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The Benefits of Using the "Subjective Units of Discomfort" Scale to Treat PTSD

Michael Roy, MD, Col. (Ret.) talks about helping service members and veterans learn ways to decrease their anxiety in therapy, which can later translate into strategies to use in life.

Michael Roy, MD, Col. (Ret.) on the Co-Occurrence of TBI and PTSD

Sometimes PTSD is not fully manifest until treatment for the symptoms of TBI begins.

Prevention Is the Best Medicine—for all Medical Issues, Including PTSD

Prevention Is the Best Medicine â€” for all Medical Issues, Including PTSD

Like treating heart disease before a heart attack, says Michael Roy, MD, Col. (Ret.), treating symptoms like anxiety and hypervigilance before they may become part of a full PTSD diagnosis makes the most sense.

What Parts of the Brain Are Impacted by PTSD?

From the frontal lobe (which houses our emotions) to the amygdala (which oversees our fight or flight response), Michael Roy, MD, Col. (Ret.) explains how parts of the brain are affected when injured by brain injury or a traumatic experience.

Tips for Transitioning Back to Academia After a Brain Injury

For Kelli Gary, PhD, one of the hardest lessons she learned was that she had accept the slow process of rebuilding her skills after brain injury in order to ultimately succeed at college.

A New Start, a New School After Brain Injury

Kelli Gary, PhD: "A New Start, a New School"

Even today, after earning her PhD and two masters degrees, Kelli Gary, PhD knows that, with a TBI, sometimes you have to take one step back in order to take two steps forward.

Kelli Gary, PhD on Her Crash and Her First Attempt to Return to College

After five months in acute rehab following her car crash, Kelli Gary, PhD returned to college and tried to do what she had always done. Within two months, she was flunking out. She needed a new plan.

The Benefits of Using Disability Services in College Post-Injury

"I look back at my years in college and graduate school and think, wow, if I had just used disability services, my life would have been a lot easier," says Kelli Gary, PhD.

Go at Your Own Pace When Returning to School After a Brain Injury

Speaking from personal experience, Kelli Gary, PhD knows how difficult and frustrating it can be to have to learn to study and think in entirely different ways. "But don't give up," she says. "It can be done!"

Balancing School, Work, and the Recovery Process After Brain Injury

Kelli Gary, PhD talks about how she balanced graduate school with getting work experience and going slowly to achieve all of her goals post-brain injury.

Kelli Gary, PhD on Her Hard Fought Degree in Occupational Therapy

In college after her brain injury, Kelli Gary, PhD determined her major then worked diligently and resourcefully to succeed in getting her degree.

Meet Kelli Williams Gary, PhD

In 1990, Kelli Gary fell asleep at the wheel and sustained a severe brain injury. Along a bumpy but ultimately successful path, Dr. Gary earned her bachelor of science degree, two masters degrees, and a PhD.

What Is the Role of the Spouse or Family in Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapist Kristen Maisano talks about how spounes can help further a loved one's TBI-related thearpy because not only are they aware of changes in the person, but they can also bring strategies from the clinic to the home.

What Is the Role of Motivation in Occupational Therapy?

"Sometimes service members and veterans feel stuck. Rehab for TBI is not easy," says occupational therapist Kristen Maisano. "My job is to help them find what motivates them to dig deep and to set and attain incremental goals."

What Are "Activities of Daily Living"?

Occupational therapist Kristen Maisano explains what activities of daily living are — from brushing teeth and getting dressed to grocery shopping and fulfilling obligations at work.

What Is the First OT Appointment Like for a Person with TBI or PTSD?

"Listening to where the person is right now is crucial," says Kristen Maisano, OTD. "From there, I will tell the person that things don't have to be hard forever, we are in this together, and I will help them get where they want to go."

How Do You Help Patients Who Have a Hard Time Filtering What They Say?

Sometimes people with mild TBI experience disinhibition — a difficulty filtering what they say. Practicing strategies in the clinic first helps patients and therapists see what works and what doesn't.

How Is a Therapy Dog Different from a Service Dog?

Occupational therapist Kristen Maisano talks about therapy dogs, which are used in the clinic, and how they can help service members with mild TBI and PTDS in ways that humans cannot.

What Kind of Strategies Can You Use to Help Patients Who Are Hypervigilant?

Hypervigilance is a crucial skill to have while in combat, but once in the civilian world, it is hard to turn off. Occupational therapist Kristen Maisano talks about how to create step-by-step goals to do just that.

How Do You Set Goals in Occupational Therapy?

OT Kristen Maisano talks about helping patients with TBI attain their goals; sometimes there are ways to retrain the brain, other times the use of compensatory strategies is necessary.

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Service Members and Veterans with Mild TBI and PTSD?

Occupational therapist Kristen Maisano talks about the most common symptoms of mild TBI and PTSD, like emotional regulation and sleep issues, and what strategies can help.

How Do You Help Service Members Transition from the Military to the Civilian Lifestyle?

Transitioning from the military, where a service member may have had to make many life-and-death decisions, to the civilian world can be challenging.

How Are Psychological Service Dogs Assigned to Patients?

Occupational therapist Kristen Maisano talks about how and when service members with mild TBI and/or PTSD can acquire a psychological service dog.

How Can Civilian Providers Assess Whether a Patient Needs Occupational Therapy?

Civilian healthcare providers may need to reach out to specialists in the community to ensure that their patients are getting all of their TBI-related issues addressed.

What Is the Role of the Patient in Occupational Therapy?

"Rehabilitation for mild TBI and PTSD needs to be service member-directed," says Kristen Maisano, OTD.

BrainLine is a national service of WETA-TV, the flagship PBS station in Washington, D.C.

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