NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation offers a six-month practicum and a one-year internship in rehabilitation counseling for students in graduate counseling degree programs who would like a hospital-based fieldwork experience.

Students can apply practicum and internship hours toward the fieldwork requirements for the rehabilitation counselor certification (CRC) and New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) licensure.

Services are provided to outpatients with a variety of neurological and medically complex diagnoses at Rusk Rehabilitation’s Vocational Rehabilitation Department, located in NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Center East 38th Street. Students work with patients who have medical conditions that affect their capacity to perform work and help them to develop vocational goals. Some of these conditions include the following:

• concussion
• learning disabilities
• limb loss
• drug and alcohol use disorders
• multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• psychiatric disorders
• spinal cord injury
• stroke
• traumatic brain injury

Students may be placed in the diagnostic vocational evaluation unit where they have the opportunity to provide comprehensive assessments of patients’ skills, achievements, interests, work behaviors, and vocational potential. Students learn to administer and score work samples and aptitude assessments. They also provide vocational counseling to identify realistic vocational goals.

Students may be assigned to the training and job placement services unit where they provide clients with vocational counseling and assist with developing effective strategies for finding and maintaining employment. Students visit training sites and work with clients on interview skills and cover letter and resume preparation. They also make direct employer referrals, assist with networking, and address job placement concerns.

There may be opportunities for students to observe collaboration between multiple disciplines, including physical and occupational therapy, speech–language pathology, psychology, and social work.

Timeline and Application Process

Students who are interested applying to either the practicum or internship must notify the fieldwork coordinator at the school they attend. The field coordinator screens applicants and refers candidates to both programs. The department’s director interviews all candidates and makes final selections for the two openings per term.

Supervisor and schedule are confirmed one month before the start date. Specific schedules are arranged based on the unit, clinical supervisor, and needs of the student.

Contact Us

For more information about our rehabilitation counseling practicum and internship experiences, please contact Robert Lindsey, MA, CRC, LHMC, director of vocational rehabilitation, at robert.lindsey@nyulangone.org.