Idea 2

Traumatic Brain Injury
National Resource Center

The following is an on-line version of text from
The Brain Injury Handbook: A guide for Rehabilitation Providers
In many cases, text and formatting have been modified for Web viewing.
Look for a PDF version of selected Ideas in the coming months!

Idea # 2.
Explain and Discuss
How You’d Like to Try and Help.

Before first meeting you, most patients have little understanding of your potential role in the rehabilitation process. Adding to the potential for confusion is the fact that many professionals in the same discipline take vastly different approaches to patient care. Your role may easily be confused with that of other rehabilitation providers.

In many cases, the professional who made the referral provided little or no background information about your area of specialty and unique contribution to the rehabilitation team. Some patients may have been given incorrect information. Patients’ recollections of your role may be affected by memory problems, confusion, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed.

When first meeting the patient, explain your typical role in rehabilitation. Discuss the limitations of your practice and help them develop realistic expectations. Try to understand patients' views of their problems and the areas where they’d like help.

Discuss the helping process and techniques that are likely to be effective. Talk about other persons with neurological disabilities in similar situations who’ve improved with help.

If you see the patient regularly, routinely review and discuss the treatment plan to keep therapy on track. To help maintain a positive perspective, don’t neglect to review your accomplishments.

Helping patients’ appreciate your
ability to help them achieve their goals
will promote progress and their
active involvement in treatment .

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Last updated - 10/02/2008