| Rehabilitation psychologists assist patients of all | | | | surgeons report that psychological treatment |
| ages and backgrounds who are affected by | | | | after heart bypass procedures combat |
| disability, trauma, chronic physical or mental illness, | | | | post-surgical depression. |
| or developmental disorders. They also treat | | | | Specialists in this field can practice in a variety of |
| disorders associated with thinking, mood and | | | | work settings including physical therapy centers, |
| behavior that can slow rehabilitation from other | | | | assisted living complexes and rehabilitation facilities. |
| mental or physical health conditions. Psychologically | | | | Salaries can range from $45,000 to $100,000 |
| healthy patients are in turn better prepared to | | | | depending upon experience, degree held and type |
| cope with illness or injury. Long term outcomes of | | | | of practice. Most practitioners conduct |
| psychological intervention include increased levels | | | | assessments, identify barriers to recovery, |
| of functioning in work, school, home and social | | | | establish goals and document progress of patients. |
| settings. | | | | Specific tasks may include enabling a patient to |
| Medical researchers and psychologists have | | | | use a support system effectively, connecting with |
| presented a great deal of evidence that patients | | | | community agencies and accessing resources that |
| participating in rehabilitation benefit from | | | | facilitate the patient's independence. |
| psychological intervention. Individuals with | | | | The need for rehabilitation psychologists has in |
| pervasive developmental disorders can increase | | | | fact become greater during the past decade as |
| their level of social functioning, regulate emotion | | | | more is known about the mind/body connection. |
| and improve mood with the help of a rehabilitation | | | | This field may appeal most to those interested in |
| psychologist. | | | | integrative therapeutic approaches, creative |
| In recent times the rehabilitation psychologist has | | | | individualized interventions and those who have a |
| become an indispensable member of various | | | | high degree of independence. An especially patient |
| medical teams. Aging individuals experiencing pain | | | | temperament and a well-developed sense of |
| and loss of function respond well to rehabilitation | | | | optimism are well-suited to the rehabilitation |
| psychotherapy, and patients and cardiovascular | | | | psychology practice. |