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Rehabilitation Psychology
Rehabilitation psychology is a profession dealing to help individuals, people, caregivers and family members who are struggling with various disability effects and are seeking to restore hope and meanings to their life.
A limitation in sensory, physical, emotional or cognitive (thinking) functioning is called as disability. A disability can affect the person's capacity of learning, of working, of maintaining relationship, of managing personal or family responsibilities, or participating in recreational activities.
Some of the most common conditions resulting in disability include: stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, amputation, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, learning disability, orthopedic injury, pervasive developmental disorders, arthritis, vision and hearing impairment, and pain syndromes.
Other most common conditions resulting in disability include:
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM )
- Burn injuries
- Brain tumors
- Children with rheumatologic disorders
- Guillian-Barre and other peripheral neuropathies
- Chronic neuromuscular illnesses such as muscular dystrophy
- Hydrocephalus
- Neurological infection
- Neurosurgical conditions and other central nervous system disturbances
- Physical developmental disabilities such as arthrogryposis and limb deficiency
- Spinal cord injury
- Seizure disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
- Other medical conditions requiring rehabilitation care
To become a rehabilitation psychologist to care the people affected by disabilities, a person must complete a doctoral degree in psychology and an internship or other intensive training program in which they get experience serving people with a wide range of disabilities.
The rehabilitation psychologists are the specialists who are well trained and are dedicated to help people affected by various disabilities succeed in reclaiming their sense of value, of contribution, of belonging, and of significant participation in the society.
The education and consultation program involve community members such as teachers or employers and referrals to other specialists when needed.
The services provided by Rehabilitation Psychologists include:
- Assessment
- Consultation and education regarding emotional, behavioral and cognitive issues
- Compensatory strategies
- Neuropsychological evaluations
- Individual, group and family psychotherapy
- Neuropsychological rehabilitation intervention for memory impairment and other cognitive difficulties
- Psychological evaluations
- Non-pharmacological pain management strategies
- Sibling support
- Wellness promotion
- Stress management for caregivers
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