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Lifting Spirits, Aiding Recovery: How to Support Someone After a Brain Injury

When Laura's husband, Mike, sustained a brain injury from a cycling accident, their world turned upside down. Amidst the chaos of doctors' visits, therapies, and new routines, Laura found her most crucial role: Mike’s cheerleader and advocate. Their story exemplifies the power of support in navigating the complex journey of brain injury recovery. ​​

Understanding the Impact of Brain Injury:

A brain injury can be a maze of physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. While Mike faced memory issues and neurofatigue, Laura struggled with understanding his changed behavior. Education and becoming an expert on your own brain, including areas of strength and weakness, is a key part of treatment at Progressive.  It's essential to recognize these changes from brain injury and approach your loved one with empathy and patience.
 

Communication is Key:

Fostering open communication channels is vital. Encourage your loved one to express their needs and feelings and offer reassurance that you’re there to listen and support, not judge.
 

The Power of Positivity:

Positive reinforcement does wonders. Celebrate every step forward, no matter how small. Laura made a 'rock star jar' where they would note down even the tiniest successes, creating a visual of Mike’s progress. Keeping track of these wins helped both to continue the work needed to get his life back.  
 

Creating a Supportive Environment:

Laura learned to create a restful home environment conducive to healing, reducing noise levels, applying brain breaks and managing light to prevent overstimulation. Small adjustments can make a significant difference.
 

Helping with Daily Tasks:

Assist with everyday tasks but do so in a way that encourages autonomy. Laura found that simple checklists in his planner and alarms/cues on his phone helped Mike complete tasks independently, bolstering his independence and self-esteem.
 

Encouraging Independence:

Strive to strike a balance between assistance and empowerment. It's about finding ways to help your loved one do things for themselves, safely. For Mike, this meant installing grab bars in the shower and arranging transportation for when he felt safe and ready to venture out.
 

Staying Informed:

Educating yourself about brain injury is crucial. Laura’s reading helped her understand Mike’s condition, making her an informed and compassionate caregiver. Education was at the core of his treatment, making Mike a better advocate for his needs as well.  Your state’s brain injury network can also be a great way to stay informed.
 

Professional and Community Resources:

Don't go it alone. There are myriad resources available, from local support groups to professional counseling services, all geared toward helping brain injury survivors and their families.
 

Taking Care of Yourself:

Caregivers also need care. Laura sat in on sessions, joined a support group and set aside time for activities she loved, ensuring she stayed energized and positive for the long road ahead.
Invitation to Learn More 

If you're supporting someone through brain injury recovery and feeling overwhelmed, reach out to Progressive Therapy Associates. Our specialists can provide guidance tailored to your loved one’s needs and your role as a supporter.
 

Conclusion:

Just like Laura and Mike, your support can be the cornerstone of your loved one's recovery journey. With the right tools, information, and a network of care, you can help them—and yourself—navigate this path with strength and hope.

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Lifting Spirits, Aiding Recovery: How to Support Someone After a Brain Injury
Qualified Therapists

Our dedicated team of speech-language pathologists are specially trained in speech therapy as it relates to cognitive-communication issues (how you listen, process, focus, remember, and communicate). We are also nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, are nationally recognized by the Brain Injury Association of America and are Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS). We are licensed to practice in both North Dakota and Minnesota. We believe every patient deserves the best treatment and support we can offer in every single contact and interaction with us.

Individual Approach

We recognize that no two people have the same needs and that everyone has different learning styles. That’s why we like to call our approach “the Progressive way,” which means we will happily customize treatment plans to meet the unique needs of the individual and their family. We also believe in “the right fit” between patient and therapist, so will make every effort to match you with a clinician who connects with you, understands you, and utilizes a therapy style that is comfortable for you.

We are here to help

Depending on the goals you wish to accomplish and the learning pace that is most comfortable for you, we will arm you with the evidence-based strategies, proven skills, and ample support you need to feel more organized, prepared, and effective. Therapy strategies may range from recommendations for specific tools (such as timers or planners), one-on-one brainstorming and problem-solving to address concerns, therapeutic activities as well as computer trials or worksheets to help strengthen cognitive and executive functions like attention, memory, and planning.
 

Coaching with compassion

We know that working on cognitive-communication issues is hard work and that it can be easy to feel defeated or overwhelmed by the challenges of building a more efficient brain. However, you will not be in this alone. We are not just speech-language pathologists; we are fellow human beings who care about you, your journey, and your success. We don’t want an appointment to feel like you’ve been sent to the principal’s office. Instead, you’ll find a comfortable space where you’ll feel listened to and understood. And because humor makes everything more bearable, be prepared to laugh and joke a bit too!