Laughing along the way

1. LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL Laughing along the way Back to Work after TBI/Multiple Trauma LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

2. Learning Objectives • Name at least three new ideas for successful return to work. • Demonstrate the use of at least two compensatory strategies to help ensure successful work re-entry. • Remember at least two funny pitfalls of returning to work to share with your clients so they can avoid those problems in their own journeys.

3. Who I Was Before Program Director at Touchstone (TNC) Perfectionist Wife/No children Workaholic Supervisor In Line Skating Enthusiast Seamstress Recreational Therapist Daughter Sister Friend

4. November 1, 1997

5. And the Journey Begins… • Life Flight trip to Houston – Memorial Hermann Hospital, The Medical Center • Both lungs punctured, swelling of the brain, 32 fracture sites—Diagnosis: Moderate Brain Injury with Multiple Trauma • Drug Induced Coma for two weeks – “in and out” • Loss of who I was- • Stripper ?? • Actress ??

7. Learning a new role

8. And the JourneyContinues • Out of Coma- • What happened those two weeks? • When can I go back to work? • Never too soon to think about returning to work and what those steps are going to be! • Long Term Acute Care – 3 months • Occupational Therapy and Pre-Voc work • Organizing Activities for the other patients • Outpatient Therapy • Housework as a training ground • Organizing your home to make back to work easier

9. Neuropsychological Test • A “road map” to recovery • Final report shows strengths and weaknesses • The key is to use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses!

10. Practical Application • Back to school for MBA…

11. “Talk the talk and walk the walk” • Back to work with a modified work schedule: • 1 month of 2 hours per day (10 hours a week) • 1 month of 4 hours per day (20 hours a week) • 1 month of 6 hours per day (30 hours a week) • BACK TO FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT!!!

12. The Journey at a Glance

13. Back to Work • Organize an at home work station—keep everything together. • Adopt a new “trusted system” for organizing to do lists, calendar, projects, calls, etc. • Getting Things Done (GTD), David Allen • Mind Sweep • Weekly Review • Day Runner

14. Structuring Your Work Day • Using outlook or other schedule/calendar to track events, meetings, things that must get done TODAY. • Laminated card== “My current focus: I am now working on ___________. When done, the next item is ___________.” • Use your brain to do the work, not remember what you are supposed to be doing!

15. Being “In The Moment” at Work • Peaceful Habits by Dr. Jude Theriot • Practice Daily • Focus on what is happening now, not things from the past or things in the future. • “It is what it is!” Honey Boo-Boo’s mom • Focusing on past can cause grief-instead focus on what you CAN do now. • “Let it go” attitude • I’m never going back, the past is in the past…”

16. Attitude • Embracing our deficits at work • We all make mistakes • My big blunder • Stop being your own worst critic! • Let your co-workers know what to expect and how they should react to be helpful.

17. Technology • It doesn’t make you look disabled! • ipad vs. iphone • Hundreds of “aps” to help us out • Use Your Own Handwriting • Any.DO • Runkeeper

18. Hopefully you have… • Heard at least three new ideas for successful return to work. • Learned about the use of at least two compensatory strategies to help ensure successful work re-entry. • Heard at least two funny pitfalls of returning to work to share with your clients so they can avoid those problems in their own journeys.

19. It all comes down to this…

20. Questions/Comments • “Ask me anything—my life is an open book!”