Understanding and Supporting Clients with Brain Injury and Concussion

Transform your practice with essential knowledge for working with clients affected by brain injuries and concussions.

This two-part workshop provides RCCs with essential tools to recognize, assess, and support clients affected by brain injuries and concussions. Gain up-to-date, evidence-based strategies while exploring the complex intersections of brain injury with grief, cultural safety, and intimate partner violence, ensuring you deliver compassionate, effective, and culturally attuned care.

This two-part workshop will equip you as an RCC with essential knowledge and practical strategies to support clients with brain injuries and concussions. Delve into the latest evidence-based practices, debunk common myths, and explore the intersection of brain injury with grief, cultural safety, and intimate partner violence.

Key Topics:

• Foundations: Definitions, types, and provincial and national data on brain injury, including disparities in sports, Indigenous communities, and intimate partner violence survivors.
• Clinical Challenges: Recognizing subtle presentations, signs and symptoms, adapting communication and/or interventions, and addressing barriers like missed appointments.
• Effective Interventions: Tailoring approaches beyond short-term therapy, incorporating collaborative care with other professionals.
• Cultural & Ethical Considerations: Strategies for culturally safe care, particularly for Indigenous clients.
• Clinician Resilience: Managing frustration and avoiding unintentional dismissal of clients.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Janelle Breese Biagioni, RPC, MPCC
Janelle is a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling and the founder of CGB. She is an author and national speaker on the topics of brain injury and grief and loss. Janelle has actively pursued improved services for survivors of brain injury since the death of her husband, Cst. Gerald Breese in 1990.

Following her 2018 presentation at Brain Injury Canada’s Conference on the topic of mental health, addictions & brain injury, Janelle created the BC Heads Together Think Tank, which was in response to the number of individuals and organizations who lined up to speak with her at the conference affirming the need to provide a platform for this conversation. It was an opportunity for conversation and collaboration on meeting the needs of people through improved services for mental health, addictions, and brain injury.

Learn more about Janelle’s work here.

Tori Dach, RCC

Tori Dach is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Assistant Manager of Brain Injury Services at the Cridge Centre for the Family. She brings with her a community-focused background, working with individuals who have sustained a brain injury and are living with mental health, addictions, trauma, intimate partner violence, and homelessness. She has a special interest in working with clients working through grief and loss, navigating difficult life transitions and change, building healthy relationships, and emotional regulation.