Making Headway has provided hope and healing for valued members of our community who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury and their families for over ten years.  Through our core programs we have helped clients and their families navigate the challenges of Traumatic Brain Injury with skill and compassion.  In addition, Making Headway has taken the lead in the community in providing brain injury prevention outreach to those members of our community most at risk, youth and senior citizens.

Outreach & Education

By focusing on TBI prevention and treatment we are uniquely positioned to offer strategic outreach and education services to the Northern California region. We have developed several programs that enable us to effectively target injury prevention messages to children and young adults.

Through the InMotion program we bring these presentations to schools throughout the region and we sponsor youth sporting events and tournaments to effectively reach children and young adults where they are most receptive to modifying behavior that puts them at risk for injury.

A critical issue in providing effective treatment for TBI is a timely and accurate diagnosis. Nearly 80% of those who experience this injury suffer a concussion, or Mild TBI, and are often not referred for treatment beyond the emergency room. Many people with this injury may experience long-term challenges that stem directly from their injury. To assist with the proper diagnosis and treatment for all TBI sufferers Making Headway provides trainings, seminars and conferences in the Northern California region about Traumatic Brain Injury to medical groups, educational professionals, attorneys and mental health professionals. This outreach provides critical information to professionals, which is critical in proper diagnosis or treatment for those with a TBI.

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Many TBI patients experience a bewildering array of changes stemming from their injury, which may be acute or chronic in nature. Feelings of isolation, loss of identity, diminished self-esteem and other issues are common in TBI. To help clients overcome these challenges, we offer group psychotherapy and peer support groups. These groups are critical in helping people navigate the changes their injury brings while connecting them to others who can understand what they are going through.

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Case Management

Modern life, with its fast pace and a near constant stream of information, presents challenges for some TBI patients. Difficulty with concentration, organization and memory are hallmarks of the injury for more severe cases of TBI, which often means that extra support is needed with employment, housing and other issues that may arise. We provide skilled case management to clients and their families that can help them navigate the challenges.

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Psychotherapy

A TBI often brings feelings of loss, grief and fear to clients and their families who may be unprepared to handle the sudden changes this injury brings without support. These challenges are often accompanied by a change in family dynamics, social functioning and employment that are caused by the injury. Making Headway has three Marriage Family Therapists on staff providing psychotherapeutic support to TBI patients and their families and offers professionally facilitated psychotherapeutic groups.

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Community & Vocational Reintegration

One of the hallmarks of severe TBI is damage to the area of the brain that is responsible for “executive functioning”. This area is critical to performing multiple tasks at once such as concentration, controlling impulses, thinking abstractly and recognizing social “cues”. The level of impairment in this area of the brain is often a good indicator of how well a patient will return to their life. Some individuals with TBI will require assistance re-learning basic life skills such as planning, organizing, and scheduling. Making Headway has six Community Re-integration Specialists on staff who work one on one with clients to help them navigate the challenges they face on a daily basis.

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Therapeutic Recreation

Recreation provides all of us an opportunity to step outside ourselves and the stressors we face during our daily lives. As Edward Bellamy, a nineteenth century philosopher, said “If bread is the necessity of life, recreation is a close second”. For TBI sufferers and their families, Therapeutic Recreation is a critical component on the journey of recovery. Making Headway provides regular recreation opportunities for our clients including trips to Community Theater performances, regular swimming classes, music classes, kayaking and rafting trips and an annual respite camp on the Trinity River. These outings are generously supported by the Union Labor Health Foundation, Redwood Caregivers Resource Center (a subsidiary of Catholic Charities), the Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation, and other local businesses: and are provided free of charge to Making Headway clients.