Helping adults living with an acquired brain injury enhance their abilities, create relationships, and connect with the community.

The only program of its kind in Marin and Sonoma Counties! Professionals in the fields of art therapy, marriage and family therapy, occupational therapy, social work, and other disciplines work together with volunteers from a range of professional backgrounds to lead this program. Our dedicated team has experience working with adults living with brain injury of varying levels of abilities and providing support for their families as well.

The program is offered in two tracks; one for traumatic brain injury (TBI), including concussions, and one for stroke.

Courses are designed to help improve functional ability in the areas of memory, problem solving, processing speed, comprehension, attention, and focus. Occupational therapy, adapted movement, compensatory strategies, and speech therapy are also woven into the design of the courses. Each course uses a curriculum designed by the instructor, in collaboration with the Therapeutic Program team and a consulting neuropsychologist.

Participants establish personal goals they would like to accomplish and work together with the team and their peers to reach toward success in a safe, supportive environment. Being part of a community that cares and understands while maintaining a focus on rediscovering life after brain injury is a benefit of this program.

An Individualized, Structured & Holistic Approach

Because no two injuries are the same, the path to recovery must also be individually designed. Each participant works in partnership with staff and caregivers to assess his or her needs. Goals are assigned to ensure progress is benchmarked and celebrated. Instructors focus on participants’ long-term functional needs, including regaining interpersonal skills; managing behavioral challenges; and supporting psycho-social adjustment to life post-injury. Designed to support cognitive, social, psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being, a range of therapeutic classes and modalities are used in large and small group formats, including:

• Life Skills – Targets cognitive abilities to support daily living activities and interpersonal skills, such as memory, problem solving, planning, judgement, reasoning, decision-making, initiation, follow-through, and social and communication skills.
• Expressive Arts – Utilizes visual arts, movement/dance, creative writing, drama, and music to support self-expression, psychological well-being, cognitive ability, fine motor skills, and sensory awareness. Learn more.
• Brain Health & Wellness – Provides valuable information about the brain and practices that contribute to brain wellness. Class design supports classroom discussion, focus/concentration, memory, note-taking, and impulse control.
• Support Groups – Provides a safe space where participants learn effective coping skills and give and receive emotional support. Group structure encourages communications skills, emotional self-regulation, and impulse control. Learn more.
• Therapeutic Gardening – Promotes an array of cognitive skills, self-regulation, and grounding, and a sense of accomplishment through making a meaningful contribution. Learn more.
• Adaptive Yoga – Provides opportunities to safely engage in movement-based activity that supports overall physical and emotional well-being.
• Mindfulness – Engages participants in mindfulness practices, such as concentration and loving kindness meditation, to increase focus, empathy/compassion, self-awareness, and coping skills.

Measuring & Celebrating Progress

The Neuropsychological Impairment Scale (NIS) and the Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Evaluation Scale (COTES) are used to measure and ensure positive outcomes for participants. These standardized measures have indicated that Schurig Center participants are achieving progress in improving their abilities. Program participants and their families complete a satisfaction survey to provide valuable feedback about their experience of this service.

When

During coronavirus shelter-in-place, remote classes are offered via Zoom for 1 to 1.5 hours daily Monday through Thursday.

Cost

Offered at an affordable rate with private pay. Scholarships available by application for those in need. Golden Gate Regional Center clients may be eligible to have costs for this program covered by the regional center.

For more information, please contact our Community Liaison:

(415) 461-6771 ext. 100
resources@schurigcenter.org