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. The foundation
of the profession is one of empowerment in which
individuals exercise control over their own
lives. Rehabilitation counselors work one on
one to help people of all ages with psychiatric,
physical, or developmental disabilities to assist
them to discover their potential as independent,
self-sufficient citizens. The goal is to assist
people with disabilities in achieving maximum
psychological, social, career, and economic
independence.
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
preparation is needed to become a Rehabilitation
Counselor?
Rehabilitation Counselors are required to hold
a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.
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 rehabilitation
counseling and practice counseling skills learned
in the classroom as part of the counseling practicum
and internship experiences. The M.S. in Rehabilitation
Counseling require 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.
Rehabilitation counselors are employed in many
settings. These include state and federal government
agencies, community agencies, hospitals, schools,
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?
More information about Rehabilitation Counseling
and other rehabilitation-related professions
is available from the National Clearinghouse
of Rehabilitation Training Materials at www.rehabjobs.org.
|
