Clinical Affiliate Spotlight
We’re honored to bring you a special feature from our Clinical Affiliate, Tulane University Center for Brain Health. We sat down with the team at Tulane to learn more about their incredible work supporting the veteran community through LYB Yoga.
Meet the Tulane University Center for Brain Health (TUCBH) and the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Veterans with TBI:
Life as a veteran with TBI is often complex and, because of that, the approach to treatment must be multi-dimensional. Hope and vitality in life stems from emotional, mental, spiritual and social resiliency along with physical well-being. When Veterans experience significant physical trauma it can disturb their view of life, and sense of self.
TUCBH takes a holistic approach to helping warriors to continue to be their best versions of themselves after a mild to moderate TBI and all the psychological and physical changes that come from that. TUCBH meets veterans where they are to help figure out how to function optimally in their day to day life. The intensive outpatient program is a comprehensive approach designed to address the interactions between the mind, body and the powerful ways in which emotional, mental, spiritual and social factors directly affect ones health and well-being. The IOP is veteran centered and holistic and includes individual and group sessions including: Integrative Psychiatry, Physiatry, Physical Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Clinical Psychology, Veteran Relations, Canine Therapy, Psycho-educational classes, Integrative therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Yoga, cooking classes, nutritionist, Mind body medicine and behavioral health.
- Kriss Morrison, Director of Clinical Operations
What influenced you to become a LoveYourBrain Clinical Affiliate partner?
The Mission of TUCBH aligns well with the mission of LoveYourBrain: Improving quality of life of people affected by TBI and raising awareness of brain health. Our relationship with LoveYourBrain as a Clinical Affiliate helps Veterans affected by TBI to fully access their resilience, connect with a compassionate community and reach their full potential. Easy access to programming and clinical expertise and training has also helped with our program.
- Bonnie McCollough, Director of External Operations
How has LoveYourBrain helped you adapt yoga and meditation for the veteran community affected by traumatic brain injury?
The Love Your Brain program has supported my teaching by giving me the tools to see, guide, and hold space for veterans. Some tools include ways to adapt the yoga poses for neck injuries or symptoms of vertigo, ways to adapt meditation to support concentration and ways to teach breath-work to promote relaxation. I also found more compassion and insight through my LYB training.This new way of understanding what they may face in the healing process helps me navigate any challenges or strong emotionality that a veteran might experience through mindful movement and meditation.
- Brigitte Smith, RYT, Registered Yoga Teacher
How have you found yoga and meditation to impact the veteran community?
I think it often surprises the veterans that yoga and meditation are so effective. When I talk to veterans about these skills, the first response is always about why they wouldn’t work for them. But when they finally do it, they can immediately see the value.
- Maggie Watson, PT, DPT, CBIST, Physical Therapist; and Jeremy Brewer LCSW, Clinical Patient Navigator
To learn more about the Tulane University Center for Brain Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), visit https://centerforsport.tulane.edu/center-for-brain-health
If you’re a veteran interested in participating in the IOP, contact Bonnie McCollough, Director of External Relations: bmccollo@tulane.edu, or (504) 988-8481
Did you know?
LoveYourBrain Clinical Affiliates create a critical bridge from a medical setting into their local communities. Together, they’re helping LoveYourBrain change the healthcare system for TBI, creating more holistic, supportive, and ongoing opportunities for those affected.