Meeting a Need: Expanding the Rehabilitation Counseling Program

The Rehabilitation Counseling and Human Services program, or RCHS, is a growing program at the University of Idaho.

Beginning this summer, the RCHS program is available to train students to become rehabilitation counseling professionals in both Coeur d’Alene and Boise. Presently, the RCHS program is CORE-Accredited.

Students within the program are expected to complete 60 credits of graduate level work within a two-year period. Graduates of the RCHS program are able to obtain their Certified Rehabilitation Counseling Certification, which is a national certification for rehabilitation counseling professionals. Over the past two years, graduates have done very well in meeting the knowledge-based criteria required to obtain the CRCC.

Susan Stuntzner

This summer the RCHS program is expanding to the southern region of the state in addition to its home base in Coeur d’Alene, due to the increased need for rehabilitation counseling professionals in that part of the state. With the start-up of the Boise cohort, the RCHS program is hoping to have approximately 25 students between the two locations.

Over the past year, the RCHS program has seen many changes. In addition to the expansion of the program and the opportunity for additional students and professionals across the state, the College of Education has hired two additional faculty members. This winter, a half-time clinical faculty member, Beth Cunningham, was hired to recruit and coordinate services for the start-up of the Boise cohort. In addition, full-time tenured-line faculty member, Bryan Austin, was hired to join the RCHS program in August of 2012. Bryan will be teaching classes and working closely with students in the Boise area. Read more about Beth and Bryan’s work in the Department section of Envision.

Professor Susan Stuntzner is continuing with the rehabilitation counseling program in Coeur d’Alene. She is the Program Coordinator for the RCHS program and will teach classes and work closely with students in the Coeur d’Alene area. With faculty hired in both locations, the RCHS program is embarking upon a very exciting time, one in which trained professionals will be available to meet the diverse needs of persons with disabilities.

What is Rehabilitation Counseling?

As a whole, the rehabilitation counseling profession and its professionals provide counseling, adjustment training, and employment-related services to assist persons with disabilities in achieving personal independence, independent living, and employment. Rehabilitation counseling is a specialized profession where counselors are trained to understand the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities. As a part of their training, rehabilitation counseling professionals receive in-depth training pertaining to the needs of persons with disabilities.

The rehabilitation counseling profession is a field where graduates are able to interact with and influence the lives of persons with disabilities in many ways. Graduates of the program may assist persons with disabilities by counseling them through their coping with a disability process, assisting them in locating resources necessary for independent living, and providing services related to training and employment. In addition, employment opportunities for our graduates are numerous. Graduates of the RCHS program are able to find employment in public counseling agencies, state and federal agencies (i.e., Vocational Rehabilitation Division), private or nonprofit agencies, hospitals, correctional facilities, community mental health agencies, and private practice, and universities (e.g., Disability Services Office).

For more information about the Rehabilitation Counseling program at the University of Idaho, contact Susan Stuntzner at stuntzner@uidaho.edu, or (208) 292-1409.