Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury can cause more than just memory loss, problems concentrating, and other seemingly “physical” characteristics; it can cause emotional and psychological issues as well.

Depending on the severity of the brain injury, the person who has suffered it may benefit from counselling to get back to an even emotional or psychological state.

Symptoms & signs of psychological issues due to a brain injury include:

• Dissociation
• Extreme anger
• Sadness
• Frustration
• Grief
• Anxiety
• Depression

When is it time to get help?

The emotional or mental health impact from a brain injury can be hard to deal with – not to mention dealing with the trauma or disease that caused the injury in the first place! If you are dealing with the symptoms of the above mental health conditions and feel like you just don’t know how to cope with what might be your new normal following your brain injury – it might be time to seek help.

Psychological issues due to brain injury treatment methods

Depending on how the symptoms of your brain injury are affecting you, will determine what type of therapy in which you’ll get the most benefit. Generally speaking, some of the most effective treatment methods may include:

• Person centered therapy differs from more traditional therapeutic approaches in the belief that, while the therapist has expertise in many areas, the client is the expert on themselves and their lived experiences. People are essentially trustworthy and have a vast potential for understanding themselves while also being able to ultimately resolve their own problems when guided properly.
• Hypnosis and hypnotherapy can allow clients to travel deeper into the unconscious or subconscious to look at and work with issues and ideas perhaps inaccessible otherwise. It’s like guided daydreaming: a form of relaxed concentration.
• Mindfulness therapy is an approach to treatment that focuses on how people’s thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence their behaviour and how they perceive themselves, others, and the world. The ability to be in the moment, to acknowledge and regulate your emotions helps you to break free from negative thought patterns.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy encourages clients to accept the difficulties and misfortunes of life. Clients learn coping techniques to not dwell on negative emotions by staying in the present.
• Virtual reality assisted therapy (VRAT) is a computer-based system that allows a user to experience a sense of presence in a computer-generated or video presented three-dimensional environment. It’s a form of therapy that utilizes the immersive experience that VR technology provides to support individuals who experience anxiety related to common fears or phobias.
• Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)is an effective, research-backed, non-invasive process in which a focused magnetic field stimulates under-active brain cells, activates them to work more efficiently and transforms lives through symptom reduction. rTMS can be particularly effective when used to treat severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, chronic pain, migraines, post concussion symptoms, and burnout that has not fully responded to conventional treatments (medication/therapy).

You may also be interested in learning more about Insight’s Brain Injury Program and assessment for brain injury and other neuropsychological conditions.

Together with your therapist, you will discuss the best treatment method for your unique personality and situation.

What will I get out of treatment with Insight Psychological?

While it may not be possible to reverse the damage that you’ve sustained, we may be able to help you to adjust to your new normal. Coping with a brain injury can be done with the right combination of therapeutic methods. A licensed counsellor, like the ones at Insight Psychological, can work with you to determine what those may be. Our team of therapists are compassionate and knowledgeable. Insight Psychological has offices located across Alberta. Please call us today to set up an appointment for brain injury counselling and assessments.