Foundations RC EDC 239

Rehabilitation Counseling

A specialized branch of counseling focused on helping people with disabilities adjust to life and work. They assist with vocational (jobs), independent living, mental health, and legal cases.

1920 Smith-Fess Act

First major law to establish vocational rehabilitation (VR)

What happened in the 1970’s?

Shifted from a paternalistic approach (making decisions for clients) to empowerment (self determination and inclusion)

The 2017 Merger

Combined CORE and CACREP strengthening RC’s identity within counseling

Where do Rehabilitation Counselors work?

Vocational Rehab, Mental Health and Psychiatric Rehab, Forensic and Legal settings and Substance Abuse and Disability services.

Social Model of Disability

Disability isn’t just medical; society and environment play a role

Abelism

Discrimination against people with disabilities

Intersectionality

Disability interacts with race, gender, class, and other identities

Psychiatric Disability

1/5 adults have a mental illness and 10 million have severe mental illness

Dual Diagnoses

When someone has both substance use disorder and mental illness

Trauma Informed Care

Understanding how trauma affects clients’ well-being

Accreditation

Schools meet standards for training RC’s

Certification

RC’s pass an exam to prove skills

Licensure

Legal permission to practice counseling

Internal Conflicts

Some counseling specialties compete for recognition (school counselors vs ACA)

External Threats

Psychologists and psychiatrists sometimes try to limit RC’s role in mental health treatment

Public Confusion

People don’t always understand what RC’s do

Expanding Specializations for RC

Behavioral health, forensic counseling, and disability advocacy

New Ethical Issues

Social media, healthcare laws and confidentiality

Jessie B Davis

Vocational guidance in school

Frank Parsons

Father of career counseling

Clifford Beers

Mental Health advocate

Carl Rogers

Developed person centered therapy

1918 Soldier Rehabilitation Act

Helped disabled veterans reintegrate

1920 Smith Fess Act

Created civilian vocational rehab programs

1973 Rehabilitation Act

Introduced civil rights protections for disabled individuals

1990 American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Major Anti-discrimination law

2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA)

Reformed workforce training and disability services

What are the fundamental philosophical values of RC’s

Person-environment interaction, strengths-based practice, holistic perspective, collaborative partnerships, promotion of dignity and human rights.

What are the major models of disability?

Moral, medical, labor-market, ecological, social, disability pride, interdependence, disability justice, technology, consumer economic models

What are key disability laws influencing RC

Rehab act 1973, ADA 1990, FMLA, USERRA, WIA, TWWIIA, HIPAA,ACA, GINA

What are the primary certification bodies for RC’s

CRCC Certified Rehab Counselor, NBCC National Cerified Counselor

What are the core job domains in RC

Assessment and evaluation, career development, case management, mental health counseling, research and program evaluation.

What is the impact of the Workforce innovation and opportunity act (WIOA) on RC?

Requires states to coordinate employment/training services; broadens hiring standards for VR professionals

What is case management?

A collaborative process involving assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination, evaluation, and advocacy to meet a client’s comprehensive health needs.

What is a caseload management?

A process of managing multiple cases efficiently, ensuring timely interventions, prioritizing client needs, and maintaining accurate documentation

Why is caseload management important?

It ensures that all clients receive appropriate services without overwhelming the case manager

What are the 6 steps of the case management process?

1. Client identification, selection, and engagement

2. Assessment and opportunity identification

3. Development of a case management plan

4. Implementation and coordination of services

5. Monitoring and evaluation of progress

6. Case closure

What are the 3 primary types of case management in RC?

1. Medical Case Management

2. Psychological Case Management

3. Vocational Case Management

What is Medical Case Management?

It assists clients with medical needs, including discharge planning, referrals to healthcare providers, and coordination of long-term care.

Psychological Case Management

Helps clients address mental health concerns, adjustment to disability, crisis intervention, and referrals to mental health professionals

Vocational Case Management

Supports clients in career development, job placement, retraining, and workplace accomadations

What does medical case management involve?

It includes discharge planning, coordination of medical care, assistance with transitions to skilled nursing facilities or home care, and ensuring access to appropriate treatments

What are some responsibilities of a psychological case manager?

• Referring clients to mental health professionals

• Assisting with addiction treatment

• Supporting adjustment to disability

• Addressing domestic violence concerns

• Providing crisis intervention

• Facilitating pain management treatments

How does vocational case management support clients?

By helping clients return to work or explore new employment opportunities, providing job-seeking assistance, administering aptitude tests, and offering career counseling.

What is life care planning (LCP)

It is a structured method for identifying and quantifying the disability-related needs of an individual.

How is life care planning used in case management?

Often used for clients with significant impairments requiring long term care and vocational assessments

Why is case documentation critical in case management?

It ensures accurate records of services provided, tracks client progress, maintains compliance with legal and ethical standards, and facilitates continuity of care across professionals

How do RC’s navigate complex human service systems?

By developing strong communication and advocacy skills, building professional networks, staying informed about policies, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams

How do advocacy,empowerment and social justice connect?

Advocacy empowering individuals by removing systemic barriers, promoting equity, and ensuring access to resources, all of which contribute to social justice

What are the 3 key areas of multicultural counseling competencies?

1. Awareness of personal biases

2. Understanding client’s worldview

3. Applying culturally appropriate interventions

What is the cultural humility? And why is it important?

Is an openness to learning from client’s lived experiences without arrogance, fostering better therapeutic relationships and more effective interventions.

How has the concept of intersectionality influences advocacy in counseling

Intersectionaility acknowledges that multiple social identities (race, gender, disability) intersect to create unique experiences of discrimination of privilege, emphasizing the need for holistic advocacy approaches

What are 3 types of advocacy in counseling?

1. Representative Advocacy

2. Group Advocacy

3. Self-Advocacy

What is Representative advocacy?

The counselor advocates on behalf of a client who cannot do so themselves

What is Group Advocacy?

A collective effort to address systemic barriers affecting a group

What is Self-Advocacy?

Helping clients develop skills to advocate for their own needs

How does the CCC model integrate advocacy into RC?

It incorporates counseling, coordination, and consultation to promote systemic change while supporting individual clients

What does CCC stand for?

Counseling Coordination, and Consultation

What ethical responsibilities do rehabilitation counselors have in advocacy?

• Ensuring fair access to resources

• Challenging discriminatory practices

• Promoting systemic change

• Avoiding creating dependency while advocating for clients

How has the history of advocacy in RC evolved?

Advocacy was a core focus in the 1970s, but it declined in prominence in the 1980s and 1990s. However, with increased awareness of multiculturalism and marginalized identities, advocacy is once again being recognized as essential.

What are the challenges of integrating advocacy into counseling practice

Some argue that advocacy conflicts with the idea of therapist neutrality. Others point out that advocacy can create dependency or put counselors in conflict with the institutions they work for

How can training in advocacy improve RC?

Effective training helps counselors recognize systemic issues, develop skills in navigating institutional barriers, and learn strategies to empower clients without overstepping professional boundaries.