–Â Â MARCH 2021Â Â –
Making goals meaningful for people with traumatic brain injury
Creating meaningful goals for people who are experiencing unpredictability, uncertainty and frustration, as the result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), can be challenging for all involved.Â
You’ll be pleased to know there are ways to ease this process so here’s some quick wins to help get you off to a great start:
Confidence
Being confident that you can set meaningful goals will make all the difference. You need to positively embrace and believe that realistic goals can both be set and met, then instil this hope in the person with TBI who you’re helping.
Identify the top three problems
There will likely be many areas where all involved will want to see improvements. You can’t do everything at once so target the three main areas of concern first, then build from there. Common problems many people with TBI experience include regularly falling over and finding it hard to maintain personal care standards, owing to physical limitations. What is causing the most concern that would have the most positive impact if it was successfully overcome?
Create desire
No goal is going to be worked for if it isn’t wanted. What will it mean for them to achieve this goal? How will it make their life better? The person with TBI has to personally want it for themselves (not because their family or friends need it or told them to do it). They have to genuinely see the benefit in working hard to make it happen. In times where enthusiasm dips and they are finding it hard to keep motivated, coming back to their why – the underlying benefits to persevering with the hard work – will be what keeps them on track.
Work with the right people
Once you set the goal(s), it is crucial to bring in the right people to support the person with TBI so they can make the best possible progress on their journey. We’re here to help you succeed.
Celebrate the wins
Sustaining motivation is crucial and one great way to do this is to regularly acknowledge progress made. Holding out to celebrate at the end is going to be a long wait. Point out and celebrate improvements, no matter how small, as often as possible to keep momentum and maintain a positive mindset.
To explore how we can help someone with a traumatic brain injury set meaningful goals and achieve them, book a free 15-minute consultation call with us.Â