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Informational Outreach

For Clinicians

 

Traumatic Brain Injury – Behavioral Health Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (TBI-BH ECHO)

Brain Injury Health & Wellness Classes

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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 FREE classes offer non-clinical, wellness, and life skills information specifically designed for people who have had a brain injury and their loved ones. We hope the classes provide opportunities to acquire new skills, socialize, and encourage your overall 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 Taylor at taylorw@biawa.org info@biawa.org for help with registering.

2022 Health & Wellness Classes

Talking to Others about your Brain Injury 

April 27th 11AM – 12PM PST  

Facilitated by: Amy Starosta, PhD

Having a brain injury can be a life-changing event not only for you, but for the people in your life. At times it can be challenging to talk about your injury. In this class, we will focus on strategies for determining what details to share for different social settings and the people in your life.

Fatigue and Brain Injury 

 February

Facilitated by: Nickolas Dasher, MD

Fatigue is a common complaint after a brain injury and while it can be partially related directly to the type and severity of the brain injury, it is most often perpetuated by deconditioning and lifestyle factors. This class focused on the mechanisms contributing to fatigue after brain injury and behavioral treatments to help mitigate its impact to improve quality of life.

  • Handout
  • Slides
Caring for the Caregiver

January

Facilitated by Jon Tsen, M.S. Behavioral Medicine Resident at HMC

Family caregivers represent nearly 20% of the US population, providing care and support to an adult person with chronic illness or disability. Adjusting to disability and providing caregiving support can often feel challenging, and many experience stress, isolation, and burnout. Importantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, caregivers have been at a higher risk of experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts. In this class the potential risk factors for caregivers’ poor mental health and ways to help improve psychosocial well-being were discussed.

  • Slides

2021 Health & Wellness Classes

Navigating the Department of Vocational Rehab (DVR)

November

Facilitated by Robert Fraser, PhD

This class included:  How best to access DVR support, choosing a DVR funded service provider in your community, the employment outlook today, and the most effective means of getting hired to include employer incentives and work considerations given disability and Social Security subsidy.

Dr. Robert Fraser is the Founder of Neurological Vocational Services.  Find the full description of the program and services on their website at nvsrehab.org.

  • Slides
Connecting People to Research

October

Facilitated by Megan Moore, PhD, MSW

In this class Megan Moore and Leslie Kempthorne will share some tips and techniques to connect people who have had a TBI with resources and support. They will also discuss potential benefits of participating in research.

  • Slides
Cannabis and TBI: Seeing through the Haze

September

Facilitated by Jesse Fann, MD

With the legalization of marijuana in Washington and many other states over the past decade, access to cannabis has increased dramatically. This class focused on what we know and what we still don’t know about the potential therapeutic and harmful effects of cannabis in people who have experienced a TBI.

  • Slides
Acupuncture and TBI

April

Facilitated by Mark Sodder, DAOM (Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)

  • Slides
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!

  • Notes
  • Slides
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.

  • Slides
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.

  • Slides

Past Health & Wellness Classes and Forums 

Managing Depression after Brain Injury

Facilitated by Huiting Liu, PhD

  • Slides
The ABCs of Problem Solving and Reconnecting to Your Goals after Brain Injury

Facilitated by Sara Fey-Hinckley, LMFT, CBIS & Erin Rants, MSW, CBIS

  • Slides

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

  • Slides

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?

  • Handout
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.

  • Slides
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.

  • Slides
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.

  • Slides
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.

  • Slides
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.

  • Slides
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.

  • Handout
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.

  • Slides
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.

  • Slides

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.

  • Recreation and TBI Resource List
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.

  • Slides
Caregiving for Caregivers

Presented by Dr. Janet Powell and Hye Kyong Jeong, MSW

  • Slides
  • Notes
Headaches after TBI

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).

  • Traveling and TBI Resource List
Update on Hyperbaric Oxygen and Neurofeedback Treatment
Jennifer Zumsteg
Jennifer Zumsteg, MD, UW TBIMS Investigator
kathleen bell
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

  • Presentation Slides
Sex and Sexuality after TBI

Speaker: Kristin Brewer Sherman, MD, PhD

  • Presentation Slides
Moving from School to Adult Life: What Parents and Young Adults Who Have Had a TBI Need to Know

Speaker: Denny Hasko

  • Presentation Slides
Assistive Technology (AT) Strategies after TBI

Speaker: Curt Johnson

  • Presentation Slides
Employment and Finances after Brain Injury

Speaker: Robert Fraser, PhD

Robert Fraser, M.D.

  • Presentation Slides

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The University of Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Model System is made possible by a federal grant by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

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