Assessing veteran readiness and employment opportunities is a deeply personal and subjective mandate.
Nearly 30% of veterans returning to civilian life do so with a reported service-related disability. Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs) are likely to work with a disabled veteran across many practice settings. Some specific strategies and considerations CRCs can utilize that help to ensure the process honors their journey while also preparing them for the next chapter of their life.
How to Approach Veteran Readiness and Employment Services as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
In a recent episode of Inside Rehabilitation Counseling, we spoke with Monnie Rebecca Waltz, BS, MRC, VE, CRC, Christopher Briggman, MRC, CRC, CVE, LCMHC, LPC, and Keith Hosey to discuss vocational services for disabled veterans. They all shared insights into what they do and how essential rehabilitation counseling is in supporting veterans in their transition back to civilian life after service.
One of the biggest challenges veterans face is navigating that transition. Briggman is a CRC and Vocational Expert who previously worked for the VA. He now runs two practices, Balance Consulting & Counseling, and Adjusted Ability Vocational Group. In our conversation, he explained how different their mentality can be when they come back and how they find it hard to ask for support.
“I learned early on that many veterans see asking for help as almost the opposite of what they’re trained to do. They were taught to push through, to put the mission first, to be the one that others rely on. So when it comes to receiving counseling, rehabilitation, or vocational support, there can be a natural resistance.”
Being a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) means tailoring your approach to each client. In this case, Briggman says they try to honor a veteran’s identity and frame their services differently to ensure they continue to feel respected while achieving their personal goals. It is not just about providing services; it is about building a relationship and creating a foundation for future success.
Developing an Impactful Client-Counselor Relationship
The challenges that these veterans face are unimaginable: homelessness, substance use, and severe mental health diagnoses. Waltz serves as a Program Manager in Vocational Rehabilitation at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center and explains the level of care they provide to help these veterans really rebuild their lives and the close relationships they form.
“They literally live right here… there’s like three or four of them in a room that they share, which is right next to my office, literally, if they beat on the wall, I would hear it. We start really from scratch and help them put things back together in their lives.”
When the counselor is involved at every step, the relationship is more impactful. CRCs become so invested in seeing your clients achieve their goals, and the joy in seeing your work being the reason for someone’s success. That said, CRCs are trained to have a deep understanding of how to maintain that relationship professionally, including the considerations outlined in the Code of Ethics for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
Needless to say, being a part of that client’s journey, including every success big or small, highlights the purpose of this work. Waltz goes on to say that the easiest thing to answer is what brings her joy in her job, being a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).
“It’s the physical difference in their faces when they’re looking at the floor at first, and then they’re laughing and they’re talking and it’s seven, eight months later and they’ve been making money and they’re able to buy something for their child for a birthday or a holiday they’re smiling, they’re happier, they’re laughing. Seeing that in the new career path and they’re excited about the new job or a different job that they’re going into is so rewarding.”
As a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), your work goes beyond counseling and guidance; you are focused on primary elements of a veteran’s recovery that permeate nearly every aspect of their life. You are helping someone reclaim their identity and gain confidence to build a successful future for themselves. As Briggman explains, that is exactly why he does what he does.
“The CRC gives me a platform to do what I believe I was meant to do, stand in those critical moments with veterans and help them find their way forward, and do the same for civilians. And that’s the joy, seeing them reclaim not just a job, but their sense of self and future.”
To hear more about their journeys, the work they do, and the challenges disabled veterans face, check out the full podcast episode below!
Listen here: https://crccrehabilitationcounseling.buzzsprout.com/2038904/episodes/17789681
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