Title

A Survey of Safety Training in Rehabilitation Counselor Education Programs

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2009

Abstract

Although rehabilitation counselors face increasing risk to safety including threats, acts of violence, and other workplace hazards, academic training has generally struggled to keep up with the developing need for training in this area. Data from a questionnaire adapted for rehabilitation education from prior studies in counselor education and social work was distributed nationally. Rehabilitation educators (n = 47) examined the increasing importance of safety training, opinions of critical safety issues, and subsequent methods for counselor training. The results highlighted the importance of safety training including counselor competence in identifying and responding to threatening incidents, communication, critical incident debriefing, and prevention, as well as conflict and lifestyle management. Respondents indicated a preference for addressing safety training by infusing topics in the existing curriculum, and engaging existing qualified experts in safety to develop course content, delivery, and design. Opportunities for future research pertinent to safety and crisis curriculum in rehabilitation counseling training programs, and issues for implementation are discussed.

Publication Title

Rehabilitation Education

Volume

23

Issue

1

First Page

53

Last Page

60

Pages

8

DOI of Published Version

10.1891/088970109805059236

Publisher

Springer Publishing Company

COinS