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Rehabilitation counseling is a profession that holistically applies counseling skills to assist individuals with psychiatric, developmental, cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities to achieve their maximum level of independence, integration, and participation in the community and the world of work in accordance with each individuals personal goals, career aspirations, and perception of quality of life. 

A Rehabilitation Counselor is a highly trained professional who uses a client centered approach to counsel individuals with disability and assist them in attaining optimal function, including psychological, social, and vocational function in the context of their personal goals, abilities, and perception of quality of life.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs) are employed in many different types of rehabilitation service agencies, transition programs, and advocacy agencies.  Rehabilitation counselors are trained to work with individuals who have a disability which may include the following: developmental disability, psychiatric disability, physical disability, substance abuse and/or dependence. 

Although students in the Rehabilitation Counseling program at UNC receive training which would enable them to work with individuals in all disability groups, the program offers two areas of specialization:  Developmental Disability or Psychiatric Disability.

Rehabilitation counselors work in a number of settings including:

• Mental Health Facilities
• Private rehabilitation agencies
• Public rehabilitation agencies
• Substance treatment facilities
• Correctional facilities
• Schools
• State and Federal Offices
• Hospitals

Examples of employment of recent graduates include:

• Post Traumactic Stress Unit of VA Hospital
• Traumatic Brain Injury Agency
• Substance Treatment facility
• Private Rehabilitation Agency
• Public Rehabilitation Agency

What special training do rehabilitation counselors receive?

In addition to receiving training in counseling theories and practice, rehabilitation counselors receive additional training, which enables them to consider the medical, psychosocial, spiritual, family, and environmental impact of disability on the individual's ability to function in the environment of their choice. Special courses in medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, job analysis, accommodation, placement, enable rehabilitation counselors to evaluate and identify individual client needs and apply interventions which assist individuals to achieve their optimal functional capacity.

Students in the Rehabilitation Counseling program at UNC receive additional training in developmental or psychiatric disability, depending on the area of specialization chosen.