Accepting TBI: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Caregivers of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Date of Award

Spring 6-9-2017

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Nicole Taylor

Second Advisor

Hale Martin

Third Advisor

Jason Nupp

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Caregivers, Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Abstract

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a complex condition which often involves unique functional impairments and unpredictable recovery patterns. Family members are frequently required to serve as the primary caregiver for the patient, which may result in significant emotional distress due to the complications of the injury and changes in the relationship between caregiver and patient. This negative psychological effect, often referred to as “caregiver burden,” has several consequences unique to TBI including decreased physical and emotional functioning for both the caregiver and the patient. Efforts have been made to better understand and address these factors, but few interventions exist specifically to help caregivers process and cope with the challenges of caring for their injured loved one. This paper outlines some common sources of caregiver burden associated with TBI, introduces a unique treatment approach for caregivers that utilizes aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and outlines specific interventions designed to address the psychological needs of the caregiver.

Copyright Date

8-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

John Laurence Mallory

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

33 pgs

File Size

456 KB

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