Working with families after TBI

Abstract

This article focuses on family involvement as critical to successful rehabilitation of individuals with cognitive-communicative impairments following traumatic brain injury (TBI). A family-centered perspective is embraced within which capacity rather than dysfunction in families is sought. Family members are actively included as collaborators in rehabilitation and reintegration to home, school, work, and community life. This family-centered perspective can help develop capability within the family system throughout its life cycle. Suggestions for understanding family responses to TBI and for involving families more fully are presented.