Background:
When planning rehabilitative care for clients with a history of mild traumatic brain injury, functional patient-centered goals are the guide that lead to effective treatment planning efforts. Behavioral activation is a foundational first step in addressing a client's needs and is strengthened by an interdisciplinary approach to care. Supporting a client's rehabilitative reconditioning means addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our SHARE client base to help them build self-efficacy for sustained rehabilitation. This presentation describes how functional goal setting can lead to increased life functioning and how each interdisciplinary therapy plays a part in our client's care.
Objective:
To demonstrate how embedding functional goal setting behavioral activation enhances patient engagement, supports cognitive-behavioral learning, and improves trauma-related outcomes in a hospital-based rehabilitation program (SHARE Military Initiative).
Method:
Based on a client's functional goals, clients receive a mix of behavioral activation, trauma-specific care and cognitive behavioral therapy. Structured worksheets are used to promote a client's understanding of the material and how to make shifts in behavior and thinking. This is based on the interest of the client, their readiness, and their ability to self-regulate during their general programmatic activities and after the clinic day. Asking direct client feedback is essential to monitoring their mood and completed therapy activities. Symptom change is tracked using various measures.
Results:
Preliminary observations indicate a natural decrease in scores at the end of treatment regardless of behavioral health treatment type received. The support of an interdisciplinary team helps build a client's confidence to engage in activities. Clients more often than not meet or exceed their functional goals while at the SHARE program.
Conclusion:
Integrating functional goal setting with behavioral activation and a trauma-centered approach provides a practical framework that strengthens self-efficacy skills for clients. This approach bridges clinical intervention and applied teaching, promoting translatable skills upon reentry to home life.