Inside Rehabilitation Counseling

During the week this episode is releasing, we observe Veterans Day, and as we all know, military service and the veteran community are the bedrock of how rehabilitation counseling came to be. Many Certified Rehabilitation Counselors themselves are veterans or have close ties to the veteran community, including those who directly work with individuals to find employment and navigate their return to civilian life. Julianne Hansen is the Founder and CEO of Team Hansen Education and Empowerment. Much of Julianne’s work has focused on showing the veteran community that they are supported. As a CRC with a disability and spouse to a permanently disabled veteran, Julianne has a unique perspective on the support necessary to help this population thrive, and it begins with meeting each person where they are. 

Since the late 1970s, the Pittsburgh Public School system has hired Certified Rehabilitation Counselors to provide services for students with disabilities, ranging from ensuring accommodations are in place to providing transition services that prepare them for life after high school. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 7.5 million, or 15% of all public school students, receive special education services. Because these services are so vital, Pittsburgh Public Schools prioritizes ensuring that qualified, highly trained professionals deliver them by hiring Certified Rehabilitation Counselors as part of the interdisciplinary team working in the special education program at their schools. One of those CRCs is our guest for this episode.

Crystal Evans is the Transition Coordinator for Pittsburgh Public Schools and has been with the school system for 18 years. Crystal spoke with me about the impact transition services make on not only students with disabilities and their families, but also the community. You’ll also hear some thoughts on how employer outreach can help destigmatize hiring individuals with disabilities, and a few success stories that point to the importance of ensuring every student has this quality of professionalism and service.

According to the World Health Organization, around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological disorders globally. One of the challenges of epilepsy is that folks experiencing the disorder can’t always get a precise diagnosis. On top of that, many people misunderstand epilepsy, leading to stigma and a lack of public awareness of how to help someone experiencing a seizure. That’s where organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia come in.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia serves over 110,000 residents facing epilepsy and seizure disorders, and Dr. Courtney Dean, the Director of Programming, is our guest for this episode. As a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Courtney utilizes her skills and training to oversee statewide programming and outreach initiatives, serving as a prime example of how CRCs can leverage their expertise in leadership positions to drive change for individuals with disabilities.

Helpful Links:

Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia Socials

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Secure First Aid Training (Seizure First Aid) | Epilepsy Foundation

There are two ways to get certified in Seizure First Aid:

• On-demand, at your own pace
• Live, instructor-led, offered virtually or in person

Certification is available through the Epilepsy Foundation national website or by contacting your local Epilepsy Foundation affiliate.

An increasing amount of research is exploring the connection between work and wellness. This includes mental wellness and physical health, both of which can be positively impacted by having employment, particularly for those navigating a disability. Simply put, work is more than just a means to earn a living or spend a significant portion of your week. 

For veterans who return to work after service, it can be tricky in general. When you combine the return to civilian life with a disability, it’s important to have the right people in your corner helping you to navigate that transition. On this episode, I had a conversation with three individuals who have meaningful insight into serving veterans. You’ll hear from:

Monnie Rebecca Waltz, BS, MRC, VE, CRC - Program Manager in Vocational Rehabilitation at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center

Christopher Briggman, MRC, CRC, CVE, LCMHC, LPC - a CRC and Vocational Expert who previously worked for the VA, now runs two practices, Balance Consulting & Counseling, and Adjusted Ability Vocational Group 

Keith Hosey - Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center. 

References to Research Mention in Today's Episdode:

Large meta-analyses of the available research has provided support for the conclusions that (1) unemployment leads to decline in mental and physical health and increased risk of suicide, and (2) re-employment leads to significant improvements in these states (McKee-Ryan et al., 2005; Paul & Moser, 2009). 

Findings from (Kukla 2012) demonstrate Working clients had fewer days of hospitalization, and had greater reduction in negative symptoms than non-working clients.

(Burns 2014) found Those who worked had better global functioning, fewer symptoms, less social disability; greater job tenure was associated with better functioning.

(Elbogen 2020) found that Veterans lacking money to cover basic needs (food, clothes, shelter, transportation, medical care) had triple the risk of endorsing suicidal ideation compared to Veterans with money to cover basic needs (22% versus 7%).

Other research examining Veterans and homelessness shows that peak risk of suicide occurs just prior to eviction (Culhane et al., 2019).

In research findings by (Abraham 2022), employment was associated with 45.9% lower suicide risk in the year following discharge from VR.

Since the early 1980s, Community Partnerships has worked to create new opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Serving over 1,100 people a year, their cross-functional team includes job coaches, consultants, trainers, and of course, Certified Rehabilitation Counselors – two of whom I had the pleasure to talk to for this episode of the podcast.

Lindsay Prenoveau, Community Partnership’s Brain Injury Support Services Program Manager, and Rachel Weber, a Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapist, walked me through the ways in which their organization prioritizes individual-tailored care and case management, as well as the strategy of educating the public on the impact of Cognitive Rehabilitation.

Helpful Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

https://www.communitypartnerships.org/

Blog: https://www.communitypartnerships.org/category/cr-corner/

Facebook and Instagram: @communitypartnershipsnc

BlueSky: @cpinc.bsky.social

Nobody gets more questions here at CRCC than our Certification Department. Certification Supervisor Jen Marcu works with her team to answer questions, clarify steps in the process, and connect with thousands of certificants and future CRCs across the US. 

Jen is our guest this week, and we will explore some of the questions she hears most from students and test-takers. We made a list of the top 10 most frequently asked questions about the CRC Exam and tackled them one by one to hopefully help any of you out there preparing for test day.

Helpful Links Discussed in Today's Episode:

CRC Certification Guide

CRC Exam Overview and Knowledge Domains

Exam Prep Resources

Traumatic Brain Injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with an estimated 5.3 million Americans living today with the disability. Of all types of injury, those to the brain are among the most likely to result in death or permanent disability, making research and a deep understanding of how to navigate services for those impacted by TBI vital.  

Shannon Juengst, PhD, CRC, is a Senior Scientist and Clinical Investigator at TIRR Memorial Hermann and an Adjunct Associate Professor of PM&R at UT Houston Health Sciences Center. 

On this episode of the Inside Rehabilitation Counseling podcast, Dr. Juengst shares insights into her work, including why it’s crucial to keep research human and where Certified Rehabilitation Counselors need to expand their TBI knowledge to be effective team rehabilitation team members. 

Helpful Resources

TBI Fact Sheets: https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets

Brain Injury Association of America Resource Center: https://biausa.org/brain-injury

Dr. Juengst's Bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/shannon.juengst.1/bibliography/public/

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Illinois Institute for Rehabilitation and Employment Research (IIRER) is a hub for innovation and discovery that addresses vocational behavior, community integration, career development, and employment. Partnering with communities in Illinois and around the world, IIRER is continuously innovating ways to enhance the skills of rehabilitation professionals. 

On June 20th, the institute will host its Symposium on Mental Health and Work, providing a unique opportunity for professionals in Illinois and surrounding areas to enhance their knowledge and skills in serving clients with mental health and other health conditions. 

The intersection of mental health, work, and disability is a crucial area for researchers and practitioners. Dr. Xiaolei Tang and Dr. David Strauser took the time to share some information about the Symposium and indicate why this type of training is crucial to improving clinical practices.

Register for the 2025 IIRER Symposium on Mental Health and Work on June 20th here.

Joseph Young is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, an LRC in Massachusetts, and owner of JOSEPH YOUNG CONSULTING, L.L.C. 

In this conversation, Joe shares his perspective on the importance of credentials, his journey with an invisible disability, and how CRCs who want to start their own private practice can begin their journey to working for themselves.

Link to Joseph's Business Website: https://josephyoungconsulting.com/

CRCC Job Board: https://crccertification.com/joblisting/current-job-postings/

If you are interested in submitting a position to the CRCC Job Board, please click here.

Pietrina Probst is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Director of ADA, Student Access & Disability Services at Elgin Community College. In this conversation, Pietrina shares insights into the unique considerations community colleges consider in providing disability services and why cross-departmental collaboration is a blueprint for success in expanding services for students with disabilities.

Elgin Community College Student Access & Disability Services webpage

Elgin Community College Accessibility webpage

Information on Northern Illinois University Being a CRCC Center of Excellence