Rehabilitation counselor supervision in the private sector: An examination of the long term disability settin

This study explored the perceived importance of Rehabilitation Counselor Supervision (RCS) knowledge and skills, and the perceptions, attitudes, and practice of RCS in the private rehabilitation work environment of Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance. The Rehabilitation Counselor Supervisory Inventory (Thielsen, 1999) was modified and used to examine how rehabilitation counselor and supervisor perceived the importance of RCS knowledge and skills and to gather information on professional characteristics and supervision practices in the LTD work setting. Fifty-six rehabilitation counselors and 15 supervisors participated in the survey. Semistructured interviews were also conducted with eight LTD rehabilitation counselors and six supervisors. Survey results indicated RCS knowledge and skills are perceived to be moderately to highly important for the LTD setting. There were no statistically significant differences between rehabilitation and supervisor regarding the importance of RCS knowledge and skills due the homogeneity of both groups. In addition, no statistically significant relationships existed between the professional characteristics of rehabilitation counselors and supervisors and perceived importance of RCS knowledge and skills. There was a modest correlation (r = .258) between years of experience in private rehabilitation and participants' perspective on the importance of Ethical and Legal Issues in RCS.;Interview results highlighted that the contextual features of working in a productivity for profit setting influenced the practice of RCS including ethical challenges. CRCs played a strong role as coaches and guides in the clinical supervision of LTD rehabilitation counselors and promoted ethical standards of practices, accountability, professional identity, and encouraged professional development. However, non-CRC supervisors reported providing more administrative supervision roles and practices. Both CRC and non-CRC supervisors acknowledge the roles of "buffer" and "mediator" between rehabilitation counselors and LTD claim staff. In the LTD environment, it is a common belief that experienced LTD rehabilitation counselors need minimal supervision and are capable of self management. The process and structure of supervision is influenced by several constraints; most notably, the amount of time devoted to the activity. As a result, most clinical supervision sessions are conducted on an "as need basis." Perhaps, distance or e-supervision and peer supervision offer other methods to address counselor training needs within the LTD setting. Implications for the private rehabilitation sector, rehabilitation counselor education and the profession, future research, and limitations of the study are discussed.