9781422270707

CAREERS IN BEAUTY AND FASHION CAREERS IN BUSINESS CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION CAREERS IN ENGINEERING CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENT CAREERS IN NURSING CAREERS IN SAFETY AND SECURITY CAREERS IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEB CAREERS IN SPORTS CAREERS IN THERAPY AND REHABILITATION

BY ANDREW MORKES

PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2024 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4751-8 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4761-7 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7070-7 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Project Manager: Andrew Morkes Cover and Interior Design: Tara Raymo • CreativelyTara Layout: Priceless Digital Media, LLC Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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CONTENTS

Introduction................................................................... 7 Chapter 1: Is a Therapy or Rehabilitation Career for You?..............................................11 Chapter 2: Therapy and Rehabilitation Career Paths........17 Chapter 3: Charting Your Path in Therapy and Rehabilitation.........................................35 Chapter 4: Exploring Education and Careers in Therapy and Rehabilitation............................55 Chapter 5: Learning More about Therapy and Rehabilitation and Career Choices..................77 Index............................................................................92 Photo Credits................................................................94 Educational Video Links.................................................95 Author’s Biography .......................................................96 Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Series Glossary of Key Terms: The Key Terms glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

Physical therapy is one of the most popular therapy and rehabilitation careers. Job opportunities for physical therapists are expected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031 according to the DOL. This is much faster than the average for all occupations.

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Introduction

Students are often interested in learning more about careers, but many don’t take the steps necessary to do so, according to a survey of 14- to 18-year-olds by the nonprofit ECMC Group. It found that while 74 percent of respondents believe it is important to have their career plans determined when they graduate from high school, only 39 percent have taken classes or participated in programs to explore occupations. Many young people are not aware of the wide range of activities that are available to help them explore the field they’re considering, discover career paths, and learn what it takes to train and be successful in a given occupation. If you are a middle school or high school student, here are just a few of the exploration activities in which you can participate. • competitions • school clubs • interviews and job-shadowing experiences • summer exploration camps • first aid and CPR classes • volunteer opportunities at local medical offices, rehabilitation centers, and in other settings • tours of hospitals and other locations where therapy and rehabilitation professionals do their work • books

• websites • podcasts • videos • mentorship programs

• resources from professional therapy and rehabilitation associations, companies, and government agencies

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Each title in the Getting Started series provides everything that you need to know about exploring careers while you’re in middle or high school. It also includes a wealth of information about more than 40 occupations, educational requirements, paying for school, and many other resources. If you’re looking for some great—and fun— ideas on how to learn more about a specific occupational field, you should check out this series. After exploring some of the suggested activities and learning more about therapy and rehabilitation occupations, you may be inspired to become a physical therapist, psychologist, or creative arts therapist, or enter one of dozens of other careers in this field. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s begin exploring education and careers in therapy and rehabilitation.

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Getting Started: Careers in Therapy and Rehabilitation

A marriage counselor conducts a therapy session with a couple.

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Introduction

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

apprenticeship: a formal training program that combines supervised practical experience and classroom instruction; the program is free to apprentices, who receive pay that increases as they obtain experience depression: a serious medical illness that causes a person to think negative thoughts and feel sad, listless, and worthless; have trouble concentrating; lose their appetite; have difficulty sleeping; have thoughts of death or committing suicide; and exhibit other symptoms empathetic: acting in a way that shows understanding of others’ feelings entrepreneur: a person who develops, starts, and operates their own business post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): this condition occurs after a person experiences a traumatic event and can cause depression, emotional disturbances, and other long-term emotional issues

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1 Chapter

Is a Therapy or Rehabilitation Career for You?

What’s So Great about Therapy and Rehabilitation Careers? Rehabilitation and therapy professionals are healers of the human body and mind. They are the physical therapists who help people recover from sprains, strains, and fractures; regain mobility lost after a stroke; and otherwise return to health. They are counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists who help people who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder , addiction to alcohol or drugs, or depression regain good mental health. They are occupational therapists who help people with serious injuries and permanent disabilities adapt to the challenges of daily life. And the radiation therapists who administer radiation treatments to patients who have cancer or other serious diseases. All of these professionals should be caring, helpful, patient, and knowledgeable.

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There are rehabilitation and therapy careers for people with high school diplomas all the way through to those with doctorate degrees. You can even train for some positions via an apprenticeship or in the military. These training methods—unlike college—are free, and you will earn a salary while you learn. A wide range of work environments are available in rehabilitation and therapy. Many rehabilitation and therapy professionals work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and the offices of medical professionals. Others work in schools, laboratories, and business offices. Some specialists work out of their homes. The fields of rehabilitation and therapy offer many opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs , as many counselors and therapists operate their own businesses. Earnings for rehabilitation and therapy professionals are often higher than those paid to workers in other fields. For example,

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental-health counselors earn annual salaries that range from $30,870 to $77,980 or more, according to the DOL. 12 Getting Started: Careers in Therapy and Rehabilitation

occupational therapists earn a median annual wage of $85,570, according to the US Department of Labor (DOL). Speech-language pathologists earn an average of $79,060, and physicians receive an average of more than $200,000 a year. These wages are higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760. On the other hand, psychiatric technicians earn an average of $36,230, and rehabilitation counselors receive $38,560. Employment in the health-care industry is projected to grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, according to the DOL. This is much faster than the average for all careers. The strongest growth is expected in the following occupations: athletic trainers, massage therapists, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and aides, orthotists and prosthetists, physical therapist assistants and aides, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Demand for therapy, rehabilitation, and other health-care professionals will increase because of the growing number of senior citizens, who often need more medical care than younger people do; the growing US population; advances in technology and treatment expertise, which allow for more people to survive injuries and illnesses; and the rise in people being diagnosed with diabetes and/or obesity, which will require physical therapists and other professionals to help patients with these illnesses maintain their mobility and manage the effects of chronic conditions. Job opportunities for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, mental health, rehabilitation, and marriage and family counselors are expected to grow much faster than the average from 2021 to 2031, according to the DOL. Demand is increasing as a result of the growing US population and record levels of stress caused by political instability, poverty, racism, serious damage to the environment, job loss, financial distress, and mental anguish due to the illnesses and deaths of loved ones (including those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic).

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Is a Therapy or Rehabilitation Career for You?

What Type of People Are Interested in Therapy and Rehabilitation Careers? People with many different interests can find therapy and

rehabilitation careers that suit them. But if you’re unsure about your interest in these fields, answer the following statements to determine whether a therapy or rehabilitation career is the best fit for you: • My favorite classes are health, biology, chemistry, and physical fitness. • I like to take care of people. • I’m interested in the human body and how it works. • I want to help people improve their health and heal from physical and mental challenges. • I’m interested in psychology and how the human mind works. • I like to learn about medical science breakthroughs. • I would like to learn first aid and CPR.

If you’re the type of person who likes to help others, a career in therapy or rehabilitation could be a good fit for you.

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Getting Started: Careers in Therapy and Rehabilitation

• I can work effectively both as a member of a team and on my own, when needed. • I have an empathetic , caring, and patient personality. If many of the statements above describe you, then you should consider a career in therapy or rehabilitation. But don’t be deterred if you didn’t check most of the boxes. So many additional occupations exist in these fields that you are likely to find a great career that will match your skills and interests. In fact, this book provides information on more than 40 careers. What’s Inside This Book In this book, you’ll receive answers to these and other questions: • What are some great careers in the field? • What are some key therapy and rehabilitation terms that I should know? • What are some easy and more challenging ways to explore education and occupations in these fields? • What advice do high school and college teachers have for aspiring therapy and rehabilitation professionals? • What are some important professional associations in the field, and what types of resources do they provide to students and to those just starting out in their career searches? • What therapy- and rehabilitation-related books and websites should I check out? • How do I train for a career in therapy or rehabilitation? • How do I pay for my education, and are free training options available? • How do I land my first job in the field? Does a career in therapy or rehabilitation sound like a good fit for your interests and abilities? If so, read on to learn everything you need to know about exploring and preparing for these fields.

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Is a Therapy or Rehabilitation Career for You?

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

assistive technology: equipment, products, and systems that enable and enhance learning, working, and daily life for persons with disabilities; assistive technology can be low tech (e.g., communication boards made of cardboard) or high-tech computer technology (both hardware and software) demographic groups: collections of individuals who are grouped by age, income level, race, sex, employment, geographic location, home medical referral: an authorization provided by a doctor or other health-care professional to a patient that allows them to obtain treatment from another medical professional spa: a business that is focused on health, relaxation, and beauty treatments, including massages and facials ownership, level of education, and other criteria lower extremities: the legs, ankles, and feet

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