value in the community.
- Achieve your potential while empowering others to reach theirs.
- Enjoy long-term career growth potential with competitive salaries and benefits.
- Be in a career in high demand.
What courses are taken to prepare to become a Rehabilitation Counselor?
As part of your graduate studies in Rehabilitation Counseling, you will take a core curriculum of courses to master counseling skills plus complete specialized courses in helping individuals with disabilities and practice counseling skills learned in the classroom as part of the counseling practicum and internship experiences. The M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling requires two years of full time academic study, or three years of part time study. You can attend the program either full time or part time and may be able to complete the practicum and internship on your current job if you are employed in a setting providing relevant services.
What are the employment opportunities in Rehabilitation Counseling?
Professionals with master’s degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling find employment in many settings and work with individuals who may have psychiatric, physical, or developmental disabilities. Currently, there is high demand in New Jersey, the surrounding regions and nationally for master’s level rehabilitation counselors. Settings where rehabilitation counselors may work include community agencies, state and federal government agencies, the insurance industry, and private practice.
Why is there such a great need for Rehabilitation Counseling professionals?
Some 20% of the American population have one or more disabilities, and 70% of people with disabilities are unemployed. This creates a great demand for rehabilitation professionals including Rehabilitation Counselors who can help individuals with disabilities reach their goals. There is a high demand for qualified professional Rehabilitation Counselors in New Jersey and the surrounding regions as well as nationally.
What other factors are causing a shortage of Rehabilitation Counseling professionals?
Many of the social and physical barriers that once restricted people with disabilities have been overcome. Technology has provided a wealth of new options. More professional services are needed so that people with disabilities can take advantage of these new opportunities. This has led to an increased demand for qualified Rehabilitation Counseling professionals.
Where can I get more information about careers in Rehabilitation Counseling?
More information about employment in Rehabilitation Counseling is available from the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials at http://ncrtm.org/, select Rehab Jobs and also at the Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program at http://www.rcep1.org/rehabjobs/.
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