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Personal Injury?
Accident at work? Road Traffic Accident?
CBT Acquired Brain
Injury Service
Acquired Brain Injury Definition
(ABI):
The World Health Organization defines acquired brain injury as:
Damage to the brain,
which occurs after birth and is not related to a congenital or a
degenerative disease. These impairments may be temporary or
permanent and cause partial or functional disability or
psychosocial maladjustment (Geneva 1996).
Following a personal injury including Road
Traffic Accidents, Accidents at work and home a person may be
left with an acquired brain injury which may have a tremendous
impact upon their sense of identity and social functioning. This
impact may extend outwards to their family, partners, carers and
friends.
It is important to note that ABI
is not:
a degenerative condition like Parkinsons Disease,
Alzheimers Disease, Huntingtons Disease or Multiple Sclerosis
(MS) or a congenital condition like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS),
prenatal illness or perinatal hypoxia.
ABI can be devastating. Beyond the individuals'
impairments there can be confusion, misunderstandings and
doubts. For those who deal first-hand with ABI it can become a
lifetime of frustration, hardship and isolation.
Manchester Centre for CBT is a private service
providing on-going support to those persons whose lives have
been affected.
A survivor may experience any
combination of symptoms or none at all. Severities of symptoms
vary with each individual and may change over time.
Here at the Manchester Centre for CBT we can
support clients with ABI in a number of ways:
Firstly an initial assessment involving between
1-3 sessions will help to identify possible areas of work and
consider how or if CBT may assist their rehabilitation following
personal injury. If CBT is identified as potentially being of
use then a specific number of CBT sessions can be agreed to work
closely with the person with ABI to support them in a range of
ways to help manage problems in day to day living. Regular
interim reviews will be undertaken and treatment will include
(with the clients agreement) liaison with family, carers and
Case Managers etc. where appropriate.
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