The Pros and Cons of Consolidating Rehabilitation Counseling Associations: A Qualitative Analysis of Views From the Field

Abstract

The potential for unification of rehabilitation counseling professional associations has been a conceptual debate for the past several decades. In a previous article of this special issue, Phillips et al. (2022) provided quantitative data to capture the opinions of professionals on the issue of consolidation. The present study builds on those findings by providing a qualitative analysis of the rationale provided for each response from not only professional association members, but the broader rehabilitation counseling community. The analysis provides clarity about stakeholders’ rationale regarding their beliefs on rehabilitation counseling professional association consolidation. Responses were analyzed by group according to whether participants were in favor of, opposed to, or uncertain about consolidation. The majority of respondents supportive of consolidation felt it offered a pathway toward internal unity and external validation of the profession, while the main rationale from those opposed to consolidation centered on loss of distinctiveness of individual associations. Overwhelmingly, those who were undecided on consolidation cited lack of familiarity as a barrier to providing a decisive response. Implications for these results are presented.

Prologue: The Future of Rehabilitation Counseling Professional Associations

“…Phillips, Walker et al conclude the results by exploring factors that may influence perceptions of whether to consolidate. In the next article of the special issue, Nerlich et al (2022) provide a qualitative analysis of the rationales provided by rehabilitation counseling professionals for their choice in favor of, opposed to, or unsure about consolidation. They found that a significant majority of those reporting they were unsure about consolidation lacked familiarity with the associations or with the debate about consolidating them.…”

Addressing the Sticky Issue of How to Consolidate Rehabilitation Counseling Professional Associations

“…Phillips et al (2022) also showed that increased familiarity with these associations and with the issues surrounding consolidation correlated with an increased desire to consolidate. Delving further into the qualitative data, suggested that professionals perceive many potential benefits resulting from a consolidated rehabilita-tion counseling professional association (Nerlich, Levine, et al, 2022). Themes among the 1,033 who provided a response in favor of consolidation included increased unity, a stronger external voice, cost savings, streamlined processes, reduced confusion, and the belief that it would generate greater membership.…”