Laughing along the way

LAUGHING ALONG THE WAY

Back to Work after TBI/Multiple Trauma

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Learning Objectives

Name at least three new ideas for successful return to work.

Demonstrate the use of at least two compensatory strategies to help ensure successful work re-entry.

Remember at least two funny pitfalls of returning to work to share with your clients so they can avoid those problems in their own journeys.

Who I Was BeforeProgram Director at Touchstone (TNC)

Perfectionist

Wife/No children

Workaholic

Supervisor

In Line Skating Enthusiast

Seamstress

Recreational Therapist

Daughter

Sister

Friend

November 1, 1997

And the Journey Begins…

Life Flight trip to Houston – Memorial Hermann Hospital, The Medical Center

Both lungs punctured, swelling of the brain, 32 fracture sites—Diagnosis: Moderate Brain Injury with Multiple Trauma

Drug Induced Coma for two weeks – “in and out”

Loss of who I was- Stripper ?? Actress ??

Learning a new role

And the JourneyContinues

Out of Coma- What happened those two weeks? When can I go back to work?

Never too soon to think about returning to work and what those steps are going to be!

Long Term Acute Care – 3 months Occupational Therapy and Pre-Voc work

Organizing Activities for the other patients Outpatient Therapy

Housework as a training ground Organizing your home to make back to work

easier

Neuropsychological Test

A “road map” to recovery Final report shows strengths and weaknesses

The key is to use your strengths to overcome

your weaknesses!

Practical Application

Back to school for MBA…

“Talk the talk and walk the walk”

Back to work with a modified work schedule: 1 month of 2 hours per day (10 hours a week) 1 month of 4 hours per day (20 hours a week) 1 month of 6 hours per day (30 hours a week) BACK TO FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT!!!

The Journey at a Glance

Wreck and ER

ICU/Coma

Main Floor at Acute Care

LTAC

Outpatient

BACK TO WORK!!!

Back to Work

Organize an at home work station—keep everything together.

Adopt a new “trusted system” for organizing to do lists, calendar, projects, calls, etc. Getting Things Done (GTD), David Allen

Mind Sweep Weekly Review

Day Runner

Structuring Your Work Day

Using outlook or other schedule/calendar to track events, meetings, things that must get done TODAY.

Laminated card== “My current focus: I am now working on ___________. When done, the next item is ___________.”

Use your brain to do the work, not remember what you are supposed to be doing!

Being “In The Moment” at Work

Peaceful Habits by Dr. Jude Theriot Practice Daily Focus on what is happening now, not

things from the past or things in the future. “It is what it is!” Honey Boo-Boo’s mom

Focusing on past can cause grief-instead focus on what you CAN do now.

“Let it go” attitude I’m never going back, the past is in the

past…”

Attitude

Embracing our deficits at work We all make mistakes

My big blunder Stop being your own worst critic! Let your co-workers know what to expect and

how they should react to be helpful.

Technology

It doesn’t make you look disabled! ipad vs. iphone

Hundreds of “aps” to help us out Use Your Own Handwriting Any.DO Runkeeper

Hopefully you have…

Heard at least three new ideas for successful return to work.

Learned about the use of at least two compensatory strategies to help ensure successful work re-entry.

Heard at least two funny pitfalls of returning to work to share with your clients so they can avoid those problems in their own journeys.

It all comes down to this…

Questions/Comments

“Ask me anything—my life is an open book!”