Individual guidance at home

On behalf of Hersenletsel-uitleg we asked Gertruud van Harten a number of questions. We want to give an idea of ​​what an outpatient counselor (or individual counselor) can do for people with brain injuries and their loved ones.

There are several organizations that provide this guidance at home.

See for example here. 

The answers of Gertruud to our questions can be found in the following text:

My name is Gertruud van Harten and I work as a senior individual counselor at InteraktContour.

We offer specialized help to people who experience problems as a result of brain damage, for example after a stroke, accident or brain tumor. InteraktContour helps people with non-congenital brain damage to regain control of their lives after their rehabilitation, with the help of treatment, guidance and living with care.

 

As an individual supervisor, I support people with brain damage at home with various questions about help in daily life. For example, about living, work, social relationships, meaning, finances and health. For example, I help people to keep an overview of their administration and to tidy up the mail.

If someone has trouble remembering appointments, we help with agenda training. We can also support with a difficult phone call or in contact with authorities.

We also help to deal with lack of understanding from their environment and to find a meaningful way to fill the day. Furthermore, we help to find a volunteer or buddy.

Sometimes we just offer a listening ear so that the client has the feeling that he or she is not completely alone.

 

I get satisfaction when I have helped a client to regain control of his administration. Or when I have helped someone to better distribute his energy throughout the day. For example, a client recently told me that he is less tired and frustrated because he takes rest between all the tasks on my advice. I work multidisciplinary in guidance. This means that I work together with other care providers who are around the person where possible.

 

I also think about which aids can help the person maintain his or her independence and I help with the application for them. For example, clients of InteraktContour can try out e-health aids free of charge. Such as anti-noise headphones for overstimulation, a GPS watch with alarm, a video watch, digital agenda or a robot buddy.

See here for an example of a website about aids in de US

 

We know that brain injury not only has an impact on the life of the person affected, but also on the lives of loved ones. That is why we also involve the partner and/or children in our guidance. We explain what brain injury does to someone and how they can support them in daily life. But we also look at what they need as loved ones to be able to do this, and how they can find a new balance in their relationship.

 

In order to be able to do this work, I have completed a higher professional education and a coaching course. I will soon start the post-higher professional education course for outpatient counselors of people with non-congenital brain injury.

In addition to knowledge of brain injury and its consequences, good communication skills, empathy, tact, patience and the ability to work in a structured and planned manner are important skills in this work. It goes without saying that it is important that you respect the client's own direction, wishes and personality.

 

I have experienced in my immediate environment how much impact brain injury has on someone's life and that of their loved ones. This makes me feel connected to people with brain injury.

I would like to support them in learning to deal with the consequences of their brain injury and the changes in their lives. Also, with the help of others in their environment, to be able to continue to do as much as possible independently. My work as an individual supervisor at InteraktContour therefore gives me a lot of satisfaction.