Join me as I interview Kaylee Blair, a brain injury coach, about her experiences healing from multiple acquired brain injuries. She knows what it is like to experience the physical and emotional pain and disorientation that comes along with this type of injury, and speaks from that hard-earned wisdom. She offers hope and shares the things that helped her get through her hardest times.

She mentions CognitiveFX, a clinic that treats brain injuries and post concussion syndrome. Their website is www.cognitivefxusa.com.

If you're interested in working with Kaylee, you can find her at www.braininjurycoach.com or [email protected] or call her at 801-900-3484.

Join me as I interview Maddy Farrer, a neuro cognitive psychometrist, clinical research coordinator, and neuroscience specialist at CognitiveFX, about long-haul Covid, its effects on the brain, and ways to effectively treat it. This topic may seem like a strange one for a podcast about concussions, but long Covid can have surprisingly similar effects on the brain to the effects of a concussion, and we are finding that treatment that works for concussions can have a similarly positive impact on long Covid.

CognitiveFX is the clinic that is mentioned in this podcast episode, and you can find helpful information on their blog and website: www.cognitivefxusa.com

If you want to sign up for a free concussion coaching consultation, go to my website, www.theconcussioncoach.com, or click on this link: https://theconcussioncoach.com/contact/

Join me as I interview Zara Dureno, a licensed Occupational Therapist and Neuro-Coach, who helps people recover from concussions, chronic pain, and mental health difficulties. She has a wealth of knowledge and strategies for helping people manage nervous system dysregulation and pain. She shares information about the Polyvagal Theory and how it applies to concussion recovery, as well as a number of actionable ideas and tips for managing concussion symptoms and challenges.

For more information on Polyvagal Theory, she recommends reading books by Stephen Porges or Deb Dana. She recommends The Concussion Doc (https://concussiondoc.io/) and The Huberman Lab Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@hubermanlab, https://hubermanlab.com/category/podcast-episodes/).

For Neurofeedback she recommends Surrey Neuroplasticity Clinic (snpc.tech).

You can find her at www.upliftvirtualtherapy.com, or on Instagram: uplift_virtualtherapy and Tiktok: upliftvirtualtherapy

Join me as I interview Nate Benson, a brain injury specialist and patient care coordinator at CognitiveFX (www.cognitivefxusa.com). When he was a child, Nate and his family sustained chronic carbon monoxide poisoning, resulting in anoxic brain injuries, from a carbon monoxide leak in their house over a period of years. Nate shares his experience of this injury and his recovery from it. He has since studied neuroscience and worked at a concussion clinic, and has excellent experience and advice to share with others suffering from brain injuries. Enjoy our conversation and the wisdom he shares!

Join me as I interview Dr. Jaycie Loewen, a Howard Hughes Medical scholar who received her PhD in Neuroscience alongside a Master's in Clinical Investigation. In this interview, Dr. Loewen explains for us what "counts" as a concussion, what to do if you have had a concussion, and what post concussion syndrome is. She explains what post concussion symptoms are and what can be done to manage them, and she also gives us an explanation of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). Enjoy this conversation!

She generously gave a list of resources that people can look through in their study and research on post concussion syndrome:

Dysautonomia, the autonomic nervous system, and brain injuryhttps://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-autonomic-dysfunction-dysautonomia

CDC Heads UP, Understanding Childhood Concussionshttps://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/pediatricmtbiguidelineeducationaltools/2018-cdc_mtbi_discharge-instructions-508.pdf

Brain injury and Hormoneshttps://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/media/brain-injury-hormone-issues-and-the-endocrine-system-qa-with-dr-tamara-wexler

https://www.concussionalliance.org/hormone-therapy

Information on CTEhttps://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/CDC-CTE-FactSheet-508.pdf

Work and school after a brain injury https://www.biausa.org/brain-injury/about-brain-injury/nbiic/requesting-job-accommodations-after-brain-injuryhttps://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/reportstocongress/managementoftbiinchildren/factsheets/TBIRTCFS-Schools-508.pdf(Employers guide to working with a patient with a brain injury. It’s from 2011 and some of the stats/citations are out of date but I thought I would at least see if you might want it: https://biaia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Employer-guide.pdf)

(Over access 2022 article that emphasizes the importance of a child’s physician in the ‘return to learn’ process: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9277683/)

Return to physical activity after concussionhttps://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/return_to_sports.html

Concussion exercises you can do at homehttps://neuraleffects.com/blog/concussion-therapy-exercises/

Three websites I would go first to find up-to-date statistics, tips and tricks, and further information on TBI:

CDC https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/index.html

NINDS https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi

Brain Injury Alliance (also look for your state’s chapter as they will have information specific to your area) https://usbia.org/

Join me as I interview Kenny Hunsaker, a friend of mine who experienced Post Concussion Syndrome following a minor car accident. He openly shares his experience with the symptoms of concussion that altered his life and ability to work and play with his family. He shares some of the unexpected symptoms he experienced, specifically the mental health highs and lows, and many of the things that helped him on his journey of recovery.

Kenny mentions doing treatment at CognitiveFX, and their website, if you're interested, is: www.cognitivefxusa.com.

He also mentions the brainwaves app. In the Apple apps, it is called "Brainwave 35 Binaural Programs"

As a concussion coach, I guide people with Post Concussion Syndrome/Symptoms on their recovery journey -- I help them speed up the recovery process through education, resources, and specific tools to help with mental and emotional regulation. If you want to sign up for a free concussion coaching consultation, go to my website, www.theconcussioncoach.com, or click on this link: www.theconcussioncoach.com/contact/

Join me as I interview Paige Moore, a medical student at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a certified athletic trainer. She received both her bachelors and masters degrees from BYU. She’s a former member and captain of the BYU Cheer and Stunt team. Paige experienced several concussions resulting in a brain injury as a teenager and young adult that made her schooling and athletic career difficult. Today, she’s had a successful recovery, and now hopes to specialize in concussion and brain injuries so that as a physician she can continue to help those that experience neurological injuries.

Paige has a powerful story to share of determination, resilience, and pursuing dreams. She worked at and was a patient at CognitiveFX (www.cognitivefxusa.com), which made a significant impact in her concussion recovery journey. You can watch and read more about her cheerleading and concussion experiences at the following links:

BYU Sports Nation video: https://youtu.be/D3_Pb8kABJ8
Y Magazine article: https://magazine.byu.edu/article/cheerful-persistence/

As a concussion coach, I guide people with Post Concussion Symptoms/Syndrome on their recovery journey -- I help them speed up the recovery process through education, resources, and specific tools to help with mental and emotional regulation. If you want to sign up for a free concussion coaching consultation, go to my website, www.theconcussioncoach.com, or click on this link: https://theconcussioncoach.com/contact/

Join me as I interview Meg Johnson, a motivational speaker who has C-7 quadriplegia, about how to embrace and love the new you after a "just like that" moment changes your life in ways you didn't expect and did not want. So many people struggle with wishing they could just go back to their old life, their old self, after a concussion or other unwanted life-changing event. Meg shares her story and experiences with humor and honesty, and will inspire you to higher heights and increased happiness. You can find more about Meg at www.megjohnsonspeaks.com

If you want to sign up for a free concussion coaching consultation, go to my website, www.theconcussioncoach.com, or click on this link: https://theconcussioncoach.com/contact/

Happy New Year! As we are wrapping up 2022 and looking to the future in 2023 and beyond, how intentionally are we thinking about the future?  This short and sweet episode shares one of my favorite coaching strategies: since our brains tend to focus on the worst case scenario, we can give equal airtime in our minds to the best case scenario as well. Doing so will loosen up our fear of the future and open up possibilities that we may never otherwise consider.  This strategy is just as valid in relation to relationships and regular life as it is in relation to those with concussions looking to their future.  People dealing with post concussion syndrome sometimes feel like the future is hopeless and overwhelming due to the unpredictability of their symptoms, but this strategy is just as applicable to their situation.  Let the potential possibility of goodness in the future share airtime in your mind.  You've got this.  Happy New Year!

In today's episode, I share an experience I've had recently that I was initially resistant to, and how I've moved through acceptance to embracing it. I also describe the pivot I'm making in my business to focus on concussion coaching (think: life coaching through the eyes of an occupational therapist).  If you or someone you love has had a concussion and would like a 30 min consultation, I'd love to meet with you! Sign up on my website: www.theconcussioncoach.com