A therapist experiential model of treatment for brain injury

Abstract

The Therapist Experiential Model of Treatment (TEMT) captures the commonality of clinical reactions and challenges that therapists encounter when treating patients with acquired brain injury and their support networks in outpatient multidisciplinary treatment settings. A three-tier coping paradigm depicts therapists' fluctuating demeanor, adjustment, and overall outlook. Patient, system, and internal variables facilitate or impede professional efficacy and growth. The TEMT is an effective mentalizing tool, catalyzing self-exploration of countertransference, burnout, and fractionalized working alliances.

Challenges and opportunities facing holistic approaches to neuropsychological rehabilitation

“…Klonoff [26] has provided practical guidelines to help identify when the rehabilitation staff are starting to lose their enthusiasm for their work, and become more adversarial than therapeutic in their actions with patients. Watching patients progress and having the courage to deal with one's own personal reactions to the limited effectiveness of cognitive retraining may help strengthen therapists' resolve to work with these individuals.…”