Psychotherapy for Families after Brain Injury

Most textbooks and publications addressing psychotherapy after brain injury focus on the tools and techniques for improving patients adaptation and outcome. More recently, the focus has started to shift to the vital role of the support network, as research has demonstrated that collaboration enhances not only the patient s outcome but, importantly, the family s overall adjustment and well-being. This book focuses entirely on eclectic psychotherapy interventions for families after brain injury. It illustrates a multiplicity of psychotherapeutic considerations and techniques for families coping with the effects of an acquired brain injury in a loved one. The book describes conceptual approaches to psychotherapeutic interventions, as well as useful hands-on approaches. Conceptual frameworks include family systems, cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavior therapy, existential therapy, self-psychology, psychodynamic therapy and skills training. Multimodal techniques are also described, including support, guidance, psychoeducation, coping skills, stress management, behavioral management techniques, compensation training, community resource training and long-range planning. The role of holistic interventions to maximize family members knowledge base and quality of life are also depicted, including co-treatment with occupational, physical and recreational therapists, speech-language pathologists, dieticians and psychiatrists.