Helping people with disabilities: Dr. Gary Zomalt and the science of rehabilitation counseling

Dary Zomalt Photo Credit: DARA - Drug & Alcohol Rehab Asia

Rehabilitation counseling is a psychotherapeutic process designed to help people with physical, sensory, cognitive, or developmental disabilities achieve their personal goals. Rehabilitation counselors and psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt are often found in private practice, in rehabilitation facilities, universities, government offices, corporate headquarters, and other organizations where people are being treated for congenital or acquired disabilities with the aim of helping them go to or get back to work.


In the United States, rehabilitation professionals were initially recruited from a variety of social service disciplines, including public health nursing, social work, and school counseling. Although the emergence of educational programs began in the 1940s, it was not until the accessibility of federal funding for rehabilitation counseling projects in 1954 that the profession began to grow, establish a unique identity, and create its own niche in the medical world.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Matthew Wild

Before, rehabilitation counselors and special-case psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt exclusively served working-age adults with physical impairments. Today, the need for rehabilitation counseling services has extended to persons of all age groups suffering from a range of disabilities. Rehabilitation counselors may also provide general and specialized counseling to people with disabilities in public social service programs and private practice settings.


According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 129,500 professionals working in the field of rehabilitation counseling in 2008. The number was expected to grow by 19 percent annually, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Many of these rehabilitation counselors are self-employed and work in group practices or private practice, primarily due to laws allowing them to be paid for their services by insurance companies and to the increasing recognition that counselors are well-trained, reliable, and effective practitioners.

From Gary Zomalt

For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his psychotherapy sessions, visit his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Guidelines before seeking therapy

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: chalwiz

According to mental health physicians like Dr. Gary Zomalt, therapy works best when patients attend all of their scheduled appointments. The effectiveness of therapy depends on their active participation as it requires time, effort, and regularity. As patients begin therapy, some goals have to be established with their therapist. They are also encouraged to periodically review their progress with their mental health physician.

The following are basic guidelines on how patients could get started with therapy:

Identify sources of stress
Keeping a journal that records both stressful and positive events can be very helpful in identifying key areas to work on.

Restructure priorities
Emphasizing positive and effective behavior has to be the utmost concern of patients. Downbeat attitudes do not help in developing an esteemed personality.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Ahmed Al Akel (AL H A I T H A M)

Make time for recreational and pleasurable activities
Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt agree that recreational activities are some of the most effective outlets people may seek to release their emotional distress. Engaging in these activities before therapy starts will help them recover sooner.

Communicate
Explaining and asserting people’s needs to someone they trust is a crucial means toward developing self-respect and reliance to others.

Try to focus on positive outcomes
Finding methods to manage and reduce stress is by far the most important feat people may attain. Disregarding stressful events or thoughts will help them cope with adversities a lot more easily.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Linda Templeman

For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his psychotherapy sessions, visit his Facebook page.