Vocational Rehabilitation counselling is part of a multi-disciplinary approach to return-to-work planning after a workplace physical injury or an emotional trauma. Traditional rehabilitation usually follows a ‘medical model’, one that is based on diagnosis and treatment of an injury and resulting disability, whereas vocational rehabilitation embraces a ‘competency model’ that addresses not only a person’s physical capacity to return to work, but also looks at the psychosocial issues and emotional pain that an individual has to overcome before return to work is possible.
When a crisis occurs, the sudden onset can be a traumatic experience. Psychosocial issues that can set in after a workplace injury occurs include depression and anxiety, fatigue and sleep problems, substance abuse, and financial difficulties. The ongoing stress of lost wages, the shock of experiencing a dramatic change in our ability to perform day-to-day activities, the grief over the loss of physical capabilities, and the resulting emotional pain can tank our self esteem, delay recovery, and contribute to a bleak outlook on the future.
A vocational rehabilitation counsellor can support individuals with these issues early on in the rehab process resulting in better recovery outcomes. Vocational rehabilitation counsellors advocate for the employee’s mental health and physical well-being by helping them to manage their emotions and maintain a stable state, increase positive social and physical habits, address environmental barriers and stigma, and recognize their right to return to meaningful and productive work.
