Training vocational rehabilitation counselors who work with chronic mental patients

Because of the inefficacy of disparate psychiatric and rehabilitative approaches to psychosocial restoration of chronic mental patients, the authors designed the New England Psychiatric Rehabilitation Training Program for vocational rehabilitation counselors who work with these patients. The program extends Erikson's epigenetic sequence to development of work capacity and emphasizes a comprehensive, multiaxial approach to psychopathology and vocational rehabilitation. After 6 weeks of seminars, clinical work, and supervision, counselors return to their agencies and receive an additional 8 weeks of part-time support from field faculty instructors.