What is Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling?

Rehabilitation Counselors are counselors with specialized training and expertise in providing counseling and other services to persons with disabilities. A “disability” is defined any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for someone with the condition to participate in major life activities: activities of daily life, work, social participation, & more. As mental health professionals, we assist persons with a wider range of physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals in the most integrated settings possible through the application of the counseling process. The counseling process involves communication, goal setting, and beneficial growth or change through self-advocacy, psychological, vocational, social, and behavioral interventions.

How Can Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Help Me?

Finding a skilled clinical rehabilitation counselors & therapists has its benefits. Unlike traditional psychologists and therapists, clinical rehabilitation counselors offer the following:

• A person-first approach to working with you, embrace a belief in the dignity and worth of all people, with a focus on your strengths and asset. .

• A commitment to the independence, integration, and inclusion of people with chronic illnesses & disabilities in the community & the work world.

• Competency and understanding of the chronic illness & disability experience for individuals, families, and society at large.

• Work with a holistic counseling approach, helping you increase and maintain your overall physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

• Insights, empathy, and safe space to help you through illness & disability loss, grief, and adjustment

• The skill-set to help you build your self-management tool-set, navigate the health system, advocate for yourself, and help you to recover hope, purpose, and the recovery of a satisfying life.

• Assistance & guidance in helping you re-define, re-think, and explore your work and employment, need for accommodations, assistive technology, or re-training & education through knowledge of vocational rehabilitation, disability benefits, and the ADA.

• A commitment to equal justice to equalize opportunities to participate in all rights and privileges available to all people; and a commitment to supporting persons with disabilities in advocacy activities to achieve this status and empower themselves.

My Scope of Practice

An individual scope of practice is based on one’s own knowledge of the abilities and skills that have been gained through a program of education and professional experience. My scope of practice includes persons with medical, physical, & mental health disabilities. Note: I do not work with clients who have cognitive or developmental disabilities