What is counselling after traumatic brain injury like?

Counselling after a brain injury may focus on processing the patient’s experience after such a tremendous change and charting a path forward. This may involve discussing feelings of anger, depression, or grief, exploring changes to one’s sense of identity, developing coping skills for limitations of communication, memory, attention, and emotion regulation, and identifying how to build a meaningful and fulfilling life moving forward.

Who can diagnose a traumatic brain injury?

Traumatic brain injuries are primarily diagnosed by neurologists, and sometimes psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and other specialists. (Primary care doctors and emergency medicine doctors can help refer patients to these specialists.) Doctors may use several tests to arrive at a diagnosis, such as the Glasgow Coma scale, neurological exams to assess cognition, coordination, and movement, CT or MRI scans, and blood tests.

What is the best therapy type for a traumatic brain injury?

Treatment for a traumatic brain injury encompasses multiple types of therapy, including physical therapy (for movement), occupational therapy (for daily tasks), speech therapy (for language), and neuropsychology (for cognition), as well as work with a psychotherapist and psychiatrist. These specialists work collaboratively so that patients heal from a physical, mental, and functional standpoint.

Can you recover from a traumatic brain injury with therapy?

The extent of recovery from a traumatic brain injury depends on the nature and severity of the injury; a full recovery is, of course, more likely for a milder injury. But many people can recover substantially after a head injury, working with a combination of therapists—including physical, occupational, and speech therapists—and other specialists to heal and restore abilities and skills.