Class, for this week, we are looking at evaluation (assessment or intake) of the client as they enter the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program. A lot of information is taken during this time and will be used throughout the sessions. However, some of what has been taken can change over time, which means that the evaluation needs to be checked by the VRC from time to time. Remember that this is the time that we begin to get to know our client and it isn’t something that occurs only on the first day (Yalom, 2009).
One of this week’s video illustrates what one does that is appropriate for the evaluation and what one doesn’t do. State what you learned from this video that you didn’t know and if you did know what to do and not to do, give an example from your personal experiences. Also, remember to write about what you have learned from the other material: mini-lecture, audio, video, and readings. Add whether you see the evaluation (assessments) process as being a productive way to start the VR with the client or do you see something else that needs to be done first. Use examples if you have any from your work or observations. Support your answers with valid data.
Any questions, please ask.
Dr. G.
Reference
Yalom, I. D., (2009). The gift of therapy: An open letter to a new generation of therapists and their patients.
New York, NY: Harper Perennial.
Week 4 Mini-Lecture
Class, for this week we are looking at how to start the VR process by evaluating the client. It can also be considered to be an assessment or an intake. One area that is of concern now that most of the information goes into a computer is that eye contact or or verbal connection is thwarted (https://positivepsychology.com/digital-therapeutic-relationship/). The client who is being interviewed more than likely has some anxiety about what is going to happen. Consequently, the initial introduction is important for both the client and VRC if there is going to be a successful outcome to the sessions.
Being able to work with the individual face-to-face might be a struggle when one has to continually look at the monitor as they gather information and type. Some ways that might help is to have an informal discussion with the client in order to break the ice so to speak, and to actually state that while the evaluation is taking place, the VRC will from time to time have to use the computer. VRC’s, however, need to try to put the individual at ease and made a concerted effort to spend as much time speaking with the client directly as is possible (Rubin and Roessler, 2008).
Sometimes, the evaluation period might be stressful for the client for a variety of reasons such as the disability itself, trauma, shame, and such. Then too, this is the time that a VRC finds out whether there are issues that need to be dealt with first before the actual job seeking can begin. For instance, are there mental health problems such as might be seen with social phobia that occur along with the client being in a wheel chair or not being able to hear (Rubin and Roessler, 2008).
One way to handle the aforementioned, is that the VRC can suggest that they come back to it later or if it is inconsequential, it doesn’t have to be followed. Getting comfortable with one another so that the ensuing weeks of work will be beneficial is important and it begins with the initial visit (Rubin and Roessler, 2008). Each individual is unique, so to, even with standards in place, the meetings will be as well.
In some cases, the VRC doesn’t do the initial intake. If this is the case, then it is important that the VRC goes over thoroughly all the information that is recorded prior to meeting with the client. This is for information only, however, it doesn’t preclude good counseling techniques for the VRC to get to know the client. Sometimes, what the client will tell an intake worker is not the same as what they might confide with the VRC.
Please, follow through after reading this with listening to the audio, reading the textbook and research and viewing the videos prior to going to the discussion.
Dr. G.
Reference
Rubin, S. E., & Roessler, R. T. (2008). Foundations of the vocational rehabilitation process (6th ed.). Austin, TX: ProEd.
