By: Elisabeth Steinhardt
Posted In: News
Photo credit: Elisabeth Steinhardt
Melissa Ventresca is among the first group of students to be enrolled in the Rehabilitation Counseling Master of Arts program at Salve.
Melissa Ventresca, 24
Ventresca attended Salve for undergraduate studies and graduated in 2003 with a degree in Administration of Justice and a concentration in Juvenile Justice. She is currently attending Salve to obtain her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling. Ventresca is among the first group of students to be enrolled in the Rehabilitation Counseling Master of Arts program at Salve. She expects to graduate in December of 2006. Q: How did you hear about the Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s program at Salve? A: I got introduced to program by Dr. Lance W. Carluccio who was the Dean of Graduate Studies and continuing education at Salve from 2003 until just recently when he resigned. He came into one of my psychology classes and told my class all the different jobs and career you can have with a Master’s in Rehab Counseling. Rehab Counseling is helping individuals with physical, mental and emotional disabilities obtain and maintain employment. It’s based on employment being the central force in a person’s life. It’s based on the belief that even if a person has a mental disability, they are still able to obtain and maintain work. Q: What are the benefits of Salve’s Rehabilitation Counseling program? The teachers? Classes? A: Sixty-five percent of the classes are online, which is really convenient to people who work full-time. All of the teachers are extremely nice and they really go above and beyond what they have to do to assist you in anything. They classes are really interesting and are based on discussions. You can get into the program with any bachelor’s degree, you just have the mindset that you’ll be helping other people help themselves. The characteristics of someone who would I could see being in the program is optimistic, hardworking and open-minded. The program includes people from insurance agencies, nurses, mental health counselors, etc., who all bring their outside knowledge and expertise to our class discussions. Another benefit is that we write lots of papers and prepare power point presentations over having to complete examinations. After completing 75 percent of the program, you have the opportunity to take an exam to become a certified Rehabilitation Counselor. This is also in addition to your master’s degree and helps you attain better, higher paying jobs. You also have to complete two practicums – an internship where you work 12 hours a week for 10 weeks and one internship – where you work 40 hours a week for three months. These experiences helps you network with local agencies and help build contacts. Where did you complete your first practicum? My first practicum was at the Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS) in Providence. My other practicum was at the Newport County Mental health where I am now doing my internship. Q: What were your responsibilities at the ORS? A: At the ORS I dealt with adolescents with disabilities who were in transition from high school to work or high school to college. We assisted them fill-out the appropriate paperwork for college or individualized plan for employment. Q: Where did you complete your other practicum? A: I completed my other practicum at Newport County Mental Health. There, I dealt with complicated clients that were experiencing a crisis. I learned how to approach them and deescalate these crisis situations. I also had to maintain a case load. Q: Where did you maintain an internship? A: I’m also completing my internship at Newport County Mental Health. I started in Oct. of 2005 and I’m a Vocational Specialist on the mobile treatment team. Now, my responsibilities are to maintain a case load of five clients, assist individuals with mental disabilities find employment, including job-search, building their resume and helping their obtain their GED. I also administer medications, help clients get to their appointments, assist them in managing and paying their finances, build treatment plans and help counsel them. I explain to my clients that they their quality of life will be better if they maintain a job. I motivate them and help them realize that work helps them be productive and healthy. A job is also beneficial to them on so many levels. Also, when I find job leads I show them to the client and discuss the leads with that particular client. Q: Do you call employers on your client’s behalf or do the clients call themselves? A: I try to make them call to pursue job leads because I try to encourage them to do things independently. I also encourage them to do volunteer work if they haven’t had any work experience so they have some material to put down on their resume. I always try to help them realize and understand the skills they have and that they can build on.
