According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook,
“Rehabilitation Counselors help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of disabilities. They counsel people with both physical and emotional disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, or other causes. They evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling, offer case management support, and arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement. Rehabilitation counselors interview both individuals with disabilities and their families, evaluate school and medical reports, and confer with physicians, psychologists, employers, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists to determine the capabilities and skills of the individual. They develop individual rehabilitation programs by conferring with the client. These programs often include training to help individuals develop job skills, become employed, and provide opportunities for community integration. Rehabilitation counselors are trained to recognize and to help lessen environmental and attitudinal barriers. Such help may include providing education, and advocacy services to individuals, families, employers, and others in the community. Rehabilitation counselors work toward increasing the person’s capacity to live independently by facilitating and coordinating with other service providers.”
Rehabilitation counselors can be found in private practice, in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, universities, schools, government agencies, insurance companies, and other organizations where people are being treated with the goal of going to or returning to work.
Entry level positions require a Master’s degree in Counseling. The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accredits qualifying graduate programs.
Common undergraduate majors include psychology, sociology, or other human services-related fields.
Job opportunities are projected to be good.
A helpful link is: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/rehabcoun0809.pdf
