Val Lougheed
In 2003, this speaker almost died in a head-on collision. She sustained catastrophic injuries, including a brain injury. Her moving and inspirational story, Trauma, Rehabilitation and Recovery - Keep Your Fork, provides listeners with profound insights into the experience of recovery and returning to life and work.
What makes her story unique is that she has been working in the field of rehabilitation herself for the past 33 years, and is president of a large Rehabilitation Company in Canada. So she understands recovery from both perspectives - practitioner and patient.
Listeners will gain insights as they consider:
- What does it mean to recover?
- What can patients/clients do to help themselves recover and return to a life that includes work?
- What can practitioners/family/friends do to facilitate recovery and a return to work?
She tells her story in the narrative tradition of staying true to the events as she experienced them. She traces a journey that begins with identity disintegration, drug withdrawal, pain, and physical and cognitive therapy.
She speaks of her experiences as a client in...
- a Head Injury Program
- the development of an Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP)
- having three neuropsychological assessments
- trying to follow a Gradual Return to Work (GRTW) plan...and failing
- learning about neuroplasticity in terms of what it is, how it feels, and the impact it can have on recovery from a brain injury
- coming to terms with permanent physical and cognitive impairments in the workplace.
This talk is based on her book and the continuing research she is conducting with her advisor at the University of Calgary. Relevant theory is integrated into her story, in order to provide participants with a variety of perspectives into the meaning of her experiences.
She has spoken as a Plenary Key-Note and Guest Speaker for such organizations as the Brain Injury Association of Canada, the National Rehabilitation Association, the National Case Managers Network, Bayshore Home Health, the Ontario Brain Injury Association, the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, The Faculty of Medicine and The Faculty of Education -- University of Calgary, Grant MacEwan University, the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada, Whitby Mental Health Centre, the Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and B.C. Workers' Compensation Boards, RehabNet, and the World Health Organization, the Canadian Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union, and the International Vocational Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury Conference.
Selected Testimonials from participants in Trauma, Rehabilitation and Recovery -- Keep Your Fork
"You inspired me to accept my new life and the things I cannot change about myself. Until yesterday I was living in denial, unable to accept that I am a 25 year old who forgets things like a 95 year old. Please keep speaking out about your life, as I am sure you will help more people just like myself!" Brain Injury Survivor
"You are a true inspiration and absolutely hilarious! It all really hit home - we are trained to work with people with barriers and what you taught me is that I have much to learn still. You must continue to tell your story and spread the good news about recovery. You rock!" Vocational Counsellor; Whitby Mental Health Centre, Ontario
"So many people have been touched by your story....you have such a magical way of touching others in such a genuine way with immense generosity. I still get choked up whenever I think about my "fork." Director - Organizational Effectiveness Branch; Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Ontario
"You're an amazing person. I admire your courage and strength to take your story and turn it into learning for others. You are giving a voice to those who don't always have one." Foster Care Support worker; Enviros, Alberta
"She was one of the most highly rated speakers we've ever had at the WCB of Manitoba. It was all I hoped for and more!" Manager - Rehabilitation and Compensation Training; Workers' Compensation Board, Manitoba
"Health care professionals need to understand the challenges their clients face, not only the physical injuries, but the recovery of the whole person. She describes her sense of self being shattered in the accident and the need to find a new meaningful existence. The presentation exemplified the need to understand the "existential crisis" that many clients may be experiencing that may hinder full recovery. Bayshore Home Health - would highly recommend this insightful presentation to Adjusters, Health Care Professionals Lawyers and family members to understand the complexity of the recovery process." Bayshore Home Health, Business Development/ Case Manager, National Care Team
"You truly have inspired me to keep on keeping on. You have overcome some insurmountable challenges, and you are here today to give us HOPE. You are truly incredible." Resolution Health Support Worker, Native Counselling Services of Alberta
"Your thoughtful and insightful story gave us a new perspective on both the physical and emotional costs of injuries. None of us will soon forget it" President and CEO; & Chair; Worplace Safety and Insurance Board, Ontario
"She is not only able to "speak our lnguage" as professionals in the field of rehabilitation, but her message is unique in that it gives the listener a perspective of what it is like to be on the receiving end of our services. Her knowledge, insights and wisdom have given me new clarity of understanding in my profession and hopefully, helped me to provide better service to my clients." Past National President; Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (CARP/VRAC)
"Every person, no matter what their job, has come away from your presentation with a new insight about the importance of their work, the ways that they can impact customer service, and the reality that we (WCB staff & our various clients) are more alike than we have ever considered. Being able to internalize these concepts can do more to influence behaviour than a lengthy workshop run by "client service experts"." Process Performance Specialist;
Workers' Compensation Board, Manitoba
"I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. I really appreciate your open discussion of your trauma and its impact on your life. It was especially informative as I'm currently finishing a PhD in Psychology and my dissertation is focused on the impact of trauma and PTSD on intimacy in couples." PhD Candidate
In 2003, this speaker almost died in a head-on collision. She sustained catastrophic injuries, including a brain injury. Her moving and inspirational story, Trauma, Rehabilitation and Recovery - Keep Your Fork, provides listeners with profound insights into the experience of recovery and returning to life and work.
What makes her story unique is that she has been working in the field of rehabilitation herself for the past 33 years, and is president of a large Rehabilitation Company in Canada. So she understands recovery from both perspectives - practitioner and patient.
Listeners will gain insights as they consider:
- What does it mean to recover?
- What can patients/clients do to help themselves recover and return to a life that includes work?
- What can practitioners/family/friends do to facilitate recovery and a return to work?
She tells her story in the narrative tradition of staying true to the events as she experienced them. She traces a journey that begins with identity disintegration, drug withdrawal, pain, and physical and cognitive therapy.
She speaks of her experiences as a client in...
- a Head Injury Program
- the development of an Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP)
- having three neuropsychological assessments
- trying to follow a Gradual Return to Work (GRTW) plan...and failing
- learning about neuroplasticity in terms of what it is, how it feels, and the impact it can have on recovery from a brain injury
- coming to terms with permanent physical and cognitive impairments in the workplace.
This talk is based on her book and the continuing research she is conducting with her advisor at the University of Calgary. Relevant theory is integrated into her story, in order to provide participants with a variety of perspectives into the meaning of her experiences.
She has spoken as a Plenary Key-Note and Guest Speaker for such organizations as the Brain Injury Association of Canada, the National Rehabilitation Association, the National Case Managers Network, Bayshore Home Health, the Ontario Brain Injury Association, the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, The Faculty of Medicine and The Faculty of Education -- University of Calgary, Grant MacEwan University, the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada, Whitby Mental Health Centre, the Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and B.C. Workers' Compensation Boards, RehabNet, and the World Health Organization, the Canadian Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union, and the International Vocational Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury Conference.
Selected Testimonials from participants in Trauma, Rehabilitation and Recovery -- Keep Your Fork
"You inspired me to accept my new life and the things I cannot change about myself. Until yesterday I was living in denial, unable to accept that I am a 25 year old who forgets things like a 95 year old. Please keep speaking out about your life, as I am sure you will help more people just like myself!" Brain Injury Survivor
"You are a true inspiration and absolutely hilarious! It all really hit home - we are trained to work with people with barriers and what you taught me is that I have much to learn still. You must continue to tell your story and spread the good news about recovery. You rock!" Vocational Counsellor; Whitby Mental Health Centre, Ontario
"So many people have been touched by your story....you have such a magical way of touching others in such a genuine way with immense generosity. I still get choked up whenever I think about my "fork." Director - Organizational Effectiveness Branch; Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Ontario
"You're an amazing person. I admire your courage and strength to take your story and turn it into learning for others. You are giving a voice to those who don't always have one." Foster Care Support worker; Enviros, Alberta
"She was one of the most highly rated speakers we've ever had at the WCB of Manitoba. It was all I hoped for and more!" Manager - Rehabilitation and Compensation Training; Workers' Compensation Board, Manitoba
"Health care professionals need to understand the challenges their clients face, not only the physical injuries, but the recovery of the whole person. She describes her sense of self being shattered in the accident and the need to find a new meaningful existence. The presentation exemplified the need to understand the "existential crisis" that many clients may be experiencing that may hinder full recovery. Bayshore Home Health - would highly recommend this insightful presentation to Adjusters, Health Care Professionals Lawyers and family members to understand the complexity of the recovery process." Bayshore Home Health, Business Development/ Case Manager, National Care Team
"You truly have inspired me to keep on keeping on. You have overcome some insurmountable challenges, and you are here today to give us HOPE. You are truly incredible." Resolution Health Support Worker, Native Counselling Services of Alberta
"Your thoughtful and insightful story gave us a new perspective on both the physical and emotional costs of injuries. None of us will soon forget it" President and CEO; & Chair; Worplace Safety and Insurance Board, Ontario
"She is not only able to "speak our lnguage" as professionals in the field of rehabilitation, but her message is unique in that it gives the listener a perspective of what it is like to be on the receiving end of our services. Her knowledge, insights and wisdom have given me new clarity of understanding in my profession and hopefully, helped me to provide better service to my clients." Past National President; Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (CARP/VRAC)
"Every person, no matter what their job, has come away from your presentation with a new insight about the importance of their work, the ways that they can impact customer service, and the reality that we (WCB staff & our various clients) are more alike than we have ever considered. Being able to internalize these concepts can do more to influence behaviour than a lengthy workshop run by "client service experts"." Process Performance Specialist;
Workers' Compensation Board, Manitoba
"I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. I really appreciate your open discussion of your trauma and its impact on your life. It was especially informative as I'm currently finishing a PhD in Psychology and my dissertation is focused on the impact of trauma and PTSD on intimacy in couples." PhD Candidate
