Making Connections after TBI: A Guide for Social Peer Mentors

TIRR Memorial Hermann and Baylor College of Medicine

Multimedia

• Produced by Victoria Tilney McDonough and Brian King. Dr. Tedd Judd shares his experience and advice about culture, ethnicity, and brain injury rehab. Transcript of this video. Dr. Tedd Judd Talks About Understanding Behavior Changes with TBI
• Dr. Maria Mouratidis is is a licensed neuropsychologist and currently the command consultant and subject matter expert for Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health at the National Naval Medical Center. This is BrainLine's exclusive interview with Dr. Mouratidis recorded on September 17th, 2008. Transcript of the video here. Dr. Maria Mouratidis Talks About Compassion Fatigue in Caregivers
• This webcast outlines the issues and behavioral challenges of individuals with TBI and the concerns about using seclusion and restraint on these individuals. From the Mothers and Children Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Used with permission. All rights reserved. www.mchb.hrsa.gov. Transcript of this audio. Reducing Restraint and Seclusion of Individuals with TBI

More Information

• Making Connections After Brain Injury: A Guide For Social Peer Mentors (pdf)
• Circles of Friends
• Behavioral and Social Interventions for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Summary of the Research with Clinical Implications (pdf)

Introduction

We hope the following information will help to answer some of your questions about what being a social peer mentor is all about. This manual is designed to be a resource you can use to help you in mentoring others, to come up with social activities that they enjoy, and to assist others in making and keeping friendships. The manual will cover much of the information that you will be going over in the training sessions with the therapist. You can then keep this manual with you as a reference after you complete the training sessions. In addition to the training sessions and this manual, you are encouraged to contact the On-Call Therapist if you have any questions or need assistance at anytime after you begin mentoring. The On-Call Therapist is there to help you with information and problem-solving, should you need any assistance.

This manual will cover the following pieces of information:

1. Description of the role of a mentor.
2. General information about brain injury.
3. Information about common problems experienced after brain injury and ideas about how to help.
4. Skills that a mentor should help the peer partner to develop.
5. Ideas about social activities.
6. Worksheets to help your peer partner learn to plan social activities.
7. Tips on providing feedback about social communication issues.
8. Information on what to do in emergency or problem situations when mentoring.
9. Resources that might be helpful to you or your peer partner.

We hope you will find the role of being a social peer mentor to be both rewarding and challenging. Helping others to develop satisfying social activities and relationships can make a very positive difference in their lives. Remember that a good sense of humor and sense of fun can make this experience rewarding for both you and your peer partners. We applaud your willingness to use your time to help others!

Download the extensive 82 page pdf (1796kb), "Making Connections After Brain Injury: A Guide For Social Peer Mentors."