[humanser] Any rehab counselors out ehre?

[Cheryl Wade]

Greetings, listers,


Although I currently work for a therapeutic counseling clinic, I 
initially earned a rehabilitation counseling master's because I wanted 
to work with people who have disabilities. My goal for years was to work 
with people who were at least 20 years old and had never had jobs. I 
have been most interested in the people who live with their parents, 
don't get out much and have little or no easy access to work.


I know I am nuts for wanting this kind of a job. I  do NOT want to 
simply do case management for some state agency and plunk people into 
services and keep the "get a job! Get a job!!" mantra until they somehow 
get jobs. I don't believe these people stand a very good chance of 
getting jobs so long as they have to find their own jobs or  are forced 
to work in supported employment. I care deeply about the psychological, 
sociological, cultural, familial and motivational aspects that influence 
people to stay at home and not to venture out.


I am considering ways I could market my services, through the center 
where I work, to these folks. I do not think a state rehabilitation 
agency ever would refer clients to me unless I became their contractor 
and bought cyber insurance and spent a whole lot of money trying to make 
them happy.


Are there any programs out there that specifically deal with this kind 
of counseling, as a way of augmenting typical state vocational services 
or private services? Are there any cool things going on in Michigan, 
where I now live?


I am opening a can of worms, but please give me ideas on that offbeat 
oddball thing, if you know what it is. I am looking for it. And I'm 63; 
and I won't live forever. This has been my life's dream.


Cheryl Wade, MA, LLPC, CRC