Vocational Rehabilitation counseling is often recommended to people with a disability or people who have been victimized as a part of a workplace accident or injury. If you are also among such people and want to return to work quickly, you should read this small guide on making the most of vocational rehabilitation counseling and making each of the sessions a fruitful one. 

• Learn How a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Can Help

When hoping to make the most of vocational rehabilitation counseling, you need to remember one important thing. It’s not the job of the VR counselor to find a job for you or give you one. Their primary task is to prepare you so that you get ready for new opportunities of employment. So, you need to help them ensure that they can help you best by keeping them posted about everything in your life. They are on your side and want the best for you. 

• Respect the Deadlines

If you want to ensure that you make the most of vocational rehabilitation, you need to respect the deadlines set by the expert. For instance- if the expert wants you to get the transferrable skills analysis assessment done by a specific date, you better do it. The expert wants to help you. They are not the enemy. 

• Do Your Research

If the vocational rehabilitation counselor has told you about a job opportunity or an industry you might want to consider, you should do your research to see if it will be a right fit. Doing your internet research will hardly need any extra effort if you have access to the internet and help you be surer of your decisions to take up a job or work in a specific industry. 

• Make Notes

It is also a smart idea to make notes about every session you had with the counselor or jot down important dates like the day you got the transferrable skills analysis assessment results. It will help you track your progress, measure the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation counseling, and appreciate how far you have come. 

• Keep the Essentials With You

To make the vocational rehabilitation sessions worth it, you also need to keep copies of the emails and other correspondence you get from the VR counseling firm, your existing previous employer, your training/education school, or college, and even the correspondence you get from potential employers. 

• Set Goals

Work with the vocational rehabilitation counselor to create an individual plan for employment or IPE that will help you to realize which services you have received and which you are still eligible to get. Set goals for yourself and cross them off when you achieve them to keep yourself motivated. 

• Ask for Help

If you think you will need something to help you enhance your skills or get a job, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for it. For instance, if you need equipment or technology essential for your success in meeting a vocational goal, you should ask for it. Make sure you justify your need and explain how the piece of equipment you need will help achieve your individual plan for employment. 

• Stay Involved

Two of the reasons why people might not make the most of their VR sessions are the lack of involvement and lack of realistic job planning. You need to stay involved from day one and ask many questions about how a vocational rehabilitation counselor would help you. You also need to ensure that you don’t dream too big and plan to get a job that you can do without putting your physical, mental, or emotional health in jeopardy. 

• Communicate- A Lot

Talk to everyone who can help you. It would help if you made time to connect with your doctor to ensure that you are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready for a job. You also need to talk to other people who want to return to work, just like you and people who have successfully returned to work after a workplace injury or accident. The stronger your network is, the better would be your chances of landing a job. 

Final Words

If you seek the help of a vocational rehabilitation counselor like Laura M. Wilson & Associates Inc., you need to ensure that you stay active during the rehabilitation process, show an eagerness to learn, and work with the expert to land a job. To get more advice on making the most of vocational rehabilitation counseling and make each of the sessions a fruitful one, connect with us today. We are here to help. Call us toll-free at (800) 531-5608 or click here. 

References:

https://www.afb.org/aw/11/6/16027

https://www.lauramwilson.com/services/vocational-rehabilitation-counseling/