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What does a rehabilitation counselor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Juleen Buser Ph.D.
What does a rehabilitation counselor do

Rehabilitation counselors are professional counselors who are responsible for helping individuals cope with their disabilities to live independently. These counselors are required to consult other professionals, family members, and individuals when developing a treatment plan based on the goals, strengths, limitations, and personal values of their clients. They must make connections with community support so that individuals with disabilities can avail of the types of services that are available. Rehabilitation counselors must also find employers and educate them in understanding the needs and abilities of disabled people.

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Rehabilitation counselor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real rehabilitation counselor resumes:

  • Collaborate with institutions of higher learning and local organizations to help assign veterans achieve independent living and academic success.
  • Develop and manage multidisciplinary rehabilitation center.
  • Organize and implement individualized rehabilitation programs.
  • Supervise CRC and LMHC students for practicum and internships at site.
  • Provide individualized counseling to psychiatric patients, resulting in their social development.
  • Interview, evaluate interests/aptitudes and transferable skills in order to optimize occupational exploration and customize formal training programs.
  • Provide group and individual counseling to patients receiving medication assist therapy through comprehensive recovery-orient and trauma inform treatment planning and implementation.
  • Develop vocational and educational goals with participants with physical and mental disabilities both general and veterans pursuing employment and/or self sufficient.
  • Develop and manage multidisciplinary rehabilitation center.
  • Complete an ISP, progress notes and monthly reports on individual's progress
  • Compose various official documentation on client's cases for CARF approval.
  • Support individuals with disabilities to identify their job-relate goals and to develop individual plans for employment (IEP).
  • Attend individualized education program (IEP) meetings to discuss the client's plans for transitioning from school to work.
  • Review residents adherence to ISP to determine eligibility for social passes.
  • Organize and implement individualized rehabilitation programs.

Rehabilitation counselor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 23% of Rehabilitation Counselors are proficient in Rehabilitation, Social Work, and Mental Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Patience, and Compassion.

We break down the percentage of Rehabilitation Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Rehabilitation, 23%

    Organized and implemented individualized rehabilitation programs.

  • Social Work, 12%

    Served as counselor/social worker with assigned caseload for residential treatment/reintegration program.

  • Mental Health, 12%

    Collaborate with other professional disciplines such as medical doctors, teachers and mental health personnel to secure supplementary information about clients.

  • Patients, 6%

    Provide group and individual counseling to patients receiving medication assisted therapy through comprehensive recovery-oriented and trauma informed treatment planning and implementation.

  • Management System, 4%

    Planed for and authorized services in adherence with case management system and applicable state and federal regulations.

  • Vocational Rehabilitation, 4%

    Participate in training experiences designed to enhance professional competency in vocational rehabilitation.

Common skills that a rehabilitation counselor uses to do their job include "rehabilitation," "social work," and "mental health." You can find details on the most important rehabilitation counselor responsibilities below.

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a rehabilitation counselor to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "rehabilitation counselors need to be able to communicate effectively with clients." Additionally, a rehabilitation counselor resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "core areas of responsibility entailed therapeutic communications with clients while helping to support independent living. "

Patience. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling rehabilitation counselor duties is patience. The role rewards competence in this skill because "rehabilitation counselors must have patience to help clients learn new skills and strategies to address their disabilities." According to a rehabilitation counselor resume, here's how rehabilitation counselors can utilize patience in their job responsibilities: "helped them develop social skills and learn how to play sports skills used leadership, patience, problem solving"

Compassion. This is an important skill for rehabilitation counselors to perform their duties. For an example of how rehabilitation counselor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "rehabilitation counselors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a rehabilitation counselor: "maintain patience, compassion and strong desire to help those with disadvantages. ".

Interpersonal skills. A big part of what rehabilitation counselors do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to rehabilitation counselor responsibilities because "rehabilitation counselors must be able to work with different types of people." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical rehabilitation counselor tasks: "established and maintained successful interpersonal relationships with adolescent residents. "

Listening skills. Another crucial skill for a rehabilitation counselor to carry out their responsibilities is "listening skills." A big part of what rehabilitation counselors relies on this skill, since "good listening skills are essential for rehabilitation counselors." How this skill relates to rehabilitation counselor duties can be seen in an example from a rehabilitation counselor resume snippet: "provided emergency crisis intervention to consumers as needed and communicated potential crises to hcs crisis intervention after-hours emergency workers. "

See the full list of rehabilitation counselor skills

The three companies that hire the most rehabilitation counselors are:

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Compare different rehabilitation counselors

Rehabilitation counselor vs. Counselor internship

When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision. It is also essential to track the information gathered and coordinate with assigned personnel to adhere to the company's regulations and policies.

If we compare the average rehabilitation counselor annual salary with that of a counselor internship, we find that counselor interns typically earn a $2,389 higher salary than rehabilitation counselors make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both rehabilitation counselor and counselor internship positions are skilled in community resources, community agencies, and crisis intervention.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between rehabilitation counselors and counselor internship. For instance, rehabilitation counselor responsibilities require skills such as "rehabilitation," "social work," "mental health," and "patients." Whereas a counselor internship is skilled in "intake assessments," "substance abuse issues," "mental health issues," and "family therapy." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Counselor interns earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $51,629. On the other hand, rehabilitation counselors are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $43,146.counselor interns tend to reach lower levels of education than rehabilitation counselors. In fact, counselor interns are 6.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Rehabilitation counselor vs. Student support counselor

A student support counselor is responsible for identifying the students' strengths and challenges through one-on-one counseling and establishing solutions to help them overcome difficulties and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Student support counselors assist the faculty in determining appropriate programs and activities to develop the students' capabilities, especially as a way of preparing them with their career objectives. They also coordinate with the students' families for extended guidance and support for their growth and development.

On average, student support counselors earn a $1,782 lower salary than rehabilitation counselors a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both rehabilitation counselors and student support counselors have skills such as "mental health," "community resources," and "community agencies. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that rehabilitation counselor responsibilities requires skills like "rehabilitation," "social work," "patients," and "management system." But a student support counselor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "student support," "professional development," "behavioral issues," and "financial aid."

Student support counselors may earn a lower salary than rehabilitation counselors, but student support counselors earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $44,149. On the other hand, rehabilitation counselors receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $43,146.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Student support counselors tend to reach lower levels of education than rehabilitation counselors. In fact, they're 11.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for rehabilitation counselors in the next 3-5 years?

Juleen Buser Ph.D.

Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching Programs, Rider University

I believe the methods of distance-based services will be more relevant and prevalent. Remote counseling services have been growing in the field for some time, but I would expect the pandemic and the shift for remote counseling during this time will lead to even higher use of such modalities in the future.

Rehabilitation counselor vs. Program counselor

A Program Counselor is an essential part of a school's faculty. It's the counselor's responsibility to ensure that students are benefiting from the school's educational curriculum. This person is also tasked to help students resolve issues and problems that may hinder any educational progress. They are also part of the disciplinary team intended to instill good morals, ethics, and decency in students. The Program Counselor is one of the teacher or professor who has expertise or has a high educational degree in a particular subject or field.

An average program counselor eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of rehabilitation counselors. The difference in salaries amounts to program counselors earning a $709 higher average salary than rehabilitation counselors.By looking over several rehabilitation counselors and program counselors resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "social work," "patients," and "community resources." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, rehabilitation counselors are more likely to have skills like "rehabilitation," "mental health," "management system," and "vocational rehabilitation." But a program counselor is more likely to have skills like "medication administration," "behavioral interventions," "behavioral issues," and "compassion."

Program counselors earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,845. Comparatively, rehabilitation counselors have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $43,146.When it comes to education, program counselors tend to earn lower degree levels compared to rehabilitation counselors. In fact, they're 10.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Rehabilitation counselor vs. Counselor

Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.

Counselors typically earn lower pay than rehabilitation counselors. On average, counselors earn a $6,886 lower salary per year.While both rehabilitation counselors and counselors complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like social work, patients, and community resources, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A rehabilitation counselor uses "rehabilitation," "mental health," "management system," and "vocational rehabilitation." Counselors are more likely to have duties that require skills in "family therapy," "mental health issues," "intake assessments," and "social services. "The education industry tends to pay the highest salaries for counselors, with average annual pay of $37,750. Comparatively, the highest rehabilitation counselor annual salary comes from the government industry.In general, counselors hold lower degree levels compared to rehabilitation counselors. Counselors are 7.8% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of rehabilitation counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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