Tag: Educational

this is the archive page

Finding Healing and Purpose in Brain Injury Awareness

Posted on by Joy Koeppen

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. For many, this month is an opportunity to share with others, including family, friends, professionals, and legislators, about the impact of brain injury on the individual, the family, friendships, and physical health, to name a few areas. Another major impact of brain injury is changes to mental health and emotional wellness that result from the devastating loss of abilities, roles, relationships, identity and purpose. One way to find meaning and purpose amid these losses is to get involved in raising awareness. This doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, this is about sharing with family and friends, for others, it is about sharing your story publicly, and for still others, it is about just being present where advocacy and sharing happens. If you would like to learn more about participating in awareness opportunities in March, see the link below. If you would like to learn more about managing mental health challenges, you will find additional resources below.

Brain Injury Awareness Day and other awareness opportunities:

https://biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness

Mental Health Resources



Joy Koeppen, LCSW, CBIS
Mental Health Counseling Department

this is the archive page

The Mental Health Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury in the African American Community

Posted on by Brittany Stratton

In recognition of Black History Month

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of Americans each year, but its emotional and psychological impact is often overlooked — especially within the African American community. Research shows that TBI significantly increases the likelihood of developing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and cognitive difficulties. These conditions can disrupt daily life, relationships, and long‑term recovery.

💡 What the Research Shows

A recent large‑scale cohort study found that Black TBI survivors are more likely than White survivors to be diagnosed with several neuropsychiatric conditions, including psychotic disorders, PTSD, substance use disorders, and headache disorders. These disparities highlight how social and structural factors — such as access to care, socioeconomic stressors, and systemic inequities — shape mental health outcomes after a brain injury.

The CDC also reports that racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive follow‑up care and rehabilitation after a TBI, and often experience poorer psychosocial and functional outcomes compared to White individuals. Limited access to specialized care can worsen emotional symptoms and delay recovery.

✊ Why This Matters

For many African American survivors, the emotional effects of TBI occur alongside broader challenges:

•             Stigma around mental health

•             Mistrust of medical systems due to historical and ongoing inequities

•             Underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of mental health conditions

•             Financial and insurance barriers

•             Limited access to culturally competent providers

These factors can make it harder to recognize symptoms early or seek support, even when the need is significant.

🌱 Supporting Healing

Improving mental health outcomes for African American TBI survivors requires:

•             Culturally informed care that recognizes lived experiences

•             Community‑based education to reduce stigma

•             Stronger access to rehabilitation and mental health services

•             Trusted support networks, including family, faith communities, and peer groups

By raising awareness and advocating for equitable care, we honor Black History Month with action that supports healing, dignity, and long‑term well‑being.

Resources



Brittany Stratton, LCW 
Mental Health Counseling Department

this is the archive page

Gratitude in the New Year

Posted on by Joy Koeppen

Winter can be a difficult season, with darker days and colder temperatures often keeping us inside and isolated from people and from the refreshment that being outdoors brings. January can be particularly challenging as we come off the holiday season. For some, the holidays were difficult and stressful, making January a time of recovery and difficult reflection. For others, the holidays are joyful and full of connection and activity, so January may seem dull and lonely by comparison. New Year’s resolutions often signify a new start, but when those goals aren’t met, a sense of failure can follow.

One practice that can help with the winter doldrums is gratitude. Gratitude can change not only your way of thinking, but it can change your attitude, your brain (by rewiring for positivity) and your lifestyle.

Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally – hence the need to practice – so we need to be intentional about it. It begins with the deliberate naming of what we are grateful for. It sounds simple, but when difficult emotions take over, feeling grateful can be a challenge.   A gratitude journal is one way to note these things. Entries don’t have to be paragraphs—recording just one or two items is enough. A gratitude jar is another option. You can write things for which you are grateful as they come to mind and put them into a jar. When you struggle to think of something, pull out one of the slips of paper and reflect on what you wrote. Carry a reminder object to prompt thoughts about what you are grateful for – this could be a picture, a card with a few words or an object that you hold or touch as a reminder to think gratefully. Thanking someone – in person, in a text, or even with a handwritten note – may also prompt feelings of gratitude.

The practice of gratitude has many benefits, including:

  • Enhancing relationships
  • Improving physical health
  • Improving psychological health
  • Better sleep
  • Improved self-esteem
  • Release of happy hormones

Resources

Joy Koeppen, LCSW, CBIS
Manager
Mental Health Counseling Department

this is the archive page

Finding Calm and Connection: Polyvagal Tips for Brain Injury Survivors and Caregivers During the Holidays

Posted on by Brain Injury Services

The holiday season can be a beautiful time of celebration and gratitude—but for brain injury survivors and their caregivers, it can also bring heightened stress, sensory overload, and emotional fatigue. The pressure to “keep up” with traditions, social expectations, and family dynamics can feel overwhelming.

Fortunately, polyvagal theory offers practical tools to help regulate the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and create space for meaningful connection. Here’s how you can use polyvagal-informed strategies to shift from survival mode to a state of safety, presence, and gratitude.


What Is Polyvagal Theory?

Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explains how our autonomic nervous system responds to safety and threat. It identifies three key states:

  • Ventral Vagal (Safe & Social): Calm, connected, and engaged.
  • Sympathetic (Fight or Flight): Anxious, agitated, or overwhelmed.
  • Dorsal Vagal (Shutdown): Numb, disconnected, or withdrawn.

The goal is to gently guide ourselves (and each other) toward the ventral vagal state—especially during the holidays.

Top 3 Polyvagal Tips for Holiday Calm

  1. Breathwork to Anchor Safety
    Slow, intentional breathing helps signal safety to your nervous system. Try inhaling for 4 counts and exhaling for 6. Pair this with gentle movement like rocking or swaying to deepen the calming effect.
  2. Create a Sensory Sanctuary
    Sensory overload is common during the holidays. Designate a quiet space with soft lighting, calming scents, and comforting textures. Tools like noise-canceling headphones, weighted blankets, or soothing music can help regulate sensory input.
  3. Co-Regulate Through Connection
    Safe connection with others helps shift the nervous system into a state of calm. Eye contact, gentle touch, and a warm tone of voice are powerful tools. Caregivers: your calm presence can be a healing anchor.

A Note to Caregivers

You are the heartbeat of support. Your nervous system matters too. These tips aren’t just for survivors—they’re for you. Take time to regulate, rest, and connect with your own sources of safety and joy. You deserve it.

Closing Thought

This holiday season, let’s redefine celebration—not by how much we do, but by how deeply we connect. With gentle polyvagal practices, we can create moments of peace, presence, and gratitude that nourish both the brain and heart.

Learn More About Polyvagal Theory and the Vagus Nerve

These sites are great starting points for learning how to support your nervous system and deepen your understanding of healing through connection.

Brittany Stratton, LCSW
Mental Health Counseling Department

this is the archive page

Summer Safety & Wellness Tips

Posted on by Brittany Stratton

Brain Injury Services is here to help you embrace the warmth while protecting your well-being as summer unfolds. Whether you’re navigating recovery from a traumatic brain injury or supporting someone who is, staying hydrated and safe in the heat is key to healing and comfort.

And here’s something just as important: your physical and emotional well-being are closely connected. When our bodies feel drained—whether from heat, dehydration, or overstimulation—our ability to stay regulated emotionally and mentally becomes harder. So, caring for your physical self isn’t just about staying cool; it’s also about staying grounded.

Hydration Helps Healing

  • Carry a water bottle and sip throughout the day—even indoors.
  • Avoid sugary, caffeinated, or alcoholic drinks that contribute to dehydration.
  • Try infusing water with orange slices, mint, or cucumber for added refreshment.

Stay Cool, Stay Calm

  • Limit outdoor activities to morning or evening hours to avoid peak heat.
  • Wear light, breathable clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when outside.
  • Watch for signs of heat exhaustion—headache, nausea, confusion—and rest immediately if needed.

Ease Sensory Overload

  • Use sunglasses and noise-reducing headphones to minimize overstimulation.
  • Take regular quiet breaks, even during social events or family outings.
  • Caregivers, tune into signs of fatigue or distress and offer calming spaces.

Keep It Simple

  • Plan one activity per day and build in downtime.
  • Maintain familiar routines to support emotional stability.
  • Adjust plans if energy is low; recovery always comes first.

You’re Not Alone

  • Join a support group or community gathering for connection and encouragement.
  • Even brief social check-ins can lift spirits and reduce feelings of isolation.
  • Caregivers: Remember to check in with yourselves—your well-being matters, too.

Why Physical Health Supports Emotional Recovery

Taking care of your physical needs—like rest, hydration, and sensory regulation—can help you stay emotionally steady. Fatigue and discomfort can amplify anxiety, irritability, or feelings of overwhelm. Your brain, body, and emotional systems work as a team, especially during recovery.

Learn More

We at Brain Injury Services wish you a season of strength, serenity, and sunshine.

Brittany Stratton, LCSW
Mental Health Counseling Department

this is the archive page

Grief, Loss and Finding Meaning after Brain Injury

Posted on by Joy Koeppen

Grief doesn’t only happen after someone dies. Brain injury often brings deep, ongoing grief for both survivors and those who care for them. Permanent changes caused by brain injury can lead to a range of painful feelings associated with loss. Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified five common stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The stages don’t always have a particular order, and people may move through them more than once.

The 5 Stages of Grief After Brain Injury

  • Denial The loss of abilities, roles, or relationships can feel overwhelming. Denial can serve as a short-term way to cope by minimizing the emotional burden.
  • Anger With so many life changes to process, anger may serve as an outlet. It may be directed at oneself, at others, or at circumstances.
  • Bargaining In this stage, a person may try to mentally negotiate to strive to find a way out of their pain. Thoughts like “If I do this, maybe things will go back to how they were.”
  • Depression As the reality of the loss sets in, sadness and grief become more present. This is often when the emotional fog lifts and the full weight of change is felt.
  • Acceptance This stage happens when someone fully understands the reality of the situation and stops trying to change it. From here, they can move forward and find a new direction.

According to David Kessler, author of Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, acceptance is crucial to one’s ability to move forward after loss. He also suggests that our thoughts play a major role in shaping meaning out of tragedy and loss. Each of us has a choice in how we respond to loss.
Below are some ways to move forward:

  • Allow yourself to grieve. The stages may be revisited throughout the process.
  • Find ways to process. Talk with a therapist, journal thoughts, or express grief creatively.
  • Remember your values. Ask yourself: what still matters to me, even after this loss?
  • Tell your story. Sharing your story helps you process it — and it may help others feel less alone.
  • Share your grief. Talking with people who understand can bring comfort and connection
  • Help others. Many people find that helping others brings healing and purpose.

Joy Koeppen, LCSW, CBIS
Mental Health Counseling Department