Psychotherapy with the brain injured adult

Abstract

Brain injury strikes from 500,000 to more than 1.9 million people every year in the United States, yet infrequently is it considered in a variety of psychological settings. Cognitive deficits associated with brain injury vary as a function of the location and severity of the injury; however, it frequently results in disorders of attention, language and memory. In addition, behavioral and emotional changes are quite common after brain injury. Psychotherapy with the brain injured adult requires careful evaluation and consideration of cognitive problems before therapy can begin, and only within this context can the therapist tailor therapy to the patient's needs. This article examines the nature of cognitive deficits and emotional/behavioral changes following brain injury and how these impairments impact the person with brain injury.