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Exploring the Role of Therapeutic Alliance and Client Functioning in Vocational Rehabilitation Engagement Among Clients with Mental Disabilities

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Abstract

Strong client engagement in vocational rehabilitation programs is key to achieving vocational success for individuals with mental disabilities. Various factors, including age, education level, disabilities, family support, symptoms, quality of services, attitude, and competence of service providers can influence client engagement in vocational rehabilitation. This study investigates the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms, therapeutic alliance, functioning, and vocational rehabilitation engagement of clients with mental health disabilities. The study found no significant association between participants’ gender, education attainment, functioning, and vocational rehabilitation engagement. However, significant positive correlations were found between clients’ race, therapeutic alliance, and vocational rehabilitation engagement. Understanding how these factors impact client engagement in vocational rehabilitation is crucial. By doing so, professionals can develop effective outreach strategies that improve relationships and foster client commitment and participation in rehabilitation.

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Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Sciences Program, University of Illinois-Chicago, 1919 W Taylor Street, Room 560A, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA

    Olayemi Akinola

  2. Department of Counselor Education, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Ayse Torres

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  1. Olayemi Akinola
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  2. Ayse Torres
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by OA and AT. The first draft of the manuscript was written by OA and AT. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Olayemi Akinola.

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Ethical Approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Florida Atlantic University (995899-1 Approved on: March 8, 2017).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Akinola, O., Torres, A. Exploring the Role of Therapeutic Alliance and Client Functioning in Vocational Rehabilitation Engagement Among Clients with Mental Disabilities. J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-024-00395-2

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