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A bi-monthly group meeting offering support, education and communication strategies to individuals who are living with neurogenic disorders. We meet every other Wednesday to discuss and work through various issues that accompany a communication disorder.

The focus of our group is RESPECT and SUCCESS. Each person is a goal-oriented individual. It has been pointed out that many successes are the result of struggles.

The group is directed by Julie Hart, M.S., CCC-SLP and graduate student clinicians. Much like the hit television show Cheers, this is a place…
“Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.”

If you are interested in joining or receiving more information about our support group, please contact us at 518-454-5263.

Group Goals

  • To provide a safe, supportive environment for people to communicate.
  • To provide a context for the development and practice of functional communication strategies
  • To provide emotional support to help individuals with neurogenic communication disorders and their caregivers to know that they are not alone.
  • To increase the self-esteem of group members through the use of humor, interrelational activities and self-expression.
  • To increase the understanding of the recovery process.
  • To create a portfolio that illustrates the strategies and accomplishments of this ongoing group process.

Group Routine & Structure

The group routine varies from meeting to meeting, but typically begins with the introduction of any new individuals and/or the reporting back of any issues from the previous meeting that have been addressed outside the group setting. The next portion of time is used to allow members to share and exchange strategies that may have been adapted in therapy. Group structure is very flexible and participant driven.

Strategies

To allow for successful communication, it is important for individuals with neurogenic communication disorders to adapt various functional strategies. Listed below are some strategies that have been identified by group members:

  • Let your communication partner know, “This may take longer because I have had a stroke.”
  • Take a break when frustrated, and come back to the thought later.
  • Have your communication partner say or write the first letter of the word to help you produce the entire word.
  • Use gestures to aid in understanding of your spoken word.
  • Describe the words that you are stuck on.
  • Assess each situation to decide which strategy is most appropriate.

Emotions

The ability to communicate is an everyday process that many individuals take for granted. It is not until we are without it that we can appreciate its importance. With the loss of such a valuable life process, individuals may experience strong feelings of grief, inadequacy and helplessness. They may experience a loss of power, control and their sense of freedom. Our group provides a safe forum where emotions can be verbalized and addressed in a respectful manner, with a goal of transformation to confidence, clarity, strength, hope.