Rehabilitation Counseling (RHB)

This course will focus on developing students' competency in Motivational Interviewing (MI). Emphasis is placed on the development of basic listening and reflecting skills. The impact of age, gender, disability, and ethnic diversity on the counseling process is explored. MI is a method of guided conversation designed to enhance motivation for positive change. Students learn how to help clients examine and resolve their ambivalence to make change. Through triadic work, students practice the techniques of MI and adopt its spirit as a facilitative style for developing interpersonal relationships. Motivational Interviewing is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as an evidence-based practice. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have developed proficiency in a SAMHSA evidence-based practice.

The counseling practicum in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling fosters professional growth, knowledge, and skills development along with an awareness of the counseling process and issues that affect service delivery for clients. It is the student's first immersion experience in a clinical setting. Students are expected to complete an average of 10+ hours per week in the field as a clinical counselor in training, supervised by an on-site counselor approved by the University. Students are required to complete 100 hours by the end of the semester. There is a seminar class that accompanies the clinical component where students will also participate in a class presenting clinical cases, submitting recordings for review, and journals reflecting their experiences. Evaluations that indicate a student is not at skill competency in this course will require the student complete a Professional Development Plan. This is to provide additional direction and assistance in gaining skill competency. For CRBC students, this replaces RHB 521: Practicum II and Seminar.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of past and current psychotherapeutic approaches with the primary focus being placed on the cognitive behavioral, evidence-based therapeutic intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Therapy (DBT) used for the treatment of people with Borderline Personality Disorder {BPD) as well as other mental health related issues. Students gain insight into the practical application of this intervention through discourse and subsequent practice with fieldwork application in their clinical courses. Additionally, this seminar addresses principles of crisis intervention for people with mental health disabilities during crises, disasters, and trauma-causing events. Students learn to implement effective crisis assessment tools for clients that are in overwhelming emotional turmoil and recommend the appropriate clinical intervention(s) based on the aforementioned.

Counselors need expertise concerning the medical aspects of disabilities when working with clients with mental health issues. Clients typically experience a variety of co-occurring medical and functional issues that impact their ability to achieve wellness, independence and have a good quality of life. Major types of disabilities are examined and explored in relationship to the psychosocial impacts of a disability for the clients. The implications of chronic illnesses on clients' functioning in their personal, social, occupational and independent living are examined. Students acquire working knowledge of the use of community resources and the medical knowledge to work with interdisciplinary teams to assist in the development of appropriate individualized rehabilitation treatment plans. Students develop an understanding of the basis for the diagnostic and prognostic judgments in assessing a client's functional capacity.

Rehabilitation counseling is a critical specialization within the counseling profession. Within this course, students will learn about the rich history including major disability laws that have impacted attitudes and practice; a philosophy of rehabilitation counseling; the professional identity, roles and settings of rehabilitation counselors; the standards of practice, legal and ethical issues and responsibilities of rehabilitation counselors; various models for understanding disability with specific attention to the biopsychosocial model; assessment; rehabilitation relevant research; vocational rehabilitation systems and practice; assistive technology; major concepts that guide rehabilitation counseling {including independent living, universal design, functional capacity and inclusion}; self-assessment; and counselor awareness related to disabilities and how it can impact counselor/client relationships.

Internship I and Seminar is the second (out of 3) course in the Rehabilitation Counseling clinical sequence. Student interns will practice clinical counseling skills in clinical field placements approved by the internship coordinator. Students will complete 300 direct and indirect clinical hours in community organizations and attend a weekly seminar to discuss and process experiences, examine ethical practice, and further develop counseling skills and knowledge for professional practice. The agency experience must be primarily focused on providing direct rehabilitation and mental health counseling services. The experience should include group work as well as individual one to one counseling services. The internship must be supervised for an average of one hour per week by a MA level counselor who meets the University requirements for a supervisor. Seminar requirements for this class are subject to change based on RI LMHC licensure requirements.

Internship II and Seminar is the final course in the Rehabilitation Counseling specialization clinical sequence. Student interns will continue to hone clinical counseling skills in clinical field placements approved by the internship coordinator. Students will complete 300 direct and indirect clinical hours in community organizations and attend a weekly seminar to discuss and process experiences, examine ethical practice, and further develop counseling skills and knowledge for professional practice. The agency experience must be primarily focused on providing direct rehabilitation and mental health counseling services. The experience should include group work as well as individual one to one counseling services. The internship must be supervised for an average of one hour per week by a MA level counselor who meets the University requirements for a supervisor. Requirements for this class are subject to change based on RI LMHC licensure requirements.

Special topics courses related to rehabilitation and addictions counseling content are offered on an annual basis.

This course will examine the fundamentals of drug pharmacology and drug interactions. Lectures will review current psychotropic medication protocols as well as herbal and nutraceutical complements to psychotherapy and therapeutic interventions.