Health and Wellness Classes at Harborview
UPDATE: GIVEN COVID-19, classes are now offered virtually!
The University of Washington’s Traumatic Brain Injury Model System is pleased to announce that we have joined forces with BIAWA to offer Health and Wellness classes at Harborview Medical Center.
The Health and Wellness 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’s website to register for a class, or click the “Register Here” link for a particular class listed below.
2020 Health and Wellness Classes Schedule
JUNE- Managing Depression After Brain Injury
Facilitated by Huiting Liu, PhD
APRIL – ABC’s of Problem Solving and Reconnecting to Your Goals after Brain Injury –
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS; DATE TBD
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.
MARCH – Advocacy –
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS; DATE TBD
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!
FEBRUARY – Nutrition and Supplements after Brain Injury
Facilitated by Lesley Abraham, MD
Wednesday, February 12th, 2020 from 12 – 1pm in Maleng Building, Room 118, Harborview Medical Center
This classed discussed how to optimize nutrition after Brain Injury and evaluating the use of various supplements.
2019 Health and Wellness Classes
DECEMBER – Relaxation and Mindfulness Practices after Brain Injury
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. This class will explore how the mind and body work together during pain and how relaxation can help. It will provide you with some tips on developing a relaxation practice, such as mindfulness meditation or imagery, and end with a short relaxation practice.
NOVEMBER – Physical Activity and Exercise after Brain Injury
Facilitated by Chuck Bombardier, PhD
In this class we will discuss what we know about physical activity in people with TBI. We will cover the possible benefits and harms of physical activity after TBI. We will talk about how physical activity can impact mood, sleep, pain, fatigue and thinking abilities. Those present will learn about types of physical activity and how we measure it. Everyone who wants to will complete a measure of physical activity and learn how to interpret it. Participants will be given the chance to discuss why they want to become more physically active and what they might do to achieve that goal.
OCTOBER – Communication and Relationships
Facilitated by Orli Shulein, MS, CCC-SLP
Communication changes are common following TBI. However, understanding how this may impact on 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 had a TBI, explored 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.
SEPTEMBER – Advocacy
Facilitated by Silas James, MPA
Self-advocacy is a skill that can help with friends, family, acquaintances, care providers and “gatekeepers.” Having a visible or invisible disability inevitably leads to situations where people make incorrect assumptions. How do you decide when to say something and when to ignore? In this class, Silas James discussed and strategized ways to handle anticipated situations as well as those unexpected questions from strangers.
AUGUST – 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.
JULY – 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.
JUNE – 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.
MAY – Alternative Treatments and Therapies after TBI
Facilitated by CJ Plummer, MD our 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 are being offered at the Verdant Community Wellness Center in Lynnwood, MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, and Swedish Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle.
Past Forums
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.
Is this my TBI or just a headache?
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.
Headaches after TBI
Presented by Sylvia Lucas, MD, PhD, Jeanne Hoffman, PhD, and Kathleen Bell, MD.
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 Investigator
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- Kathleen Bell, MD UW TBIMS Former 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 with TBI Need to Know
Speaker: Denny Hasko
Assistive Technology (AT) Strategies in Working with TBI
Speaker: Curt Johnson
Employment and Finances After Brain Injury
Speaker: Robert Fraser, PhD
