In this Bonus episode of Relentless Optimism, we uncover the story and meaning behind our beautiful podcast cover art featuring three birds which was created by PBS+PLUS participant, Trevor, and digitised by our graphic designer Kat Orgallo.

Trevor's brain injury means that he struggles to communicate verbally. We chat with his sister, Wendy, about his strong passion and obvious talent for art as a way to express his identity and communicate his interests. You'll also hear Wendy's moving account of how Trevor felt about his visual contribution to the podcast.

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In this episode of Relentless Optimism, we talk to Barry, a 59 year old computer analyst who had brain injury about 3 years ago and Jai Carmichael, a provisional psychologist and doctor of clinical neuropsychology candidate in the new Turner Institute Training Clinic at Monash University called the Positive Behaviour Service. We discuss antecedents and flexible behaviour analysis elements of PBS+PLUS to understand triggers and reasons as to why challenging behaviours occur in the first place. Both Barry and Jai share their experiences working together to help Barry work towards his meaningful outcomes.

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In this episode of Relentless Optimism, we talk with Ashley about how he found creating meaningful PBS+PLUS projects helped him regain his confidence, many years after his brain injury. Together with Occupational Therapist, Nadine Holgate, we discuss the vital role of projects that result in tangible, real-life products, serve to helping people experience success and practice self-regulatory behaviours. 

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In this episode of Relentless Optimism, Melissa Capo, a Speech-Language Pathologist at College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, and long-time collaborator of Mark Ylvisaker and Tim Feeney, shares stories from their early days in the field, the importance of meaningful projects, and how she uses PBS today. Melissa provided expert independent evaluation of over 100 sessions of PBS+PLUS from our trial, and she shares with us her reflections from this unique and expansive perspective.

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In this episode of Relentless Optimism, we discuss the importance of building a team and valuing everyday people. The team and 'everyday people' are often made up of family members, friends and important individuals in the community. Paid workers and  clinicians also form key parts of the team of the individual with the injury. Everyday people can provide vital details and information that can help the PBS+PLUS practitioner understand and support the person with the injury from new perspectives. The everyday people are ultimately those who will be using the approach in the longer term.

Mark is an inspiring individual who worked hard to walk like a man after his brain injury in 2013. His mother, Ann, and PBS+PLUS practitioner, Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Kim Trezise, join us to share their experiences working together using PBS+PLUS. A moving episode that explores the importance of an understanding, patient and supportive team. 

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In this episode we dive into the way 'Theory of Mind' can be used as a skill building and assessment strategy within PBS+PLUS. We chat to Jeremy, who sustained a severe brain injury at 19 years old following a car incident. Also joining us is Jeremy's Dad, Shane, and Dr Belinda Renison, Occupational Therapist and Neuropsychologist.

We discuss the difficulties Jeremy faced after the injury including his struggles with communication and having a 'short fuse'. Dr Renison talks us through the ‘Theory of Mind’ strategy they developed together to help Jeremy learn how to improve his ability to self-regulate his behaviour. We discuss the influence of stopping and thinking about consequences, as well as predicting and planning to help mentally place ourselves in other people's shoes and see things from their perspective.

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In this episode we explore 'The Person's Environment'. We can think about the environment in different ways, including physical and sensory aspects, as well as resources and people. These can all impact on the way we behave in a situation, and can be important opportunities for intervention that support people with challenging behaviours after brain injury.

Fiona, who sustained a brain injury 31 years ago, and her two daughters, Etta and Neneh, help us understand the importance of having a good physical and social environment. During her PBS+PLUS journey, Fiona moved from an unsuitable home environment into one that better catered to support her needs and goals. Dr Belinda Renison, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Occupational Therapist, joins us to share the specific strategies she developed with Fiona, her daughters and her support team to help improve Fiona's environment and work toward her meaningful outcomes.

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In this episode we talk with Kez, who has a severe hypoxic brain injury and Trace, Kez’s sister and key support. We are joined by Dr. Kim Trezise, a clinical neuropsychologist. Together we unpack how we use A Flexible Framework in PBS+PLUS to guide the design of an individualised intervention.

We also delve into the challenges and strengths of such a person-driven approach and explore the PBS+PLUS experience from Kez and Trace’s perspectives. Highlights include the empowering nature of how we used a flexible framework to support Kez to be the driver of her therapy, working through the ups and downs of life as an individual with Brain Injury. 

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In today’s episode we discuss the research evidence behind PBS+PLUS! Joining us is Professor Jennie Ponsford, AO, Director of the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre (MERRC). Jennie breaks down what we did and what we found in our Transport Accident Commission funded study,  called "Positive Behaviour Support for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury and Challenging Behaviour: A Randomised Controlled Trial". Together we discuss the implications of the study findings for how PBS+PLUS is delivered.

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In this episode, Kate chats to Tim Feeney, a world-leading behaviourist who has worked with individuals with behavioural problems for the past 30 years. Exploring his work with Dr Mark Ylvisaker in Collaborative Brain Injury Intervention, we dive into the history behind PBS+ PLUS. 

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