Brain Injury Health & Wellness Classes
The University of Washington’s Traumatic Brain Injury Model System has joined forces with the BIAWA to offer Brain Injury Health and Wellness classes. Due to COVID-19, all classes are ONLINE ONLY.
These classes offer non-clinical, wellness, and life skills information specifically designed for people who have had a brain injury and their loved ones. These FREE classes provide opportunities to acquire new skills, socialize, and take ownership of their health and well-being.
Check out the BIAWA website to find out more information or register for a class. You may also call BIAWA at 206.467.4800 or email Kelsey at kelseyr@biawa.org for help with registering.
2021 Health & Wellness Classes
Physical Therapy’s Role in Management of Concussion
January
Facilitated by Becky Hansen, PT at HMC
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head. Many people recover relatively quickly after concussion after a brief period of rest and a gradual return to activity. Those patients that have ongoing symptoms may benefit from seeing a physical therapist with expertise in concussion to help them safely return to their daily activities, school, work, exercise or sport. Physical therapists have role in the evaluation and treatment of 4 different areas after concussion: (1) neck problems, (2) problems with the vestibular (inner ear) and ocular (eye) systems, (3) problems tolerating exercise, and (4) problems with balance and coordination. We will review the role of the physical therapist in evaluating and treating these different areas after concussion and the most up to date research and guidelines.
Relaxation and Mindfulness Practices after Brain Injury
February
Facilitated by Mary Curran, MSW, LICSW
Pain is common after TBI. Managing pain typically requires more than one strategy or treatment. While some people benefit from medication, others need to include exercise and other approaches too. One strategy that is recommended to manage pain is learning how to relax. Join social worker Mary Curran to explore how the mind and body work together during pain and how relaxation can help. This class will provide you with some tips on developing a relaxation practice, such as mindfulness meditation or imagery, and ends with a short relaxation practice.
Advocacy
March
Facilitated by Silas James, MPA
Having a visible or invisible disability inevitably leads to situations where people make incorrect assumptions about you. It’s reasonable to feel the need to correct people, but how do you defend yourself against something that’s only been implied? How do you decide when to say something and when to ignore? In this class, we’ll seek to answer these questions and discuss strategies for how to handle situations we can anticipate as well as unexpected questions from strangers.
It can be empowering to anticipate and plan for situations where you need to stand up for yourself. It takes time and practice to get good at doing this but when you are successful at helping people see you in a different way, it can build your self-esteem and confidence. Self-advocacy is a skill that can help you with friends, family, acquaintances, care providers and “gatekeepers.” Come with questions or situations you want to strategize!
Acupuncture and TBI
April
Facilitated by Mark Sodder, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM)
<2020 Past Health & Wellness Classes and Forums
Managing Depression after Brain Injury
Facilitated by Huiting Liu, PhD
The ABCs of Problem Solving and Reconnecting to Your Goals after Brain Injury
Facilitated by Sara Fey-Hinckley, LMFT, CBIS & Erin Rants, MSW, CBIS
Following through with setting and implementing goals is a challenge for everyone, and can be particularly challenging after sustaining a brain injury. We will discuss and practice proven problem-solving and goal-setting strategies and the importance of setting ‘implementation intentions to increase follow-through.
Advocacy
Facilitated by Silas James, MPA
Having a visible or invisible disability inevitably leads to situations where people make incorrect assumptions about you. It’s reasonable to feel the need to correct people, but how do you defend yourself against something that’s only been implied? How do you decide when to say something and when to ignore?
Nutrition and Supplements after Brain Injury
Facilitated by Lesley Abraham, MD
This class discussed how to optimize nutrition after brain injury and how to evaluate the use of various supplements.
Relaxation and Mindfulness Practices after Brain Injury
Facilitated by Mary Curran, MSW, LICSW
This class explored how the mind and body work together during pain and how relaxation can help.
Physical Activity and Exercise after Brain Injury
Facilitated by Chuck Bombardier, PhD
This class discussed what we know about physical activity in people who have experienced TBI, including possible benefits and harms as well as how physical activity can impact mood, sleep, pain, fatigue and thinking abilities.
Communication and Relationships
Facilitated by Orli Shulein, MS, CCC-SLP
Communication changes are common following TBI. However, understanding how this may impact the family unit may be confusing and even overlooked. In this class Orli Shulein, a speech-language pathologist with 10 years of experience working with people who’ve had TBI, discussed common causes of communication breakdowns and what they can do to relationships. Also discussed were tools and strategies to not just repair communication breakdowns, but to reduce their frequency.
Talking to People about your Brain Injury
Facilitated by Amy Starosta, PhD
A brain injury can be a life changing event not only for the person who experienced it, but for everyone in their life. This class discussed strategies for determining what details, if any, the person who had the TBI may want to share about their injury in various social settings, as well as things they may not want to share.
Managing Fatigue
Facilitated by Nickolas A. Dasher, PhD
Fatigue, both bodily and cognitively, impacts everyone at some point after a brain injury. Also, your time sleeping may become extended or simply not be as restorative as it was before. Things such as mental sluggishness, emotional disconnection, lack of energy, and increased isolation can keep one from engaging with others and enjoying the things once enjoyed. This class focused on neurological and psychological causes of fatigue, and identified several techniques to better manage fatigue, which can have a significant and positive impact on quality of life.
Communication and Relationships
Facilitated by Eva Keatly, MA, PhD Candidate and Fleur Godfried, MS, CCC-SLP
Re-connecting with family and friends and communicating effectively can be challenging after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This class focused on techniques to strengthen relationships after TBI, including adjusting to role changes and tips to improve communication.
Alternative Treatments and Therapies after TBI
Facilitated by CJ Plummer, MD, former UW Medicine Brain Injury Fellow
This presentation explored various clinical symptoms of TBI and some common supplements, technological devices as well as complimentary approaches to treatment including massage, Tai Chai, yoga, and aqua-therapy.
Additional classes offered at the Verdant Community Wellness Center in Lynnwood, MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, and Swedish Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle.
Recreation and TBI
In this forum we learned about ways people have returned to their favorite recreational activities after their injuries, or were inspired to find new ones.
Did my Brain Injury Cause This?
Dr. Jennifer Zumsteg led an informative discussion on some of the differences in symptoms between mild to a severe TBI.
Caregiving for Caregivers
Presented by Dr. Janet Powell and Hye Kyong Jeong, MSW
Presented by Sylvia Lucas, MD, PhD; Jeanne Hoffman, PhD; and Kathleen Bell, MD.
- Slides
Traveling after TBI
We welcomed two speakers who shared their experiences with traveling after they had experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Update on Hyperbaric Oxygen and Neurofeedback Treatment
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- Jennifer Zumsteg, MD, UW TBIMS Investigator
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- Kathleen Bell, MD, Former UW TBIMS Project Director
Speakers: Jennifer Zumsteg, MD and Kathleen Bell, MD
- Presentation Slides Update on Hyperbaric Oxygen and Neurofeedback Treatments
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Slides
- Neurofeedback Slides
Neurostimulants after a Brain Injury: What Do We Know?
Speaker: Kathleen Bell, MD
Sex and Sexuality after TBI
Speaker: Kristin Brewer Sherman, MD, PhD
Moving from School to Adult Life: What Parents and Young Adults Who Have Had a TBI Need to Know
Speaker: Denny Hasko
Assistive Technology (AT) Strategies after TBI
Speaker: Curt Johnson
Employment and Finances after Brain Injury
Speaker: Robert Fraser, PhD
