Since the early 1980s, Community Partnerships has worked to create new opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Serving over 1,100 people a year, their cross-functional team includes job coaches, consultants, trainers, and of course, Certified Rehabilitation Counselors – two of whom I had the pleasure to talk to for this episode of the podcast.
Lindsay Prenoveau, Community Partnership’s Brain Injury Support Services Program Manager, and Rachel Weber, a Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapist, walked me through the ways in which their organization prioritizes individual-tailored care and case management, as well as the strategy of educating the public on the impact of Cognitive Rehabilitation.
Helpful Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:
https://www.communitypartnerships.org/
Blog: https://www.communitypartnerships.org/category/cr-corner/
Facebook and Instagram: @communitypartnershipsnc
BlueSky: @cpinc.bsky.social
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Unknown (00:00):
Music.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (00:04):
Welcome to Inside Rehabilitation
Counseling.
I'm CRCC Director ofCommunication and Marketing,
Taylor Bauer, and I'm very gladyou're joining us again for
another exploration into the artand science of rehabilitation
counseling.
Since the early 1980s,Community Partnerships has
worked to create newopportunities for people with
intellectual and developmentaldisabilities.
Serving over 1,100 people ayear, their cross-functional
(00:28):
team includes job coaches,consultants, trainers, and of
course, certified rehabilitationcounselors, two of whom I had
the pleasure to talk to you forthis episode of the podcast.
Lindsay Prenneveau, CommunityPartnerships Brain Injury
Support Services ProgramManager, and Rachel Weber, a
Cognitive RehabilitationTherapist, walked me through the
ways in which theirorganization prioritizes
(00:49):
individual tailored care andcase management, as well as the
strategy of educating the publicon the impact of cognitive
rehabilitation.
Rachel and Lindsay, thank youso much for being here on the
Inside Rehabilitation CounselingPodcast.
I know we've been coordinating,taking some time to talk with
one another for a few weeks now.
And I've really been lookingforward to this.
So thank you both so much foryour time.
(01:09):
I'm going to kind of frame thisfor both of you and maybe
Lindsay, if you want to start.
I'm curious about when youfirst both learned about
rehabilitation counseling as aprofession or as an option you
could pursue for a career.
Can you walk us through thejourney that led to your current
career?
Lindsay Prenoveau (01:26):
Sure.
I think like many CRCs, Ididn't really enter the field
knowing that I wanted to be acertified rehab counselor.
I really knew that I wanted tohelp people once I graduated,
and that was about the end ofit.
After undergrad, I did enterthe workforce for a couple years
working with individuals withdifferent disabilities in more
of a one-on-one context.
And during this time, I reallyhad the opportunity to watch
(01:48):
them relearn their independence,help them adjust to disability,
and find their new place in theworld.
And at the time, I didn'trealize that I had already
entered the world ofrehabilitation counseling.
So that's kind of when itstarted to click that I really
knew that I wanted to seekfurther education in the work of
rehabilitation in the field ofrehabilitation.
So I entered into a master'sprogram at the University of
(02:10):
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
where my main focus was onbrain injury and then also
substance use.
So everything kind of focusedaround that, researching and
learning everything I couldabout brain injury and how to
help those individuals recoverfor more of a community rehab
lens.
So during that, I did some workat a state vocational
(02:33):
rehabilitation program.
I worked with a brain injuryclubhouse and those experiences
only really solidified that Ifelt like I was meant to be in
this space.
So after that, I kept workingwith people with brain injuries
to help them find meaningfulwork.
I ended up working as acognitive rehabilitation
therapist several years later.
Fast forward a few more yearswith community partnerships, and
(02:55):
I am now the program manager ofour brain injury support
services program, where I've gotthe opportunity to lead a group
of wonderful, wonderfulindividuals and support the
consumers that we help inreaching their inherent
potentials each and every daywith the ultimate goal being
employment.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (03:11):
I love that.
And writing At the top of youranswer, you said something about
finding their place in theworld.
And when someone goes throughsomething like this, that can be
so vital to allowing someone tounderstand how this thing that
they've experienced has affectedthem.
So I really like how you saidthat.
Rachel, how about you?
Rachel Weber (03:26):
Well, my journey started kind of from a young
age.
I was always drawn to people,their stories and experiences
and challenges.
And I loved connecting andcommunicating and learning from
others.
So over time, I became more andmore aware of the struggles
based by kind of those aroundme.
And that awareness kind ofsparked something in me.
(03:46):
And by the end of middleschool, maybe beginning of high
school, I knew I wanted topursue a helping profession.
And something like counselingor psychology, I did not know
yet quite what form that wasgoing to take yet.
So it started to come intofocus during my senior year of
college.
I was a psychology major and Iwas the president of Psychi,
(04:08):
which was our psychology honorsociety.
And part of my role was toinvite guest speakers to talk
about different career paths inthe field.
And one of those speakershappened to be a rehab
counselor.
And from that moment on, Whenhe started sharing his work, I
was I was hooked and it justclicked.
So soon after I applied to amaster's program in rehab
(04:32):
counseling, completed my degreealso at Chapel Hill and stepped
into the field working withindividuals with brain injuries,
supporting them as theyreengage in life in ways that
are personally meaningful tothem.
And I've never looked back.
I love it.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (04:48):
Yeah.
Thank you for sharing.
I love hearing that people, youknow, who from a young age,
like you said, know that theywant to help people.
And one of the challenges thatwe have at CRCC is letting
people know sooner than maybelater that rehab counseling is
an option because a lot ofpeople know that they can look
into like psychology or mentalhealth and things like that.
And it's so great that youfound your way to this
(05:09):
profession.
And we're grateful that youdid.
And Lindsay, you as well.
So as you both kind ofmentioned, you are with an
organization called CommunityPartnerships.
And Community Partnerships hasa statement on its website
that's very similar to themission we have at CRCC.
which reads, all people havethe right to pursue their
educational goals, earn a livingwage, and be included in their
(05:31):
communities.
What does it mean to you tothink of the outcome of your
services as more than justoutcomes, but the achievement of
clients having access to theseessential elements of life and
community?
Rachel Weber (05:43):
Well, I think that's one of the real beauties
of our field and of the teamthat we have here is that No one
who walks through our doors isever seen as just an outcome or
checklist.
From day one, we approach ourwork in an integrated and
holistic way.
It starts with getting to knowthat person as a whole person
(06:04):
through assessments andpartnering with them to set
meaningful goals that will helpthem to get back into the
community and meet those qualityof life needs we all have and
connect with those around them.
So I think from there, our teamalongside each client where we
meet regularly andcollaboratively, it helps us to
(06:26):
see them as not, again, anoutcome or a number.
It allows us to support them inour progress and the cool thing
about our agency is it doesn'tend there and we continue
walking with our clients withthem through their goals even
after those goals are met so weget to kind of see people not
just at the end of their goalwith us but past then so we get
(06:49):
to celebrate their successes andconnect with them as they move
forward in their journey andbecause That's how our program
is designed.
We're able to be a part oftheir journey and not just their
time here, but beyond that.
And I think it's that long-termconnection that helps us see
growth in a deeper and moremeaningful way.
Lindsay Prenoveau (07:07):
So I think that's really such the core of
the work that we do and how Itend to view success in our
program.
It's not about a number.
It's not about the numbers.
particular outcome, but really,really an improved quality of
life.
So yes, it's about havingstable housing.
It's about checking off theprogress that's being made, but
it's not just about that.
It's a job that brings pride.
(07:28):
It's the ability to makeindependent decisions.
It's the ability to connect toyour community.
And those outcomes are going tobe things that transcend over
the rest of this person's life.
And I think that's a big thingthat we have pride in is that we
are able to help them developthose skills to be able to be
more independent moving forward.
So although employment is ourend goal, it's not just about
(07:52):
the job.
It's never just about the job.
It's really about restoringconfidence, helping them rebuild
that identity, and then helpingthem access the life that they
were building before andcontinue that path.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (08:02):
Yeah, I think I talked to a lot of CRCs
who really identify themselvesas vocational counselors.
And I know that is very muchthe cornerstone and kind of
bedrock of where this professioncomes from.
But I always tell them, I'mlike, oh, you do so much more
than vocational work.
You know, Like you said,Lindsay, that's kind of the end
goal in a lot of cases.
Some certain situations, it'snot.
But there are so many otherelements that CRCs are equipped
(08:25):
to assist a client with in termsof all aspects of life and
community and family.
And I think independence issomething you both hit on very
precisely.
Getting to see someone throughthat process of maybe
identifying goals and thenhopefully reaching those goals
or getting on the way to reachthose goals and then be able to
stay with them is so wonderfulbecause I know I talk to a lot
(08:47):
of folks who maybe once they geta job placement secured, it's
kind of like, OK, unfortunately,with the way that this position
works, I'm kind of on to theother cases that I have.
And sometimes you lose touchwith people because life gets
really busy.
So it's really great to hearthat you're kind of integrated
into the lives of those clientsbeyond certain stages that maybe
others would be saying like,hey, you know, best of luck,
(09:07):
reach out if you need anythingelse.
And I think that could bereally transformative to not
only how integrated you are intotheir lives, but same for the
client to feel like you are thisadvocate and the source of
empowerment that fulfills themand supports them through even
just beyond like checking offsome boxes of things that they
knew that they wanted toachieve.
I'm curious kind of to build onthis.
Have any clients of communitypartnerships stood out to you as
(09:30):
kind of the epitome of howvital and impactful your
organization is?
Rachel Weber (09:35):
Honestly, it's difficult to narrow it down, but
there are two individuals whoreally highlight just how vital
and impactful this program canbe.
The first is a young man whobegan his brain injury journey
at a time when most people arejust starting to build their
adult lives, heading off tocollege, starting careers, but
instead he was recovering from avery severe brain injury.
(09:57):
He came to our program early onand we started by conducting a
thorough assessment, workingwith him to identify meaningful
goals and addressing those goalsthrough a combination of
intensive one-on-one sessionsand group work.
Much of our focus was onhelping him manage those
significant cognitive andemotional challenges that we had
(10:18):
identified, things likeimpulsivity, attention, memory,
and emotional regulation.
Over time, he made incredibleprogress and was able to
successfully obtain and maintaina job.
Fast forward several years.
He recently returned to ourprogram following another
unexpected brain injury.
(10:40):
But here's the powerful part.
The tools and strategies helearned during his first time
around with us stuck with him.
So he's using those again.
And because of that foundation,his recovery time around this
time around has been much moresmooth and faster.
And that kind of long-termimpact is what does work for
(11:01):
him.
you know, is all about gettingto see that.
The second story that I'd loveto share is of a woman who came
to us at an opposite end in herlife.
She was at the height ofsuccess in a career in
technology, and after a seriouscar accident, her life changed
dramatically.
She was dealing with memoryissues, difficulty with
(11:23):
attention, and executivefunctioning, and slowed
processing speed, all of whichput her job at risk.
In fact, she had actuallyalready been placed on a formal
disability and was close tobeing let go.
So her goal coming to us wasvery clear.
She wanted to keep her job.
And after completing herassessments and identifying
(11:45):
targeted meaningful goals tosupport her in that goal, she
met with us regularly, very,very dedicated.
She would even meet with usduring her lunch breaks to work
on these areas of concern.
And through her dedication andhard work, not only did she keep
her job, and she is stillthere, but she eventually took
on more responsibility and hascontinued to advance in her
(12:07):
career field and today she'sboth thriving professionally and
personally.
She's managing her time better,her energy and resources in a
way that helps her be successfuland support to balance life on
our own terms.
And again, she and I are stillin communication as well.
So these stories just kind ofgive a glimpse about what's
(12:28):
possible when people are givenkind of right support, the right
tools and the space to definetheir own goals.
And they remind us why thiswork and rehab counseling
matters so much.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (12:41):
Yeah, it reminds people who are in the
space of why it's so vital.
And then it also helps us whenpeople hear this podcast who
don't have a huge background incertified rehabilitation
counselors as professionals orrehab counseling as a field to
know just like howtransformative it can be to work
with someone like you two andthose on your team.
We'll move on to you a littlebit now, Lindsay.
(13:02):
Can you tell me a little bitabout the program you manage,
the Brain Injury SupportServices Program?
Just kind of maybe walk methrough some of the services
that you offer in this programand what makes it so impactful.
Lindsay Prenoveau (13:13):
Sure.
So as Rachel has mentioned withthe stories that she was able
to share, we offer really,really specialized and
individualized support to peoplewith brain injuries who want to
return to work or work for thefirst time.
So not everybody that we workwith is coming.
It has gone to work before.
Some of them are just coming tous for the first time to
explore the different skillsthat they're going to need.
(13:34):
We really use a really holisticand interdisciplinary approach.
So we integrate vocationalsupport with cognitive
rehabilitation, with casemanagement, and also therapy and
adjustment counseling to helpindividuals learn different
strategies.
And we really group this allinto one big plan so that we're
able to touch on all differentaspects of an individual's needs
(13:57):
and things that will help thembe more successful in
employment.
And no two consumers areexactly the same, as we all
know.
Everybody has a little bit of adifferent goal in mind and all
the services are really, reallyspecific and tailored to that
individual to make sure it'smeaningful and personalized for
that consumer.
So we work with...
(14:17):
individuals on cognitiverehabilitation, which I like to
call physical therapy for yourbrain.
And so there are two differentgoals of cognitive
rehabilitation.
One is restorative, sorestoring access or restoring
functioning to certain areas ofcognition.
And the other is compensatory.
So that's kind of like makingup for the areas that they may
(14:37):
have lost, utilizing differenttypes of internal or external
strategies.
So, we work with them, likeRachel said, mostly on a
one-on-one basis now.
Occasionally, we may have agroup, a support group or a
skills group, but usually it'sin a one-on-one setting to help
them develop these compensatorystrategies and then help them
through the career explorationprocess.
(14:59):
So, once we have a good idea ofwhat the individual is going to
need to be successful inemployment, we make sure that we
are honing in on those skillsspecifically as they relate to
different aspects of theperson's life.
So, That might mean a sessionworking on executive functioning
where you're going through acalendar planning.
You're helping people developsystems to be able to track
(15:22):
their appointmentsindependently.
And also, what does that looklike for your schedule and your
routine moving forward into theworkforce?
Our goal is to reallygeneralize all of those
cognitive rehabilitation skillsand strategies into the work
environment.
So once we are finished withthat portion of the program,
which we call cognitiverehabilitation and career
(15:43):
exploration, then we move intomore of the job search, which
kind of looks a little bit morelike the supported employment
model.
And it is...
interviews.
It is helping people fill outjob applications.
It's working and continuing tostrengthen those social skills.
It's helping people connect andnetwork.
(16:04):
It's following up withemployers.
It's learning the job.
It's the whole process offinding employment and
maintaining employment.
And as Rachel mentionedearlier, we also provide that
long-term vocational support orlong-term follow-along support
once the individual hassuccessfully exited from their
funded services, which arevocational rehabilitation
(16:25):
funded.
So once they exit that, wecontinue to provide support
throughout the remainder of thetime that they are on that job.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (16:33):
It just seems like the array of things
that you can provide someone isjust honestly life-changing.
And I feel like sometimes weuse that phrase on this podcast
to talk about the work that CRCsdo, but at the risk of it
sounding just kind of like aterm that we throw out lightly,
it's not used lightly here.
This is something that we hopemore and more people know is out
(16:54):
there for them if they'reundergoing something like this.
Lindsay Prenoveau (16:56):
Rachel, if you want to elaborate a little
bit on more of the therapeuticpiece to it and kind of how you
work with individuals on aone-on-one basis for that
adjustment piece.
Rachel Weber (17:04):
For therapy, for an individual that has had such
a significant life change, itreally starts with giving a
person space and time to talkabout it, to process it, to feel
whatever they need to feelabout it.
And from that point movingforward, we kind of hone in with
that client on where they're atin terms of their adjustment,
(17:27):
their acceptance.
There are other pieces that arecoming to the table, anxiety,
depression.
Oftentimes when you have asignificant life change, it's
not just one thing that you'redealing with, it's multiple.
So our goals within thattherapeutic time is to listen,
is to provide feedback, and thento help our clients identify
specific tools and strategiesthat they can use to manage the
(17:51):
emotions and the stress, if youwill, that comes from such a
major life change.
So we want to give people thechance and the space to process
and to be heard as well as tomake sure that they leave these
doors with applicable tools thatthey can use in a variety of
settings to be successful, tomanage anxiety, to manage the
(18:11):
depression.
And not just in employment,although that is a key
discussion that we have, butalso at home within their
relationships.
And when it comes to thattherapeutic setting, we do
happily invite family members,spouses, those that are going to
be very involved in thatperson's life to participate
when appropriate, to help themto learn how to support our
(18:34):
clients and for our clients tobe able to talk to their family
members about what they're goingthrough and those changes.
Because a brain injury doesn'tjust impact that one person.
It impacts all of theindividuals that are surrounding
them and a part of their life.
So we definitely try to makesure and encourage are aware
that the brain injuriesimplications don't just impact
(18:57):
one person's area of life.
It's everywhere.
So helping that client throughthat.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (19:02):
Lindsey had pointed out to, you know, no
person experiencing a braininjury is the same as another
person experiencing a braininjury.
And the things that theyexperience as a result of that
injury can be vastly, you know,different depending on what
they've gone through and whattheir support system looks like
and what level of independencethey have and kind of what
they're their social life andtheir job, as you mentioned in
(19:25):
one of those client examplesearlier, might be and the
expectations for what someone isgoing to go out and be able to
experience as the result ofgoing through something like
this is, you know, vastlydifferent for everybody.
So it's really great to hearthat, you know, you two and your
team and your organization arekind of equipped to take anybody
(19:46):
who comes to you and says, youknow, I've experienced this and
I don't know where to go next orwhat to turn to and kind of
what I'm supposed to do,essentially, and that you can
tailor those services sospecifically to their needs.
It's just very inspiring toknow that, you know, That can be
a very isolating thing, I wouldimagine, going through
something this traumatic andknowing that there are people
out there to advocate for youand guide you through that, like
(20:10):
both of you.
That's very reassuring.
As part of that process ofunderstanding brain injury as
best as you can when you'remaybe not a CRC, I think
education on what brain injuryis can be so important.
And in March, you actuallylaunched a blog on your website
that explores the use ofcognitive rehabilitation in
helping survivors of braininjuries.
I'm curious, Lindsey, what wasthe idea?
(20:31):
behind starting this space toexplore some of those ideas and
concepts?
Lindsay Prenoveau (20:35):
So in light of Brain Injury Awareness Month,
we really wanted to bring aresource to the community that
was quite tangible.
So the idea came from a placeof one, wanting to spread
awareness about brain injury,but also wanting to provide some
really, really moreapproachable tools that can be
used in cognitiverehabilitation.
As in many fields, there is alot of technical language and
(20:55):
lingo and rehab and brain injuryand concepts get thrown around.
And sometimes it can be reallySo we wanted to take that
concept of cognitiverehabilitation to make it
tangible for a wide variety ofaudiences.
We wanted to make kind of startcreating a space to make those
concepts that were practical andaccessible for caregivers,
(21:16):
survivors and professionalsalike.
So we had a small team that hadthe opportunity to contribute
from a bunch of differentavenues.
So we did have a survivor'slived experience.
We had some professionals onour team.
We had some family members,some contractors.
content creators and thenleadership overseeing the
project in order to reallyreally bring bring this concept
(21:39):
to a wide variety of individualswhile also spreading awareness
of brain injury so i'm reallyhopeful i feel like this is kind
of just the beginning of howour impact in the social media
space may begin and i'm excitedto see where the project
continues to grow and where it'sgoing to take us in the world
of disability advocacy andeducation because we are not
just brain injury our program isbrain injury specific however
(22:02):
community partnerships supportsa wide variety of individuals
with different disabilities andeverybody is so different and we
want to make sure that we areable to highlight some of the
really, really tangible,successful tools that we're able
to use so that other people canfind the same success.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (22:19):
Yeah.
And that's so important.
I mean, like the social mediaand just kind of like digital
outreach portion alone is soimportant because for a lot of
folks who maybe aren't in aposition where they need
services right now, they mightnot be encountering these ideas
or these concepts until maybethey or someone they know is
going to eventually need tonavigate these sort of issues.
And then there's the idea ofjust translating technical and
(22:42):
even like research language intointo a way that people who are
under, you know, experiencingthis or, you know, caregivers,
support systems can understand,OK, like, what is it that like
my loved one or me as a as aclient undergoing this is
actually like needing right nowfrom a professional who can who
can get me from point A whereI'm at now to an eventual point
(23:05):
B or point C or point D.
And I know for a lot of people,myself included, as someone
who, you know, my background ismarketing and communication,
I've only been in this kind ofspace with CRCC since 2022.
curve of learning all of thedifferent things that CRCs do
let alone all of the differentterminologies of disability and
(23:26):
what it means to live with adisability whether it's been
acquired or it's been a lifelongexperience and then all the
different ways that CRCs likeyourselves assess and set people
up to be able to achieve youknow their maximum potential is
I'll be honest I'll tell onmyself right now very difficult
sometimes for me to followbecause I'm like okay this is
not a language that I speaknecessarily and when I was
(23:47):
reading the blog and catching upon the posts that you've had
since March.
I was learning so much soquickly because it was written
in a way where I was like, OK, Iget what they're talking about,
and I understand why this wouldbe important to someone
navigating this journey.
And I think the more that we asan entire field can talk about
the work that CRCs do in a waythat people who could one day
(24:08):
benefit from these services, ormaybe someone with a disability
now who haven't sought out theseservices, put things in a way
that they can understand like,okay, that's the impact that I
could experience by working witha CRC or by reaching out to
community partnerships for oneof these services.
And the more we do that, themore people understand what this
work is and why it's soimportant.
So yeah, thank you for teachingme a lot on that blog, just
(24:30):
from reading before ourconversation today, that was
very helpful.
And I know even when I talk tomy friends who, again, maybe
they're in the communication andmarketing space and I'm like,
they're like, what do CRCs do?
And I'm trying to give them theelevator speech on behalf of
all of you, you know, I'msweating through the whole
process, right?
Because I can't in 30 seconds.
I have a hard time, you know,encapsulating it all.
And I'll start to use phraseslike, well, you know, they
(24:51):
assess the functionallimitations.
And my friends just throw theirarms up and they're like, back
up.
Like, what?
What does that even mean?
What is a functionallimitation?
What is an assessment?
How do you assess somebody fora job, let alone what
transferable skills they mighthave?
And these are terms that overthe three years I've been here,
I've had to pick up and learn.
But I'm constantly talking topeople, especially outside of
the space, who are like, OK,these aren't necessarily terms
(25:13):
that we So talk to me in a waythat I'm going to be able to
really capture quickly why thiswork is so important.
And I feel like the blog thatyou're producing is absolutely
doing that.
So credit where credit is duefor that, for sure.
Lindsay Prenoveau (25:27):
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
We'll definitely put it in theshow notes so that anybody can
have access to it.
I know cognitive rehabilitationcan be kind of a challenge.
a term that not a lot of peopleunderstand unless you're in the
speech language pathology worldor sometimes rehab counseling.
So it can be used for a widevariety of different needs.
And it's just, it's aboutlearning the tools that work for
you and customizing them in away that it's really, really
(25:47):
meaningful.
So thank you so much.
I'm glad that you were able tolearn it and to understand and
take something really valuablefrom it.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (25:55):
Yeah.
I don't feel like I have thepower to give a CRCC seal of
approval, but I can give you theTaylor seal of approval that it
was very beneficial to me.
Um, and you know, you didn'thave the CRCC approval to, you
know, this is my, this is, Ihost the podcast.
It's fine.
Um, and you know, this kind ofgets to something I wanted to
ask about.
And that's, um, you know, likemost injuries, many people who
haven't experienced the braininjury, don't spend a lot of
(26:17):
time learning about it orthinking about it until they are
someone they know actuallyexperiences a brain injury.
So Rachel, I'll kind of directthis to you.
What What are a few keyconsiderations you wish everyone
knew about brain injury thatcould help increase general
awareness of how to best supportand understand someone who has
experienced this type of injury?
Rachel Weber (26:35):
Well, I'll kind of give it a broad approach
because individuals with braininjuries often face lasting, if
not permanent, challenges thatcan affect their thinking,
emotions, behaviors, andphysical abilities.
So it is an all-encompassing,life-changing event, and these
challenges can impact nearlyevery area of life, from work
(26:58):
and relationships to dailyroutines.
But because most brain injuriesare invisible, they often go
unrecognized by others.
And that's why brain injury isoften referred to as the
invisible disability.
Unfortunately, thatinvisibility can lead to unfair
and hurtful assumptions.
One client shared with me thatshe was asked if she was drunk
(27:22):
when she was in the communityone time, when in reality, she
was struggling with balance andcoordination due to her brain
injury.
Others have told me that peoplespeak to them very slowly or
loudly, assuming they're notlistening or understanding just
because they may need to ask aquestion repeated a few times.
(27:42):
times.
And so raising awareness, Ibelieve, starts with
understanding that brain injurylooks different for everyone.
Back to the saying we oftenrefer to in this field that we
mentioned earlier, if you'veseen one brain injury, you've
seen one brain injury.
No two experiences are alike,even if the diagnoses are
similar.
(28:02):
So how can we supportindividuals with brain injuries?
I feel like a good first stepis to remember that what you see
does not always reflect whatthat person is truly going
through.
So approaching everyone, notjust only assume I have a brain
injury, but approaching everyonewith respect and curiosity and
(28:25):
a willingness to ask.
not assume, I believe goes along way.
And I think this kind ofunderstanding can make all the
difference.
And again, not just for peoplewith brain injuries, but in the
greater realm of just workingwith people.
Lindsay Prenoveau (28:38):
I would just wanted to add a couple of things
to that.
Like Rachel said, brain injuryis invisible.
You've seen one brain injury,you've seen one brain injury.
I think also it's important tounderstand that a brain injury
on a Tuesday may look differentthan a brain injury on a
Wednesday for that person.
So it's not always the same.
It can be inconsistent peoplecan have good days and bad days.
(28:59):
And when you have a braininjury, that may look like brain
fog on one day, and it may looklike irritability on a
different day.
So it may not look the sameevery single day.
So even though you've seen thatperson once, it may be
something that's going to be,you might see a different person
in the next couple days.
So I think being very patient,being very compassionate, and
(29:19):
understanding that It may bedifferent from day to day, and
that recovery isn't always goingto be linear, and every path is
going to be different.
So you may see some gains.
They may be quick.
They may be slow.
I mean, things like that canhappen and that's all perfectly
normal in the brain injuryrecovery world.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (29:39):
Yeah, that's a consideration I don't think
I've thought too much about isthe idea that like brain injury
clients or even just people withdisabilities in general, I feel
like when we have amarginalized community or group
of people, we tend to want tovery quickly just be like, okay,
they're disabled.
This is how their life is.
Or for more specifically forsomeone with a brain injury.
(30:01):
Okay.
Oh, you have a brain injury.
or you experienced an injurythat's affected your brain, you
must have A, B, and C happeningto you.
And I think people can wraptheir head around, okay, no,
every individual's injury andwhat happens after is different.
I really like what you saidabout it's not even going to be
the same every day.
And it's not linear.
It's not always going to bemonth one when they're working
(30:24):
with you, as opposed to monthfour.
It's nothing but wins ornothing but improvements.
You'd hope that there's a pathtoward that.
But I think we so quicklyalways want to just be able to
say, for any community who maybewe don't have that experience
ourselves, we want to say, oh,they fit into this kind of
bubble.
And from what I'm hearing fromyou both is that's very much not
(30:45):
the way that you can approachworking with a brain injury
client.
And really probably true ofCRCs working with anybody with a
disability is whether it'svisible or invisible, everyone
has a unique subjectiveexperience and a life that
they're living that is not thesame as everyone else's, just
like that would be true ofsomeone without a disability.
So it's one of those thingsthat I guess I knew was true,
(31:07):
but wasn't put in a way whereI've like really contemplated it
in that kind of sense.
So I appreciate you both kindof sharing your feedback on that
because I feel like it's aperspective that we could
definitely lean into a bit morefrom CRCC's perspective, just
talking about disability ingeneral and awareness and why
it's important to understandthat these are lived experiences
that can't just be codifiedinto like group A, B, or C, you
(31:30):
know, and like, oh, there'sthree types of people with a
brain injury.
Like that's just not the case,nor is it fair to those people
navigating this kind of changeto their lived experience.
So many have told us on theshow that becoming a CRC felt
like a calling.
And Rachel, you even mentionedat the community partnerships as
a CRC, what brings you joy inyour day-to-day work?
Rachel Weber (31:53):
There are so many things that bring me joy in my
work.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.
and show me that they can usetheir calendar systems to
(32:30):
remember an appointment and showup on time independently
because it's, not just aboutremembering a date.
It's about independence.
It's about confidence.
And I can't talk about myjewelry without talking about or
mentioning my team.
I feel incredibly blessed andlucky to work alongside such
passionate, fun, and dedicatedcolleagues.
(32:53):
And even on the hard days, andlet's be honest, this work can
be tough, we support each otherand find ways to keep things
engaging and encouraging andjoyful.
So it makes It makes all thedifference.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (33:06):
I love that.
And you'll find a recording ofRachel's happy dance in the show
notes.
So be sure to check, justkidding.
Don't, don't look for it.
It's not there.
Rachel Weber (33:14):
And I did it today with a client.
So before this, we, I was inthe, our little kitchen area
doing a happy dance with theclient.
So yeah,
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (33:23):
that's good.
Especially like you mentionedwith, with sometimes this work
being very challenging anddifficult.
It's good to celebrate themoments where it's like, okay,
we are here for a reason andwe're making a difference.
And we, we can't thank youenough for that.
Lindsay, how about you?
What brings you joy in the workthat you do?
Lindsay Prenoveau (33:38):
So I think I find joy in my work at community
partnerships in both thesupporting our staff, as well as
seeing our consumers really,really flourish in their
environment and then in theirlives.
I love watching the creativityof consumers and our staff in
solving their problems,achieving their goals.
As Rachel mentioned earlier, wehave an amazing amount of
(33:59):
flexibility, empathy,experience, and passion in our
brain injury support servicesprogram.
and the agency as a whole.
I really find joy in being ableto help them see things
differently and help themapproach situations differently.
And I think as a CRC, youreally have to have that skill.
And that's something that Ithink do really, really well at
(34:20):
community partnerships and inthe Brain Injury Support
Services Program.
We're flexible, we'reempathetic, we are passionate,
we are creative.
I mean, all of those thingscome together and the joy in
seeing our staff help peopleachieve their goals.
I know it brings a lot ofintrinsic value to our staff.
And then also the consumers,things like, of course, huge
(34:42):
things like housing and findinga job, but it's also the little
things that aren't so little.
So things like, hey, Iremembered my coworker's name
because of that strategy thatyou told me.
Hey, I was able to participatein a meeting because I
remembered that meeting becauseI had it on my calendar.
So things like that, that tosome people may be kind of small
or huge.
(35:02):
And I get goosebumps talkingabout that kind of stuff because
it's not small, it's huge.
It's a really, really big pieceof life and making sure that
everybody has the opportunity toengage in their lives and
engage in their career andeverything with as much
independence and passion as theycan.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (35:27):
A big thank you to Lindsay and Rachel from
Community Partnerships forjoining me for this episode.
You can find links to theirorganization's website, the new
Cognitive Rehabilitation Cornerblog, and all sorts of other
resources, including where tofind them on social media in the
show notes.
If you have any takeaways orinsights on topics covered in
this episode, email us atcontactus at
(35:49):
crccertification.com.
Be sure to subscribe to thisshow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or wherever you're listening tous today.
And you can find us onFacebook, LinkedIn, and
Instagram.
And our website iscrccertification.com.
Until next time, I'm CRCCDirector of Communication and
Marketing Taylor Bauer.
Thank you for listening toInside Rehabilitation
(36:12):
Counseling.
Music.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (00:04):
Welcome to Inside Rehabilitation
Counseling.
I'm CRCC Director ofCommunication and Marketing,
Taylor Bauer, and I'm very gladyou're joining us again for
another exploration into the artand science of rehabilitation
counseling.
Since the early 1980s,Community Partnerships has
worked to create newopportunities for people with
intellectual and developmentaldisabilities.
Serving over 1,100 people ayear, their cross-functional
(00:28):
team includes job coaches,consultants, trainers, and of
course, certified rehabilitationcounselors, two of whom I had
the pleasure to talk to you forthis episode of the podcast.
Lindsay Prenneveau, CommunityPartnerships Brain Injury
Support Services ProgramManager, and Rachel Weber, a
Cognitive RehabilitationTherapist, walked me through the
ways in which theirorganization prioritizes
(00:49):
individual tailored care andcase management, as well as the
strategy of educating the publicon the impact of cognitive
rehabilitation.
Rachel and Lindsay, thank youso much for being here on the
Inside Rehabilitation CounselingPodcast.
I know we've been coordinating,taking some time to talk with
one another for a few weeks now.
And I've really been lookingforward to this.
So thank you both so much foryour time.
(01:09):
I'm going to kind of frame thisfor both of you and maybe
Lindsay, if you want to start.
I'm curious about when youfirst both learned about
rehabilitation counseling as aprofession or as an option you
could pursue for a career.
Can you walk us through thejourney that led to your current
career?
Lindsay Prenoveau (01:26):
Sure.
I think like many CRCs, Ididn't really enter the field
knowing that I wanted to be acertified rehab counselor.
I really knew that I wanted tohelp people once I graduated,
and that was about the end ofit.
After undergrad, I did enterthe workforce for a couple years
working with individuals withdifferent disabilities in more
of a one-on-one context.
And during this time, I reallyhad the opportunity to watch
(01:48):
them relearn their independence,help them adjust to disability,
and find their new place in theworld.
And at the time, I didn'trealize that I had already
entered the world ofrehabilitation counseling.
So that's kind of when itstarted to click that I really
knew that I wanted to seekfurther education in the work of
rehabilitation in the field ofrehabilitation.
So I entered into a master'sprogram at the University of
(02:10):
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
where my main focus was onbrain injury and then also
substance use.
So everything kind of focusedaround that, researching and
learning everything I couldabout brain injury and how to
help those individuals recoverfor more of a community rehab
lens.
So during that, I did some workat a state vocational
(02:33):
rehabilitation program.
I worked with a brain injuryclubhouse and those experiences
only really solidified that Ifelt like I was meant to be in
this space.
So after that, I kept workingwith people with brain injuries
to help them find meaningfulwork.
I ended up working as acognitive rehabilitation
therapist several years later.
Fast forward a few more yearswith community partnerships, and
(02:55):
I am now the program manager ofour brain injury support
services program, where I've gotthe opportunity to lead a group
of wonderful, wonderfulindividuals and support the
consumers that we help inreaching their inherent
potentials each and every daywith the ultimate goal being
employment.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (03:11):
I love that.
And writing At the top of youranswer, you said something about
finding their place in theworld.
And when someone goes throughsomething like this, that can be
so vital to allowing someone tounderstand how this thing that
they've experienced has affectedthem.
So I really like how you saidthat.
Rachel, how about you?
Rachel Weber (03:26):
Well, my journey started kind of from a young
age.
I was always drawn to people,their stories and experiences
and challenges.
And I loved connecting andcommunicating and learning from
others.
So over time, I became more andmore aware of the struggles
based by kind of those aroundme.
And that awareness kind ofsparked something in me.
(03:46):
And by the end of middleschool, maybe beginning of high
school, I knew I wanted topursue a helping profession.
And something like counselingor psychology, I did not know
yet quite what form that wasgoing to take yet.
So it started to come intofocus during my senior year of
college.
I was a psychology major and Iwas the president of Psychi,
(04:08):
which was our psychology honorsociety.
And part of my role was toinvite guest speakers to talk
about different career paths inthe field.
And one of those speakershappened to be a rehab
counselor.
And from that moment on, Whenhe started sharing his work, I
was I was hooked and it justclicked.
So soon after I applied to amaster's program in rehab
(04:32):
counseling, completed my degreealso at Chapel Hill and stepped
into the field working withindividuals with brain injuries,
supporting them as theyreengage in life in ways that
are personally meaningful tothem.
And I've never looked back.
I love it.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (04:48):
Yeah.
Thank you for sharing.
I love hearing that people, youknow, who from a young age,
like you said, know that theywant to help people.
And one of the challenges thatwe have at CRCC is letting
people know sooner than maybelater that rehab counseling is
an option because a lot ofpeople know that they can look
into like psychology or mentalhealth and things like that.
And it's so great that youfound your way to this
(05:09):
profession.
And we're grateful that youdid.
And Lindsay, you as well.
So as you both kind ofmentioned, you are with an
organization called CommunityPartnerships.
And Community Partnerships hasa statement on its website
that's very similar to themission we have at CRCC.
which reads, all people havethe right to pursue their
educational goals, earn a livingwage, and be included in their
(05:31):
communities.
What does it mean to you tothink of the outcome of your
services as more than justoutcomes, but the achievement of
clients having access to theseessential elements of life and
community?
Rachel Weber (05:43):
Well, I think that's one of the real beauties
of our field and of the teamthat we have here is that No one
who walks through our doors isever seen as just an outcome or
checklist.
From day one, we approach ourwork in an integrated and
holistic way.
It starts with getting to knowthat person as a whole person
(06:04):
through assessments andpartnering with them to set
meaningful goals that will helpthem to get back into the
community and meet those qualityof life needs we all have and
connect with those around them.
So I think from there, our teamalongside each client where we
meet regularly andcollaboratively, it helps us to
(06:26):
see them as not, again, anoutcome or a number.
It allows us to support them inour progress and the cool thing
about our agency is it doesn'tend there and we continue
walking with our clients withthem through their goals even
after those goals are met so weget to kind of see people not
just at the end of their goalwith us but past then so we get
(06:49):
to celebrate their successes andconnect with them as they move
forward in their journey andbecause That's how our program
is designed.
We're able to be a part oftheir journey and not just their
time here, but beyond that.
And I think it's that long-termconnection that helps us see
growth in a deeper and moremeaningful way.
Lindsay Prenoveau (07:07):
So I think that's really such the core of
the work that we do and how Itend to view success in our
program.
It's not about a number.
It's not about the numbers.
particular outcome, but really,really an improved quality of
life.
So yes, it's about havingstable housing.
It's about checking off theprogress that's being made, but
it's not just about that.
It's a job that brings pride.
(07:28):
It's the ability to makeindependent decisions.
It's the ability to connect toyour community.
And those outcomes are going tobe things that transcend over
the rest of this person's life.
And I think that's a big thingthat we have pride in is that we
are able to help them developthose skills to be able to be
more independent moving forward.
So although employment is ourend goal, it's not just about
(07:52):
the job.
It's never just about the job.
It's really about restoringconfidence, helping them rebuild
that identity, and then helpingthem access the life that they
were building before andcontinue that path.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (08:02):
Yeah, I think I talked to a lot of CRCs
who really identify themselvesas vocational counselors.
And I know that is very muchthe cornerstone and kind of
bedrock of where this professioncomes from.
But I always tell them, I'mlike, oh, you do so much more
than vocational work.
You know, Like you said,Lindsay, that's kind of the end
goal in a lot of cases.
Some certain situations, it'snot.
But there are so many otherelements that CRCs are equipped
(08:25):
to assist a client with in termsof all aspects of life and
community and family.
And I think independence issomething you both hit on very
precisely.
Getting to see someone throughthat process of maybe
identifying goals and thenhopefully reaching those goals
or getting on the way to reachthose goals and then be able to
stay with them is so wonderfulbecause I know I talk to a lot
(08:47):
of folks who maybe once they geta job placement secured, it's
kind of like, OK, unfortunately,with the way that this position
works, I'm kind of on to theother cases that I have.
And sometimes you lose touchwith people because life gets
really busy.
So it's really great to hearthat you're kind of integrated
into the lives of those clientsbeyond certain stages that maybe
others would be saying like,hey, you know, best of luck,
(09:07):
reach out if you need anythingelse.
And I think that could bereally transformative to not
only how integrated you are intotheir lives, but same for the
client to feel like you are thisadvocate and the source of
empowerment that fulfills themand supports them through even
just beyond like checking offsome boxes of things that they
knew that they wanted toachieve.
I'm curious kind of to build onthis.
Have any clients of communitypartnerships stood out to you as
(09:30):
kind of the epitome of howvital and impactful your
organization is?
Rachel Weber (09:35):
Honestly, it's difficult to narrow it down, but
there are two individuals whoreally highlight just how vital
and impactful this program canbe.
The first is a young man whobegan his brain injury journey
at a time when most people arejust starting to build their
adult lives, heading off tocollege, starting careers, but
instead he was recovering from avery severe brain injury.
(09:57):
He came to our program early onand we started by conducting a
thorough assessment, workingwith him to identify meaningful
goals and addressing those goalsthrough a combination of
intensive one-on-one sessionsand group work.
Much of our focus was onhelping him manage those
significant cognitive andemotional challenges that we had
(10:18):
identified, things likeimpulsivity, attention, memory,
and emotional regulation.
Over time, he made incredibleprogress and was able to
successfully obtain and maintaina job.
Fast forward several years.
He recently returned to ourprogram following another
unexpected brain injury.
(10:40):
But here's the powerful part.
The tools and strategies helearned during his first time
around with us stuck with him.
So he's using those again.
And because of that foundation,his recovery time around this
time around has been much moresmooth and faster.
And that kind of long-termimpact is what does work for
(11:01):
him.
you know, is all about gettingto see that.
The second story that I'd loveto share is of a woman who came
to us at an opposite end in herlife.
She was at the height ofsuccess in a career in
technology, and after a seriouscar accident, her life changed
dramatically.
She was dealing with memoryissues, difficulty with
(11:23):
attention, and executivefunctioning, and slowed
processing speed, all of whichput her job at risk.
In fact, she had actuallyalready been placed on a formal
disability and was close tobeing let go.
So her goal coming to us wasvery clear.
She wanted to keep her job.
And after completing herassessments and identifying
(11:45):
targeted meaningful goals tosupport her in that goal, she
met with us regularly, very,very dedicated.
She would even meet with usduring her lunch breaks to work
on these areas of concern.
And through her dedication andhard work, not only did she keep
her job, and she is stillthere, but she eventually took
on more responsibility and hascontinued to advance in her
(12:07):
career field and today she'sboth thriving professionally and
personally.
She's managing her time better,her energy and resources in a
way that helps her be successfuland support to balance life on
our own terms.
And again, she and I are stillin communication as well.
So these stories just kind ofgive a glimpse about what's
(12:28):
possible when people are givenkind of right support, the right
tools and the space to definetheir own goals.
And they remind us why thiswork and rehab counseling
matters so much.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (12:41):
Yeah, it reminds people who are in the
space of why it's so vital.
And then it also helps us whenpeople hear this podcast who
don't have a huge background incertified rehabilitation
counselors as professionals orrehab counseling as a field to
know just like howtransformative it can be to work
with someone like you two andthose on your team.
We'll move on to you a littlebit now, Lindsay.
(13:02):
Can you tell me a little bitabout the program you manage,
the Brain Injury SupportServices Program?
Just kind of maybe walk methrough some of the services
that you offer in this programand what makes it so impactful.
Lindsay Prenoveau (13:13):
Sure.
So as Rachel has mentioned withthe stories that she was able
to share, we offer really,really specialized and
individualized support to peoplewith brain injuries who want to
return to work or work for thefirst time.
So not everybody that we workwith is coming.
It has gone to work before.
Some of them are just coming tous for the first time to
explore the different skillsthat they're going to need.
(13:34):
We really use a really holisticand interdisciplinary approach.
So we integrate vocationalsupport with cognitive
rehabilitation, with casemanagement, and also therapy and
adjustment counseling to helpindividuals learn different
strategies.
And we really group this allinto one big plan so that we're
able to touch on all differentaspects of an individual's needs
(13:57):
and things that will help thembe more successful in
employment.
And no two consumers areexactly the same, as we all
know.
Everybody has a little bit of adifferent goal in mind and all
the services are really, reallyspecific and tailored to that
individual to make sure it'smeaningful and personalized for
that consumer.
So we work with...
(14:17):
individuals on cognitiverehabilitation, which I like to
call physical therapy for yourbrain.
And so there are two differentgoals of cognitive
rehabilitation.
One is restorative, sorestoring access or restoring
functioning to certain areas ofcognition.
And the other is compensatory.
So that's kind of like makingup for the areas that they may
(14:37):
have lost, utilizing differenttypes of internal or external
strategies.
So, we work with them, likeRachel said, mostly on a
one-on-one basis now.
Occasionally, we may have agroup, a support group or a
skills group, but usually it'sin a one-on-one setting to help
them develop these compensatorystrategies and then help them
through the career explorationprocess.
(14:59):
So, once we have a good idea ofwhat the individual is going to
need to be successful inemployment, we make sure that we
are honing in on those skillsspecifically as they relate to
different aspects of theperson's life.
So, That might mean a sessionworking on executive functioning
where you're going through acalendar planning.
You're helping people developsystems to be able to track
(15:22):
their appointmentsindependently.
And also, what does that looklike for your schedule and your
routine moving forward into theworkforce?
Our goal is to reallygeneralize all of those
cognitive rehabilitation skillsand strategies into the work
environment.
So once we are finished withthat portion of the program,
which we call cognitiverehabilitation and career
(15:43):
exploration, then we move intomore of the job search, which
kind of looks a little bit morelike the supported employment
model.
And it is...
interviews.
It is helping people fill outjob applications.
It's working and continuing tostrengthen those social skills.
It's helping people connect andnetwork.
(16:04):
It's following up withemployers.
It's learning the job.
It's the whole process offinding employment and
maintaining employment.
And as Rachel mentionedearlier, we also provide that
long-term vocational support orlong-term follow-along support
once the individual hassuccessfully exited from their
funded services, which arevocational rehabilitation
(16:25):
funded.
So once they exit that, wecontinue to provide support
throughout the remainder of thetime that they are on that job.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (16:33):
It just seems like the array of things
that you can provide someone isjust honestly life-changing.
And I feel like sometimes weuse that phrase on this podcast
to talk about the work that CRCsdo, but at the risk of it
sounding just kind of like aterm that we throw out lightly,
it's not used lightly here.
This is something that we hopemore and more people know is out
(16:54):
there for them if they'reundergoing something like this.
Lindsay Prenoveau (16:56):
Rachel, if you want to elaborate a little
bit on more of the therapeuticpiece to it and kind of how you
work with individuals on aone-on-one basis for that
adjustment piece.
Rachel Weber (17:04):
For therapy, for an individual that has had such
a significant life change, itreally starts with giving a
person space and time to talkabout it, to process it, to feel
whatever they need to feelabout it.
And from that point movingforward, we kind of hone in with
that client on where they're atin terms of their adjustment,
(17:27):
their acceptance.
There are other pieces that arecoming to the table, anxiety,
depression.
Oftentimes when you have asignificant life change, it's
not just one thing that you'redealing with, it's multiple.
So our goals within thattherapeutic time is to listen,
is to provide feedback, and thento help our clients identify
specific tools and strategiesthat they can use to manage the
(17:51):
emotions and the stress, if youwill, that comes from such a
major life change.
So we want to give people thechance and the space to process
and to be heard as well as tomake sure that they leave these
doors with applicable tools thatthey can use in a variety of
settings to be successful, tomanage anxiety, to manage the
(18:11):
depression.
And not just in employment,although that is a key
discussion that we have, butalso at home within their
relationships.
And when it comes to thattherapeutic setting, we do
happily invite family members,spouses, those that are going to
be very involved in thatperson's life to participate
when appropriate, to help themto learn how to support our
(18:34):
clients and for our clients tobe able to talk to their family
members about what they're goingthrough and those changes.
Because a brain injury doesn'tjust impact that one person.
It impacts all of theindividuals that are surrounding
them and a part of their life.
So we definitely try to makesure and encourage are aware
that the brain injuriesimplications don't just impact
(18:57):
one person's area of life.
It's everywhere.
So helping that client throughthat.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (19:02):
Lindsey had pointed out to, you know, no
person experiencing a braininjury is the same as another
person experiencing a braininjury.
And the things that theyexperience as a result of that
injury can be vastly, you know,different depending on what
they've gone through and whattheir support system looks like
and what level of independencethey have and kind of what
they're their social life andtheir job, as you mentioned in
(19:25):
one of those client examplesearlier, might be and the
expectations for what someone isgoing to go out and be able to
experience as the result ofgoing through something like
this is, you know, vastlydifferent for everybody.
So it's really great to hearthat, you know, you two and your
team and your organization arekind of equipped to take anybody
(19:46):
who comes to you and says, youknow, I've experienced this and
I don't know where to go next orwhat to turn to and kind of
what I'm supposed to do,essentially, and that you can
tailor those services sospecifically to their needs.
It's just very inspiring toknow that, you know, That can be
a very isolating thing, I wouldimagine, going through
something this traumatic andknowing that there are people
out there to advocate for youand guide you through that, like
(20:10):
both of you.
That's very reassuring.
As part of that process ofunderstanding brain injury as
best as you can when you'remaybe not a CRC, I think
education on what brain injuryis can be so important.
And in March, you actuallylaunched a blog on your website
that explores the use ofcognitive rehabilitation in
helping survivors of braininjuries.
I'm curious, Lindsey, what wasthe idea?
(20:31):
behind starting this space toexplore some of those ideas and
concepts?
Lindsay Prenoveau (20:35):
So in light of Brain Injury Awareness Month,
we really wanted to bring aresource to the community that
was quite tangible.
So the idea came from a placeof one, wanting to spread
awareness about brain injury,but also wanting to provide some
really, really moreapproachable tools that can be
used in cognitiverehabilitation.
As in many fields, there is alot of technical language and
(20:55):
lingo and rehab and brain injuryand concepts get thrown around.
And sometimes it can be reallySo we wanted to take that
concept of cognitiverehabilitation to make it
tangible for a wide variety ofaudiences.
We wanted to make kind of startcreating a space to make those
concepts that were practical andaccessible for caregivers,
(21:16):
survivors and professionalsalike.
So we had a small team that hadthe opportunity to contribute
from a bunch of differentavenues.
So we did have a survivor'slived experience.
We had some professionals onour team.
We had some family members,some contractors.
content creators and thenleadership overseeing the
project in order to reallyreally bring bring this concept
(21:39):
to a wide variety of individualswhile also spreading awareness
of brain injury so i'm reallyhopeful i feel like this is kind
of just the beginning of howour impact in the social media
space may begin and i'm excitedto see where the project
continues to grow and where it'sgoing to take us in the world
of disability advocacy andeducation because we are not
just brain injury our program isbrain injury specific however
(22:02):
community partnerships supportsa wide variety of individuals
with different disabilities andeverybody is so different and we
want to make sure that we areable to highlight some of the
really, really tangible,successful tools that we're able
to use so that other people canfind the same success.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (22:19):
Yeah.
And that's so important.
I mean, like the social mediaand just kind of like digital
outreach portion alone is soimportant because for a lot of
folks who maybe aren't in aposition where they need
services right now, they mightnot be encountering these ideas
or these concepts until maybethey or someone they know is
going to eventually need tonavigate these sort of issues.
And then there's the idea ofjust translating technical and
(22:42):
even like research language intointo a way that people who are
under, you know, experiencingthis or, you know, caregivers,
support systems can understand,OK, like, what is it that like
my loved one or me as a as aclient undergoing this is
actually like needing right nowfrom a professional who can who
can get me from point A whereI'm at now to an eventual point
(23:05):
B or point C or point D.
And I know for a lot of people,myself included, as someone
who, you know, my background ismarketing and communication,
I've only been in this kind ofspace with CRCC since 2022.
curve of learning all of thedifferent things that CRCs do
let alone all of the differentterminologies of disability and
(23:26):
what it means to live with adisability whether it's been
acquired or it's been a lifelongexperience and then all the
different ways that CRCs likeyourselves assess and set people
up to be able to achieve youknow their maximum potential is
I'll be honest I'll tell onmyself right now very difficult
sometimes for me to followbecause I'm like okay this is
not a language that I speaknecessarily and when I was
(23:47):
reading the blog and catching upon the posts that you've had
since March.
I was learning so much soquickly because it was written
in a way where I was like, OK, Iget what they're talking about,
and I understand why this wouldbe important to someone
navigating this journey.
And I think the more that we asan entire field can talk about
the work that CRCs do in a waythat people who could one day
(24:08):
benefit from these services, ormaybe someone with a disability
now who haven't sought out theseservices, put things in a way
that they can understand like,okay, that's the impact that I
could experience by working witha CRC or by reaching out to
community partnerships for oneof these services.
And the more we do that, themore people understand what this
work is and why it's soimportant.
So yeah, thank you for teachingme a lot on that blog, just
(24:30):
from reading before ourconversation today, that was
very helpful.
And I know even when I talk tomy friends who, again, maybe
they're in the communication andmarketing space and I'm like,
they're like, what do CRCs do?
And I'm trying to give them theelevator speech on behalf of
all of you, you know, I'msweating through the whole
process, right?
Because I can't in 30 seconds.
I have a hard time, you know,encapsulating it all.
And I'll start to use phraseslike, well, you know, they
(24:51):
assess the functionallimitations.
And my friends just throw theirarms up and they're like, back
up.
Like, what?
What does that even mean?
What is a functionallimitation?
What is an assessment?
How do you assess somebody fora job, let alone what
transferable skills they mighthave?
And these are terms that overthe three years I've been here,
I've had to pick up and learn.
But I'm constantly talking topeople, especially outside of
the space, who are like, OK,these aren't necessarily terms
(25:13):
that we So talk to me in a waythat I'm going to be able to
really capture quickly why thiswork is so important.
And I feel like the blog thatyou're producing is absolutely
doing that.
So credit where credit is duefor that, for sure.
Lindsay Prenoveau (25:27):
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
We'll definitely put it in theshow notes so that anybody can
have access to it.
I know cognitive rehabilitationcan be kind of a challenge.
a term that not a lot of peopleunderstand unless you're in the
speech language pathology worldor sometimes rehab counseling.
So it can be used for a widevariety of different needs.
And it's just, it's aboutlearning the tools that work for
you and customizing them in away that it's really, really
(25:47):
meaningful.
So thank you so much.
I'm glad that you were able tolearn it and to understand and
take something really valuablefrom it.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (25:55):
Yeah.
I don't feel like I have thepower to give a CRCC seal of
approval, but I can give you theTaylor seal of approval that it
was very beneficial to me.
Um, and you know, you didn'thave the CRCC approval to, you
know, this is my, this is, Ihost the podcast.
It's fine.
Um, and you know, this kind ofgets to something I wanted to
ask about.
And that's, um, you know, likemost injuries, many people who
haven't experienced the braininjury, don't spend a lot of
(26:17):
time learning about it orthinking about it until they are
someone they know actuallyexperiences a brain injury.
So Rachel, I'll kind of directthis to you.
What What are a few keyconsiderations you wish everyone
knew about brain injury thatcould help increase general
awareness of how to best supportand understand someone who has
experienced this type of injury?
Rachel Weber (26:35):
Well, I'll kind of give it a broad approach
because individuals with braininjuries often face lasting, if
not permanent, challenges thatcan affect their thinking,
emotions, behaviors, andphysical abilities.
So it is an all-encompassing,life-changing event, and these
challenges can impact nearlyevery area of life, from work
(26:58):
and relationships to dailyroutines.
But because most brain injuriesare invisible, they often go
unrecognized by others.
And that's why brain injury isoften referred to as the
invisible disability.
Unfortunately, thatinvisibility can lead to unfair
and hurtful assumptions.
One client shared with me thatshe was asked if she was drunk
(27:22):
when she was in the communityone time, when in reality, she
was struggling with balance andcoordination due to her brain
injury.
Others have told me that peoplespeak to them very slowly or
loudly, assuming they're notlistening or understanding just
because they may need to ask aquestion repeated a few times.
(27:42):
times.
And so raising awareness, Ibelieve, starts with
understanding that brain injurylooks different for everyone.
Back to the saying we oftenrefer to in this field that we
mentioned earlier, if you'veseen one brain injury, you've
seen one brain injury.
No two experiences are alike,even if the diagnoses are
similar.
(28:02):
So how can we supportindividuals with brain injuries?
I feel like a good first stepis to remember that what you see
does not always reflect whatthat person is truly going
through.
So approaching everyone, notjust only assume I have a brain
injury, but approaching everyonewith respect and curiosity and
(28:25):
a willingness to ask.
not assume, I believe goes along way.
And I think this kind ofunderstanding can make all the
difference.
And again, not just for peoplewith brain injuries, but in the
greater realm of just workingwith people.
Lindsay Prenoveau (28:38):
I would just wanted to add a couple of things
to that.
Like Rachel said, brain injuryis invisible.
You've seen one brain injury,you've seen one brain injury.
I think also it's important tounderstand that a brain injury
on a Tuesday may look differentthan a brain injury on a
Wednesday for that person.
So it's not always the same.
It can be inconsistent peoplecan have good days and bad days.
(28:59):
And when you have a braininjury, that may look like brain
fog on one day, and it may looklike irritability on a
different day.
So it may not look the sameevery single day.
So even though you've seen thatperson once, it may be
something that's going to be,you might see a different person
in the next couple days.
So I think being very patient,being very compassionate, and
(29:19):
understanding that It may bedifferent from day to day, and
that recovery isn't always goingto be linear, and every path is
going to be different.
So you may see some gains.
They may be quick.
They may be slow.
I mean, things like that canhappen and that's all perfectly
normal in the brain injuryrecovery world.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (29:39):
Yeah, that's a consideration I don't think
I've thought too much about isthe idea that like brain injury
clients or even just people withdisabilities in general, I feel
like when we have amarginalized community or group
of people, we tend to want tovery quickly just be like, okay,
they're disabled.
This is how their life is.
Or for more specifically forsomeone with a brain injury.
(30:01):
Okay.
Oh, you have a brain injury.
or you experienced an injurythat's affected your brain, you
must have A, B, and C happeningto you.
And I think people can wraptheir head around, okay, no,
every individual's injury andwhat happens after is different.
I really like what you saidabout it's not even going to be
the same every day.
And it's not linear.
It's not always going to bemonth one when they're working
(30:24):
with you, as opposed to monthfour.
It's nothing but wins ornothing but improvements.
You'd hope that there's a pathtoward that.
But I think we so quicklyalways want to just be able to
say, for any community who maybewe don't have that experience
ourselves, we want to say, oh,they fit into this kind of
bubble.
And from what I'm hearing fromyou both is that's very much not
(30:45):
the way that you can approachworking with a brain injury
client.
And really probably true ofCRCs working with anybody with a
disability is whether it'svisible or invisible, everyone
has a unique subjectiveexperience and a life that
they're living that is not thesame as everyone else's, just
like that would be true ofsomeone without a disability.
So it's one of those thingsthat I guess I knew was true,
(31:07):
but wasn't put in a way whereI've like really contemplated it
in that kind of sense.
So I appreciate you both kindof sharing your feedback on that
because I feel like it's aperspective that we could
definitely lean into a bit morefrom CRCC's perspective, just
talking about disability ingeneral and awareness and why
it's important to understandthat these are lived experiences
that can't just be codifiedinto like group A, B, or C, you
(31:30):
know, and like, oh, there'sthree types of people with a
brain injury.
Like that's just not the case,nor is it fair to those people
navigating this kind of changeto their lived experience.
So many have told us on theshow that becoming a CRC felt
like a calling.
And Rachel, you even mentionedat the community partnerships as
a CRC, what brings you joy inyour day-to-day work?
Rachel Weber (31:53):
There are so many things that bring me joy in my
work.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.
Bye.
and show me that they can usetheir calendar systems to
(32:30):
remember an appointment and showup on time independently
because it's, not just aboutremembering a date.
It's about independence.
It's about confidence.
And I can't talk about myjewelry without talking about or
mentioning my team.
I feel incredibly blessed andlucky to work alongside such
passionate, fun, and dedicatedcolleagues.
(32:53):
And even on the hard days, andlet's be honest, this work can
be tough, we support each otherand find ways to keep things
engaging and encouraging andjoyful.
So it makes It makes all thedifference.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (33:06):
I love that.
And you'll find a recording ofRachel's happy dance in the show
notes.
So be sure to check, justkidding.
Don't, don't look for it.
It's not there.
Rachel Weber (33:14):
And I did it today with a client.
So before this, we, I was inthe, our little kitchen area
doing a happy dance with theclient.
So yeah,
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (33:23):
that's good.
Especially like you mentionedwith, with sometimes this work
being very challenging anddifficult.
It's good to celebrate themoments where it's like, okay,
we are here for a reason andwe're making a difference.
And we, we can't thank youenough for that.
Lindsay, how about you?
What brings you joy in the workthat you do?
Lindsay Prenoveau (33:38):
So I think I find joy in my work at community
partnerships in both thesupporting our staff, as well as
seeing our consumers really,really flourish in their
environment and then in theirlives.
I love watching the creativityof consumers and our staff in
solving their problems,achieving their goals.
As Rachel mentioned earlier, wehave an amazing amount of
(33:59):
flexibility, empathy,experience, and passion in our
brain injury support servicesprogram.
and the agency as a whole.
I really find joy in being ableto help them see things
differently and help themapproach situations differently.
And I think as a CRC, youreally have to have that skill.
And that's something that Ithink do really, really well at
(34:20):
community partnerships and inthe Brain Injury Support
Services Program.
We're flexible, we'reempathetic, we are passionate,
we are creative.
I mean, all of those thingscome together and the joy in
seeing our staff help peopleachieve their goals.
I know it brings a lot ofintrinsic value to our staff.
And then also the consumers,things like, of course, huge
(34:42):
things like housing and findinga job, but it's also the little
things that aren't so little.
So things like, hey, Iremembered my coworker's name
because of that strategy thatyou told me.
Hey, I was able to participatein a meeting because I
remembered that meeting becauseI had it on my calendar.
So things like that, that tosome people may be kind of small
or huge.
(35:02):
And I get goosebumps talkingabout that kind of stuff because
it's not small, it's huge.
It's a really, really big pieceof life and making sure that
everybody has the opportunity toengage in their lives and
engage in their career andeverything with as much
independence and passion as theycan.
Taylor Bauer, CRCC (35:27):
A big thank you to Lindsay and Rachel from
Community Partnerships forjoining me for this episode.
You can find links to theirorganization's website, the new
Cognitive Rehabilitation Cornerblog, and all sorts of other
resources, including where tofind them on social media in the
show notes.
If you have any takeaways orinsights on topics covered in
this episode, email us atcontactus at
(35:49):
crccertification.com.
Be sure to subscribe to thisshow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or wherever you're listening tous today.
And you can find us onFacebook, LinkedIn, and
Instagram.
And our website iscrccertification.com.
Until next time, I'm CRCCDirector of Communication and
Marketing Taylor Bauer.
Thank you for listening toInside Rehabilitation
(36:12):
Counseling.
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