Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe clients' experiences of a work rehabilitation process. Method: Ten clients who had participated in work-related rehabilitation at a rehabilitation centre in the northern parts of Sweden were interviewed using a narrative approach. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis focusing on clients' descriptions of the goals, contents and results of the work rehabilitation process. Results: At the beginning of the rehabilitation the goal was often to confirm a diagnosis, to become healthy and able to return to work. It was hard to be forced to change the goals. When fortunate the rehabilitation provided more profound guidance and function assessment. It resulted in changes varying from practical alterations to important insights into life. It was important to get support and understanding. When the rehabilitation was not adjusted to clients' needs, feelings of disappointment emerged and life became a struggle with various authorities in order to gain understanding and other forms of rehabilitation. Conclusions: This study shows the need to develop truly client-centred practice. Therefore, we emphasized, based on this study, the importance of professionals involved in rehabilitation working on different levels and in various settings having regular discussions about what the term client-centred practice means to them. Integrating individual perceptions is essential to advancing a multidimensional approach in return-to-work research. © 2004 Taylor & Francis Ltd.