The Well Brain

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.

03/12/2026

Advocacy for change and progress-

As many colleagues, care partners and survivors are currently in Washington DC I figured I do my part here on social media.

We continue to identify roadblocks and brain injury recovery that continue to fuel the purpose and mission behind ongoing advocacy work.

-Education: there continues to be a lack of training for providers about brain injury. The overall curriculum and education must include brain injury in all of its severity and impact on life.

-Screening: brain injury screening is not routine across all settings. We fill out so many forms and screenings and yet brain injury is not one of them at any visit. Brain injury screenings are essential for detection and education.

-Diagnosis: either lack of diagnostic language or minimizing diagnostic language as it pertains to brain injury is far too common even when it's abundantly clear that brain injury is part of the visit.

These are just three examples of systemic roadblocks in a brain injury journey.

The advocacy must continue not just in brain injury awareness month!

Thank you to the advocacy groups, agencies, an individuals who continue to use their voices advocate for brain injury awareness.

03/11/2026

Mark your calendars for the next Maine Brain Aneurysm Support Group ZOOM meeting on March 26th.

This month we will have a speaker talking about “Fatigue, Energy Balance, and Cognitive Distortion”

More info will be posted here on Facebook and by email in the weeks ahead on how to REGISTER to participate either by internet video or by phone.

For more information about the Support Group- visit our website at: www.MaineBA.org
Or contact: Dave@MaineBA.org

03/10/2026

Local to Hopedale, MA? Connect with the Office of Career Pathways & Work Based Learning at Hopedale Jr./Sr. High School

03/08/2026

Intentional women's Day is about recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while advocating for gender equality.

So let's do that brain style here as we celebrate progress, while also raising awareness of ongoing challenges.

There are major differences in the way women's brains work and the research is only beginning to dig in.

Thus the misdiagnosed and misunderstood and mistreated women are far too frequent.

To the women who know or don't know yet that brain injury was part of what changed so much in life...

-you're not 'crazy'
-it's not being emotional
-it's not just anxiety
And you're never too much!

Free OBISSS screening support to find out if brain injury could be part of your story.

Non judgemental, open, honest, safe care here.

You're amazing and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

03/06/2026

Cognition is the mental process and systems that directly support our communication, learning, self-regulation, social interaction, and daily functioning.

Some cognitive abilities that can be affected by brain injury include:

Concentration and attention

Following directions and sequencing

Decision making

New learning

Initiation and/or self-monitoring

Sometimes there is a delayed awareness for changes in cognition.

If the organ that is responsible for cognition has been injured, it's more than reasonable to request a specialist to evaluate cognition.

It's also reasonable that from day to day, or task to task you notice fluctuations in cognition after brain injury (there are so many variables to consider). Which also deserves a specialist support.

It's also reasonable that although someone may tell you you look fine after brain injury, that you can still use support with cognition in day to day life.

It's not all in your head... Oh wait, it is in your head because that's where your brain is and it deserves support.

03/03/2026

New!! I'm excited to offer my time to continue to improve care and access to brain injury support through the use of a nation wide screening tool.

OBISSS: online brain injury screening and support system

So although many of you who follow my page already have awareness that brain injury is part of what you are experiencing, this is for all those individuals who you may meet or know already in your world who are unsure. They may be curious if brain injury could be part of what they are experiencing.

Brain injury screening can be a valuable tool to help individuals who may have a history of brain injury. By screening for potential brain injury, there can be improved outcomes for individuals with chronic symptoms.

The system has validated tools and secure data storage that is reliable and confidential.

Anyone can complete the screening on their own or with the help of a professional, like me!

After completing the OBISSS the screening results are automatically emailed to the participant and their provider (if applicable). If someone screened positive for potential brain injury, the OBISSS, will automatically email information on any challenges that may be experienced and tips for support.

So please share this resource to continue to allow improved information, access, and support within the world of brain injury.

03/01/2026

Brain Injury Awareness Month 2026 kicks off!

Here's what to expect and how to engage here

All month long you can expect brain injury education, awareness, resources, wins, challenges, and strategies.

I truly look forward to your engagement and hope that you comment with wins, challenges, and questions.

If a post helps you educate, share the post with your support system. Because sometimes I recognize it's hard to find the right words to express what you might be experiencing. Or maybe it's just a little reminder of the continued journey.

Save any post that you think could support you at a later date, because it's okay to need a reminder.

The most important thing that you know about brain injury awareness month posts here at the well brain is that you are truly seeing, respected and honored.

You are doing the most important job, you never wanted to have, and healing and you are an inspiration for resilience and courage.

02/27/2026

The Maine Statewide Brain Injury Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, March 4. More info below!

12/09/2025

Anyone confused about brain fog or neurofatigue?

One of my favorite topics to unpack...

The hard truth is that although you no longer take your brain for granted, it's likely that you are taking your brain's job for granted when it comes to cognition.

Attention, memory, problem solving, executive function are all part of a major cognitive workout that we do everyday all day.

The difference after brain injury is that cognitive endurance also needs to be rebuilt and there may be a new threshold, just like physical endurance.

So stop and think about all the things you did yesterday that required cognition...

-attention
-reasoning
-sequencing
-problem solving
-insight
-planning
-self-correction

You're now thinking, well that was a lot! 😉

In addition the truth is that understanding what impacts in our fatigue is just as individual as brain injury itself.

We have to consider priorities, motivation, expectations, daily variables, other symptoms, and so much more.

So now do yourself a favor and give your brain credit.