REHABILITATION COUNSELING

MUSKAAN BHARTI

P.G.D.R.P.
 REHABILITATION
REHABILITATION - According to WHO it is - “a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and
reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment”.

REHABILITATION PSYCHOLOGY - According to APA it is the study and application of psychological

principles on behalf of persons who have disability due to injury or illness. Rehabilitation psychologists, often
within teams, assess and treat cognitive, emotional, and functional difficulties, and help people to overcome
barriers to participation in life activities. Rehabilitation psychologists are involved in practice, research, and
advocacy, with the broad goal of fostering independence and opportunity for people with disabilities.

REHABILITATION COUNSELING is a recognized counselling profession that is designed to assist people

with disabilities in accomplishing their goals and in achieving independence & full participation in all aspects
of community life. A rehabilitation counselor is a counselor who possesses the specialized knowledge, skills,
and attitudes needed to collaborate in a professional relationship with persons with disabilities to achieve their
personal, social, psychological, and vocational goals.
 STAGES OF COUNSELING

PROBLEM GOAL
RAPPORT
ASSESSMENT SETTING

INTERVENTION TERMINATION
HISTORY OF REHABILITATION COUNSELING
• 1920- Smith-Fess Act (Civilian Vocational Rehabilitation Act).
EARLY ORIGINS • Focus on injured veterans post WWI.
• Early programs influenced by Vocational Guidance.

• 1943- Barden-LaFollette Act (included mental health services).

POST WWII EXPANSION • Increased services for soldiers returning from WWII.
• Federal support for rehabilitation services expands.

• 1954: Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendments (funding, training).

PROFESSIONALIZATION
• 1958: Formation of American Rehabilitation Counselling Association (ARCA).

• 1973: Rehabilitation Act (rights protection, expanded services).

LEGAL MILESTONES
• 1990: Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

• Focus on vocational, psychological, and social aspects.

MODERN DEVELOPMENTS
• Integration of assistive technologies and community-based rehabilitation.
 REHABILITATION COUNSELING IN INDIA
• Post independence efforts for war veterans & people with physical disabilities.
EARLY DEVELOPMENTS
• Initial programs influenced by western models.

INSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS • Establishment of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities (NIEPID).
• 1986: Formation of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

• 1995: The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights

POLICY & LEGISLATION and Full Participation) Act.
• Comprehensive Disability Policies

• Development of comprehensive disability policies.

EXPANSION & INTEGRATION • Focus expanded from physical disabilities to include mental and developmental
disabilities.

• 2016: Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
• Integration of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) and technology.
 GOALS OF REHABILITATION COUNSELING
• ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION – Assess client’s strengths & limitations then develop personalized
rehabilitation plans.
• COUNSELING & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT – Providing coping strategies & psychological support and
assisting clients in adapting to physical or mental challenges.
• VOCATIONAL & EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT – Guiding clients in choosing careers or educational paths
and helping them acquire necessary skills and also facilitating job searches.
• INDEPENDENCE – Helping them develop the skills and strategies necessary to become as independent as
possible in daily activities (self-care, mobility, and work).
• ADVOCACY – Helping clients in developing advocacy skills for equal opportunities at workplace, schools or
community.
• RIGHTS PROTECTION – Helping clients understand their legal rights & laws regarding issues.
• COLLABORATION – Counselors coordinate with families, employers, healthcare providers, and social
workers to build a support network.
• ASSISSTIVE TECHNOLOGY - Help them identify and access assistive technologies that can improve their
independence and functioning.
KEY COMPETENCIES OF A COUNSELOR

EMPATHY LISTENING

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
SKILLS

PROBLEM ANALYTICAL
SOLVING SKILLS
 ETHICAL ISSUES
• Violation of confidentiality
• Exceeding one’s level of professional competence
• Negligent practice
• Claiming expertise one does not possess
• Imposing one’s values on a client
• Creating dependency in a client
• Sexual activity/relationship with a client
• Certain conflicts of interest, such as dual or multiple relationships—in which the role of the counselor is
combined with another relationship (either personal or professional) and not monitored for appropriateness
of boundaries
• Questionable financial arrangements like as charging excessive fees
• Improper advertising
INTERVENTION APPROACHES
 HUMANISTIC THEORY

“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and
again; fear must be overcome again and again.”
- ABRAHAM H. MASLOW
 HUMANISTIC THEORY
• Abraham Harold Maslow (1908-1970) is considered the father & spiritual leader of the Humanistic Psychology
movement.
• The term was coined in 1962 by a group of psychologists under the leadership of Maslow.
• He objected to both behaviorism and psychoanalysis, particularly Freud’s approach to personality.
• He believed when psychologists study only abnormal/emotionally disturbed examples of humanity, they ignore all the
positive human qualities - happiness, contentment, & peace of mind.
• He derived this theory not from case histories of clinical patients, but from his research on creative, independent, self-
sufficient, fulfilled adults.
• He concluded that each person is born with the same set of instinctive needs that enables them to grow, develop, and
fulfill our potential.
• According to Maslow human beings are basically good and worthy of respect, & if provided with favourable
environmental conditions they will readily move towards realizing their underlying abilities and potentialities.
• Thus, called as the third force of psychology by Maslow, Humanistic psychology by opposing the pessimism, conflict
and despair of Psychoanalysis on one hand, and the robotic view of human beings by Behaviourists on the other hand,
tried to emphasize potential for healthy & creative growth of people.
 TECHNIQUES
• Unconditional Positive Regard: Therapists offer nonjudgmental acceptance, fostering a safe
environment for clients to express themselves freely.

• Empathy: Therapists strive to understand clients' experiences from their perspective, enhancing the
therapeutic relationship.

• Congruence (Authenticity): Therapists maintain genuineness in interactions, promoting trust and

openness.

• Active Listening: Therapists attentively listen and reflect clients' thoughts, aiding in self-exploration.

• Mindfulness: Encouraging present-moment awareness helps clients gain insight into their thoughts and
feelings.

• Creative Expression: Utilizing art, music, or other creative outlets allows clients to explore emotions
and experiences non-verbally.
 EXISTENTIAL THERAPY

“If you do not express your own original ideas, if you do not listen to your own being, you will have
betrayed yourself”
- ROLLO R. MAY
 EXISTENTIAL THEORY
• Rollo Reece May (1909-1994) & Viktor Emil Frankl (1905–1997) are two of the most influential professional
in the field of existential psychology, with May often referred to as the father of Existential Psychotherapy.
• Existential Psychology has its roots in Existentialism, which is concerned with human beings & their unique
problems of existence.
• It deals with person as such an individual who exists as being-in-the-world (Daesin), & aims at understanding a
person in its total existential reality. Existentialists believe that humans exist in a seemingly meaningless and
absurd world, and must therefore create their own meaning and purpose in life.
• The existential approach disclaims the deterministic view of human nature and emphasizes the freedom that
human beings have to choose what to make of their circumstances, and believe that people form their lives by
the choices they make.
• Existential therapy is a philosophically informed approach to counselling or psychotherapy, it is based on a
broad range of insights, values, and principles derived from phenomenological and existential philosophies.
• Existentialists believe that psychopathology is a failure to make meaningful choices and maximize one’s
potential.
 TECHNIQUES
• Therapeutic Relationship : The most effective and powerful technique, the counselor
transcends his or her own needs and focuses on the client. In the process, the counselor is
open and self-revealing in an attempt to help the client become more in touch with
personal feelings and experiences. The emphasis is on authenticity, honesty, and
spontaneity.

• Open, Interactive Dialogue : This technique emphasizes honest, two-way

communication between the therapist and client, fostering trust and mutual
understanding. The goal is to create a safe space where the client feels heard and
supported without fear of judgment.

• Mindfulness : Existential therapy encourages clients to focus on the present moment

instead of dwelling on past regrets or future worries. This aligns with the existential idea
of living authentically in the here and now.
CONT…
• Philosophical Questioning : This technique involves asking deep, reflective questions
about life’s meaning, purpose, and the client’s personal beliefs. It encourages clients to
introspect, articulate their values and discover what truly matters to them.

• Treating All Experiences as Equal : Existential therapy avoids ranking experiences by

their perceived importance, recognizing that even seemingly mundane or negative
experiences contribute to personal growth and understanding.

• Avoiding Labels : Instead of categorizing experiences as "good" or "bad," existential

therapy reframes them as opportunities for exploration and growth.

• Empathic Reflection: This technique involves the therapist reflecting the client's feelings
and experiences with empathy, helping the client gain insight into their emotions.
CONT…
• Phenomenological Method: This involves the therapist being fully present, engaged, and
free of expectations during each encounter, aiming to understand and accept what a
specific experience signifies to the client at that particular moment in their life.

• Active Listening: This is a fundamental technique where the therapist listens attentively,
showing understanding and interest in the client’s thoughts and feelings.

• Contextualizing Choices : This technique involves examining personal decisions in the

broader context of relationships, society, and the world. It encourages clients to consider
how their actions align with their values and impact others.
LOGOTHERAPY
• Logotherapy, developed by Viktor E. Frankl, is a
form of existential psychotherapy that emphasizes
the human search for meaning as the central
motivational force in life. Frankl's experiences as a
Holocaust survivor profoundly influenced his
therapeutic approach, highlighting the capacity to
find meaning even amidst suffering.

• The word logotherapy comes from the Greek word

“logos”, which refers to meaning or purpose.
 LOGOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES
1. PA R A D O X I C A L I N T E N T I O N is a technique where a client intentionally engages with the
symptom or behavior they wish to change, aiming to reduce anxiety or overcome the issue by
confronting it directly to overcome fear by anticipating the very object of one’s fear.

2. D E R E F L E C T I O N is a technique used to shift a person’s focus away from their own problems or
symptoms by redirecting their attention towards meaningful goals or activities, thus reducing self-
preoccupation and facilitating a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It seeks to redirect a person’s attention
from themselves onto others.

3. S O C R AT I C D I A L O G U E is a tool in logotherapy that walks a client through a process of self-

discovery in their own words. It is different from Socratic questioning, which is often used in CBT to
help break down the clients anxious or negative thoughts. Socratic dialogue is used to find meaning
within a conversation. It allows the client to realize they already have the answers to their purpose,
meaning, and freedom within them.