Neuropsychology, Trauma and PTSD

Neuropsychological Clients and Patients can present with all of the other Mental Health issues that IMBT treats within the General Population.

There is a high prevalence of Anxiety and Depression with Stroke and TBI Patients.

In addition, depending on the nature and severity of the Stroke or TBI, there are usually accompanying mild to severe Cognitive Impairments that can complicate and exacerbate any other Mental Health issues.

Truama and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) may be associated with physical or psychological injuries or both. In these cases the mind has conflicting tendencies of simultaneously trying to avoid as well as deal with and heal itself from the traumatic memories.Trauma Therapy Treatment involves carefully resolving traumatic experiences through skilful relaxation techniques involving Mindfulness, CBT, social, systemic and physical approaches.

Stroke and TBI clients may, as with Intellectual Disabilities, display ‘Behaviours That Challenge’.

With Neuropsychological Therapy Treatment, IMBT works at different levels simultaneously, supporting both the Cognitive Rehabilitation process as well as the associated Psychological, Emotional and Behavioural issues.

Cognitive Rehabilitation involves improving Clients’ Cognitive Functioning via Systemic support and specific exercises and techniques. This involves developing their capacity for effectively using supportive tools such as calendars, schedules, notes and other reminders in order to facilitate Memory, Planning and all Organisational Skills.

The associated Psychological and Emotional issues are supported via adapted Mindfulness Techniques, Systemic Environmental Interventions, Behaviour Therapy and Physical Therapy tailored specifically for such Clients.

IMBT has extensive experience with Clients presenting with various forms of Disabilities, Autism and Aspergers. The kinds of issues faced by these Clients and their Families include all of the other types of Presenting Problems that we treats in the General Population.

In addition, due to their potentially impaired Interpersonal Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Skills, Autistic Clients may at times display what is often referred to as ‘Behaviours That Challenge’. These are essentially Behaviours that are intended to perform one or more Functions for the Individual and that Others may or may not understand and / or may experience as disruptive.

In such cases IMBT undertakes specific Functional Assessments of the ‘Challenging Behaviours’, together with support from Family and / or Carers. These Functional Assessments involve Monitoring Behaviour over a number of weeks in order to establish Hypotheses around the nature of the Function of the Behaviours.

Possible Behaviour Functions include Communicating an unfulfilled need or desire, Emotional expression, Escape functions from unpleasant situations as well as the achieving of an expected Result or Goal. Once likely Hypotheses have been established over time, IMBT supports Families and / or Carers to facilitate new, more effective and Socially Appropriate Behaviours that achieve the same or similar Function for the Individual, with less disruption for those in the surrounding Environment.

Aspergers Clients by definition do not have an Intellectual Disability. However they may also present with different Communication styles to the General Population. Social interaction can seem one-sided and lacking in Interpersonal Connection. In addition, Asprgers usually involves a particular and at times seemingly Obsessive fascination and Preoccupation with a specific Hobby or Subject of Interest, at the exclusion of many other subjects.

We also support Clients presenting with all forms of Physical injuries and DIsabilities, including Loss of Limb, through Mindfulness and other Clinical Psychological approaches, Behavioural methods, Systemic Interventions and Physical / Biological approaches.