Lessons Learned by Rehabilitation Counselors and Physicians in Services to COVID-19 Long-Haulers: A Qualitative Study

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may cause long-lasting adverse consequences after acute recovery, including functional limitations and reduced work capacity. Individuals with long-lasting complications of COVID-19 are known as long-haulers. There is a knowledge gap on how COVID-19 complications affect return-to-work (RTW) efforts. We aimed to describe the challenges that long-haulers encounter when RTW from the perspectives of rehabilitation professionals. In this study, four certified rehabilitation counselors and four rehabilitation physicians in outpatient rehabilitation centers participated in focus groups. Participants discussed challenges in working with long-haulers, including personal attributes, post-COVID-19 symptoms and complications, uncertain recovery and unpredictable outcomes, limited health care accessibility and support, and unsupportive work environments. Participants provide individualized services to meet long-haulers’ diverse needs as they do for all persons with disabilities, although they expressed uncertainty due to the variable disease course and risk of infection. Modifying workplace policies, especially gradual RTW, were frequently mentioned accommodations. The findings highlight the RTW issues of long-haulers. We provide recommendations on increasing awareness of the challenges and job accommodations of long-haulers.

Preliminary Establishment of the Dispositional Development Scale: Incorporating the Working Alliance in Professional Disposition Assessment

This article discusses the initial development of an instrument which was designed to aid educators in assessing professional dispositions in rehabilitation counselor education students, in accordance with the 2016 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) Standards. Furthermore, the development of the instrument was embedded with the concept of the working alliance (Bordin, 1979). The current study leads to the introduction of the Dispositional Development Scale (DDS), which was created using a two-phase approach, including content validation by Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (n = 148). The implications for using DDS in rehabilitation counselor education are significant and include a systematic, more transparent method of evaluating students' nonacademic competencies.

Evaluating Student Performance and Qualifications in Rehabilitation Counseling

Purpose: To determine methods of student learning assessment and clinical training in rehabilitation counseling programs. With many shifts occurring in postsecondary education and in rehabilitation counseling, it is critical to understand these current practices.Method: The authors used an Internet-based survey design to solicit program approaches to student learning assessment and clinical training. Respondents (n = 34) provided description of assessments, perceived effectiveness, satisfaction, and brief comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches employed by the program.Results: Programs reported various assessments used during and at the completion of the training program. Programs also reported varied frequency and intensity of involvement with clinical placement, although most seek certified rehabilitation counselors as supervisors along with other professionals.Conclusion: Strengthening assessment methods to be able to show that students possess the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to become effective counselors is a high priority for our field and will become increasingly necessary within the context of changing credentialing standards.

Rehabilitation Counselor Preparation to Work With LGBTQ Persons Living With Chronic Illness/Disability: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Purpose:To identify meaningful educative experiences that contributed to the development of rehabilitation counselors’ abilities to provide effective rehabilitation counseling services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons living with chronic illness/disabilities (CID).Method:This was a secondary analysis of a larger qualitative data set that examined the educational experiences and practices of 12 certified rehabilitation counselors working with LGBTQ persons.Results:Using a qualitative content analysis methodology, 5 categories were identified: (a) formal didactic education, (b) affirmative supervision and consultation during practica/internship, (c) extracurricular-related training, (d) identification, and (e) family of origin.Conclusion:To help facilitate future counselors’ self-perceived abilities to provide effective services to LGBTQ persons living with CID, rehabilitation counselor educators should place more emphasis on LGBTQ-related issues in their curriculum and provide practical (experiential) learning opportunities for their students.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselors Role in the Acceptance of Disability of Returning Afghanistan and Iraq Military Veterans With Disabilities

Purpose:To understand the level of acceptance of disability by veterans and rehabilitation counselor’s role in that acceptance.Method:The Acceptance of Disability Scale-Revised was given to 117 veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who acquired disabilities. Their experiences working with certified rehabilitation counselors was also examined.Results:Results indicate that veterans overall are at a lower acceptance of their disability than other groups. Veterans with the most severe disabilities and lower acceptance scores are more likely to seek assistance from certified rehabilitation counselors.Conclusion:Veterans with disabilities need to have early and proper interventions from qualified counselors to best transition into civilian life. Knowledge of the stages of disability and steps to acceptance by counselors can aid veterans navigating this process.

Exploring Vocational Evaluation Practices following Traumatic Brain Injury

Background. Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) face many challenges when attempting to return to work (RTW). Vocational evaluation (VE) is a systematic process that involves assessment and appraisal of an individual’s current work-related characteristics and abilities.Objective. The aims of this study are to (1) examine demographic and employment characteristics of vocational rehabilitation providers (VRPs), (2) identify the specific evaluation methods that are used in the VE of individuals with TBI, and (3) examine the differences in assessment method practices based upon evaluator assessment preferences.Methods. This exploratory case study used a forty-six-item online survey which was distributed to VRPs.Results. One hundred and nine VRPs accessed the survey. Of these, 74 completed the survey. A majority of respondents were female (79.7%), Caucasian (71.6%), and holding a master’s degree (74.3%), and more than half (56.8%) were employed as state vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs). In addition, over two-thirds (67.6%) were certified rehabilitation counselors (CRCs). Respondents reported using several specific tools and assessments during the VE process.Conclusions. Study findings reveal differences in use of and rationales for specific assessments amongst VRPs. Understanding VRP assessment practices and use of an evidence-based framework for VE following TBI may inform and improve VE practice.

Application of the Knowledge Validation Inventory–Revised to Assess Current Training Needs of State-Federal Rehabilitation Counselors

Purpose:To identify the current training needs of state-federal rehabilitation counselors and determine if the self-perceived training needs differ for participants who are a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) to those counselors with out the CRC credential.Method:A mixed-methods internet-based survey design was utilized and included descriptive, qualitative, and ex post facto approaches on a sample of rehabilitation counselors (N= 341) via the Knowledge Validation Inventory-Revised (KVI-R).Results:The participants reported high or moderate self-perceived training needs on 9 of the 10 content areas on the KVI-R; however, no significant differences between certified and non-certified rehabilitation counselors were found. Highest degree earned and numbers of years in practice were significant predictors of training needs.Conclusion:The results from this study indicate a self-reported need for additional training of state-federal rehabilitation counselors in many of the CORE knowledge domains considered essential for rehabilitation counseling. The findings also indicate that as level of education and experience increased among this sample, the need for training decreased.

Labor Market Surveys: Importance to and Preparedness of Certified Rehabilitation Counselors

The purpose of this study was to explore certified rehabilitation counselors’ (CRCs’) importance of and preparedness in the labor market survey (LMS) competency through data collected by theKnowledge Validation Inventory-Revised(KVI-R) instrument used by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification’s (CRCC) 2011 role and function study (CCRC, 2011b; Leahy, Chan, Sung, & Kim, 2011). LMS is a primary data collection method for gathering occupational and labor market information. Thus, this competency was examined because of its importance in the areas of rehabilitation counseling where this data is usually applied—transferable skills analysis, vocational decision making, job development and placement, and forensics. In this ex post facto secondary analysis, the single largest group of CRCs found LMS to beverytoextremely importantbut also reported onlymoderate preparednessto perform the function. Significant differences were found by geographical location, particularly between the Mid and South Atlantic, and in experience. Discussion, conclusions, implications, and areas for further research are addressed.

Current Knowledge and Training Needs of Certified Rehabilitation Counselors to Work Effectively With Veterans With Disabilities

Veterans with disabilities have gained national attention in recent years because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This study examined certified rehabilitation counselors’ (CRCs ) knowledge and preparation for working with veterans with disabilities on their rehabilitation. Results indicate that CRCs report low levels of preparation in some of the areas deemed important by veterans and professionals. However, CRCs report high knowledge in many important areas to work effectively with veterans with disabilities.