The Well Brain

05/07/2026

Advocacy in the medical community 101

It's not too much to ask for...

-providers to talk to each other, after you sign consent and share contact information. Actually it's collaborative care and everyone wins.

-the history or chart to be reviewed prior to being asked questions. It's helpful for providers to be given a minute, in silence, to review and it's less recall demand for the patient. Another win win!

-the best way to ask follow up questions after the appointment ends. It's human for both people to think of things after the appointment. Knowing which way is best to communicate before you need to, is yet another win win.

-things to be repeated back to you in a different way to make sure you understand. Blank nods don't help anyone. Asking for clarification is, you guessed it, a win win.

So the next time you wonder, what every patient deserves, know it's a win win for the providers too.

If it is too much, find a new provider💯

05/01/2026

Collaborative care is always a win for everyone involved.

This feedback means the world to me. Thank you to providers who take time to connect on behalf of our mutual clients. We're doing what's right, while also getting to witness their progress together.

One of the greatest gifts of managing my own time is that no one gets to overbook me in a way that makes collaborating inaccessible.

This is built in time for every client.

I know the traditional medical model is not set up in a way that makes this easy to do.It is really one of the reasons I was going to burn out in the traditional system, because I never let it go unaddressed. I made the calls anyway, nearly always unpaid.

Collaborative care is not too much to ask for.

04/30/2026

Come learn!!!

Transitioning my clinical experience into the world of cognitive health coaching has been such a rewarding journey. I’ve always believed that looking at the "whole person" is essential—because our cognitive health is the foundation of living confidently and independently.
​There is nothing more fulfilling than supporting individuals as they redefine their brain confidence and reclaim their sense of self. I feel so incredibly blessed to call this passion work. 🧠✨

For many survivors and their families, the transition from formal therapy to daily life is a challenging part of the journey.

On July 29th, join NASHIA for a special webinar - Beyond Traditional Therapy: Faith Counseling, Cognitive Coaching, and Problem-Solving Approaches for Brain Injury. We’re moving the conversation beyond the clinical setting and into the community.

We’ll discuss how to build a support system that addresses:
✅ Meaningful social participation.
✅ Innovative problem-solving and self-management interventions.
✅ Emotional and cognitive wellness in real-life settings.

🔗 Save your seat!
https://www.nashia.org/trainings/beyond-traditional-therapy

04/30/2026

Oh let me just do this one last thing.

We've all said that phrase. ✋

If you keep compounding that one last thing, especially while navigating the precarious physical and cognitive capacity after brain injury, it could be part of a cycle of flare ups.

Try asking yourself these questions:
Who told me I have to?
Who told me I should?
Who told me I can't rest until I do this?

These questions are examples of executive function self-monitoring.

The quick check questions help you determine if it is worth checking that one more task off the list or if you're doing it as a way to earn rest.

Cycles and patterns and habits are real however the first step in changing them is awareness and these questions are meant to catch your awareness.

If you're doing the task from a place of internalized pressure based on your personal invisible rules to deserve rest then come back to that one last task after the rest.

Because then what you're doing is you're practicing executive function self-monitoring, managing capacity, and you found success with better balance in the long-term trajectory of capacity management with cognitive and physical endurance.

04/18/2026

04/14/2026

Using my professional education,experience and passion in a non-traditional way to level up brain injury outcomes has been the most personally challenging and best decision I've made. Come learn more...

Traditional therapy is a vital foundation, but for a survivor of a brain injury, the ultimate goal is getting back to life. 🏠💼

Are your state programs and community partners equipped to support that transition? Our upcoming webinar, ""Beyond Traditional Therapy,"" is designed to help advocates and providers look at the ""whole person"" beyond the clinical walls.

Learn how to:
✅ Support meaningful community participation.
✅ Implement strategies for long-term success at home.
✅ Foster independence that lasts a lifetime.

Registration is officially OPEN! Join us on July 29th.

🔗 Get registered: https://www.nashia.org/trainings/beyond-traditional-therapy

04/09/2026

Just this year I became a Massachusetts screener for the OBISSS (Online Brain Injury Screening and Support System) which can help determine a potential exposure to brain injury in someone's lifetime and identifies any associated problems that are present. The report for 2025 is the data-based evidence that further supports why access to brain injury screening is crucial. It also 100000% supports the role of neuro speech language pathologist in brain injury care!

Data that Demands Action: Our 2025 OBISSS Annual Report is Here! 📈🧠

We are thrilled to release the latest report for our Online Brain Injury Screening and Support System (OBISSS). This year, the data tells a powerful story of growth, advocacy, and a deepening understanding of brain injury across the country.

The Highlights:

🚀 Tremendous Growth: We nearly tripled our reach this year, surpassing 3,000+ total screenings nationwide.

⚠️ High Prevalence: Of those screened, 80% resulted in a positive indicator for a potential brain injury—underscoring the critical need for this tool in every state.

🔍 Deep Insights: The report breaks down barriers by analyzing demographics, symptom challenges, and service delivery settings.

The "Why" for Your Organization:
This isn't just a report; it’s a blueprint for advocacy. Our subscription holders are using this data to secure funding, shape policy, and ensure no survivor falls through the cracks.

Ready to bring these insights to your state? Join our growing network of subscribers and start capturing the data that changes lives.

🔗 Read the Full Report & Join Us: https://www.nashia.org/obisssprogram

04/03/2026

I love helping out with research and sharing it. Way to go CBIRT!
https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3wJZlNNuezlWScS

03/26/2026

Check out behind the screen!

I'm a virtual provider and I'm still very intentional about my work space.

When I sit down to do the hard brain work with clients or on my own the environment matters.

The senses, the organization, the creativity and the boundaries. They all help me show up as my best self.

I love asking clients about their spaces and getting virtual tours.

One of the greatest gifts of virtual providing is that clients are in their spaces of comfort, surrounded by things that help their brains, their bodies and their level of comfort emotionally.

Here are a few things across the different views of my office that are intentional:

- the light blocking curtains took me a long time because the color mattered, the type of light blocking mattered and so did aesthetics.

-minimal background behind me has a virtual provider is important to eliminate distractions and provide continuity. My clients brains need to show up ready to work and I don't need to add to the distractions.

-my microphone for clear audio was really important for me. Once again I don't need to tax my clients auditory system more than it already is.

-I have two cell phones. I knew that that was important for me right from the beginning of opening my practice. Because boundaries are healthy for everyone.

- I did not know how important a walking desk was to me until I got one. I learned that continuing education while walking is so good for my brain and I absorb even more.

-the art all around me is very intentional. So many of the pieces in my space are from fellow neuro people in the community. Seeing their creativity and their work in my space is a reminder of how capable human beings are.

-what clients don't see, but I see on the other side of my screen is a little more visually busy. But every single one of those pieces has a story.

-the resources that I have acquired, reference, and constantly add to feeds my hungry brain to continue to learn to serve this community.

So now I will ask you...

how intentional are you in the space you ask your brain to do its best work? Comment below 👇

03/25/2026

Maine Friends- This resource guide is incredible! State services, ADA assistance, Chiropractic Neurology, Employment Services, Financial Services, Supported living, Rehab and so much more. Every Mainer should check this out. Standing ovation for this guide Brain Injury Association of America - Maine

Need a copy of the latest edition of the Maine Brain Injury & Stroke Resource Directory? You can download a PDF from our website or call 800-444-6443 to request a hard copy. To download: https://biausa.org/find-bia/maine

03/17/2026

Submitted to local press (Brain Injury Association of America created letter with personal touch added): Letter to the Editor

March 17, 2026

To my community,

At least 64 million adults report having experienced a brain injury in their lifetime. While many of these injuries are fairly mild and cause only temporary neurological impairment, there are currently more than 11 million people living with a permanent brain injury-related disability.

Those who are affected by brain injury – survivors, their loved ones, and the people who treat them – all have their own stories to tell about how brain injury has changed their lives and set them on a different path. Living with brain injury, or caring for someone who has one, is a journey – and it’s not linear. Navigating life with brain injury takes a special kind of resilience.

That’s why I am proud to join the Brain Injury Association of America and advocates across the country to celebrate Brain Injury Awareness Month this March. I hope you will join in participating in the campaign as we recognize and honor the millions of people around the country who are living with brain injury.

We are so blessed to have a local hospital right here in our own backyard. And yet I can still say we have room for progress in the education, care, support, and advocacy we offer in regard to brain injury. I became passionate about neuro care as I gained incredible experience working at Milford Regional and now Milford is my homebase for my private virtual practice, The Well Brain. I can say that far too often people leave care without being educated about brain injury, whether it be from a fall, car accident, prolonged time without oxygen, or a sports related injury. Did you know concussion is a brain injury? Did you know that many individuals' navigating life after brain injury are navigating a completely invisible disability? As a medical community, I know we have a lot more to offer our friends and neighbors, and I hope this letter opens a conversation either in your own home or as you seek care.

You can help by sharing your story, hosting virtual brain injury awareness events in your community, or speaking to your elected officials about issues affecting people with brain injuries. Visit biausa.org/MyBrainInjuryJourney to learn what else you can do to raise awareness about the impact of brain injury.

Taryn Barlow,
Lifelong Milford Resident
thewellbrainslp@gmail.com
774-498-9234
2 Congress St. Box 972 Milford, MA 01757

During Brain Injury Awareness Month, help the 5.3 million people in the U.S. who are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability.