Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology: Services

The Rehabilitation Counseling Department has two distinguished clinical settings, which provides a wide range of rehabilitation services to patients seeking psychological and assessment services. The University Rehabilitation Service (URS) and Developmental Neuropsychology both are conveniently located within the department and like other university services, it is in the heart of the Dallas hospital district. This allows for easy access to patient/consumers seeking services and graduate students seeking a diverse and exciting internship opportunity.

The URS and the DNS serve as clinical training facilities for students in the graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology. Quality services delivered in a respectful and comprehensive manner at reasonable costs is always a major concern for both services.  A cooperative arrangement between the Rehabilitation Counseling department and the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Children’s Medical Center , and the surrounding independent school districts, provide students the opportunity to work with a wide range of disability groups.

The University Rehabilitation Service

The URS is a rehabilitation assessment and counseling facility providing a range of diagnostic and treatment services to individuals with disabilities. The URS exemplifies the rehabilitation mission of empowering client consumers with the confidence and self-knowledge to facilitate their pursuit of psychological, physical, and vocational independence. It is the goal of the URS to deliver services with respect to each individual’s goals and interests. Care is given to encourage healthy individual effort toward achievement of their highest vision.    

The URS provides a range of diagnostic and treatment services. These services include:

• Psychological Evaluations
  Psychological evaluations are provided through the URS Assessment Service.
  
  
• Psychological Counseling
  The URS provides individual counseling through the URS Counseling Services.
  
  
• Personal and Social Adjustment Counseling
  This is a psychosocial group experience for individuals referred almost exclusively by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS) and Veteran’s Administration (VA) , although occasionally a client will self-pay.  The purpose of this group is to prepare individuals to obtain or return to gainful employment in the most independent setting possible. To accomplish that goal, most people referred to this program must work on eliminating or controlling behaviors which have proven detrimental or self sabotaging for them on jobs in the past.  Individuals also work on developing new skills which will enable them to function productively in social and vocational settings in the future. The group is set up to be a safe environment for clients to explore and share feelings and thoughts that are related to disability symptoms, interactions with others, and concerns about returning to or entering the workplace. Topics covered on a weekly basis are Goals and Life Management Skills, Social Skills and Communication, Strategic Problem Solving, and Stress Management.
  
  
• Vocational Adjustment Counseling
  Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT) is a nine day course which teaches valuable skills that will help the individual to make decisions regarding specific jobs that will be a good match for them. The group also provides clients with valuable goal setting and self management skills that will help them locate and keep their desired job. The curriculum is tailored to target areas that the client needs the most training. These may include: communication skills, socially appropriate behavior, daily living skills, problem solving, grooming, time management, money management, and conflict resolution. Training is provided in a classroom setting, which also allows a better picture of how suitable an individual may be for further classroom instruction.
  
  
• The Developmental Neuropsychology Service
  The Developmental Neuropsychology Service (DNS) was developed by Dr. Cheryl Silver who is an expert in the field of child Neuropsychology. The DNS provides outpatient assessment and evaluation of children and adolescents with documented or suspected brain injury or dysfunction, including learning disabilities and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Occasionally adults with suspected learning disabilities and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder may be assessed, but on a limited basis. 
  
  The DNS testing protocol is comprised of batteries that assess intellectual functioning, neuropsychological functioning, academic achievement, and behavior. A Neuropsychological evaluation may include assessment of memory, learning, organization, attention, and personality. Referrals mostly come by way of parents, physicians, psychologists, and school counselors. It is expected that some referrals will require expert and forensic testimony which may be discussed separately with the director.