Support Group Discussion Topics
Coming up with topics and speakers has been a common area where group leaders have expressed as an area they could use support. This page dedicated to help you connect with topic ideas for meetings. It will be dynamic and update based on recommendations, suggestions, or requests from support group leaders. If you would like to share any thoughts, suggestions, or questions, use this link.
Example calendar of Support Group topic
Sometimes it is helpful to see the flow of what other people have done when looking at creating your own support group meeting schedule. If you are willing to share a calendar/list of topics you have used in the past you can send it to Katrina and we will post it here!
Presentations from Experts
It is common for some support groups to bring in subject matter experts to present on different topics of interest to the group. Here are some ideas of people to look for:
- Vocational Rehab Services and support through state programs like Career Force
- Check with local rehabs and clinics to see if there are rehab therapists that can come talk about different their different specialties or certain treatments
- Speech Therapy (SLP) – explain that this can help with speech but also things like swallowing or cognitive changes like memory. Can educate about common occurrences like aphasia.
- Occupational Therapy (OT) - have them explain their therapies, depending on their specialties some may also be able to do presentations on things like adaptive equipment, and driving assessments.
- Physical Therapy (PT) - This is a broad practice area but it the group has questions around topics of changes in movement, flexibility, balance, and headaches, a PT might be able to provide some education. There are also some places that have PTs who specialize in movement exercises after stroke and brain injury.
- Finding a Neuro-ophthalmologist (there are not very many of them) to talk about vision changes after brain injury and stroke, things that it can impact (fatigue, light sensitivity, headaches, field cuts), and some of the tools that can help like certain therapies or prism glasses.
- Have a nurse or other staff from your area's clinic or hospital stroke team do a presentation on Secondary Stroke prevention.
When the "experts" aren't available
Not all areas have access to the same pool of 'experts' to come in and talk to groups, but you can still do educational sessions. There are lots of great articles and videos that can be read or viewed and then discussed by the group which often leads to members sharing tips and resources with each other. Here are some reliable sources that have quality information:
- The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance has a Resource Facilitation Article library with articles on common issues or topics surrounding brain injury. Article Library
- BrainLine - This site provides a wide variety of blogs, scientific articles, educational pages, and videos related to brain injury.
- Capable Caregiving Guide provides an educational outline of changes after brain injury and coping strategies, may be particularly helpful for groups that have participants that are caregivers.
- University of Washington TBI Model Systems of Care Info Comic – Educational documents written and drawn out in 'comic book' form.
- The American Stroke Association also has multiple helpful articles and videos on their website
- Life after stroke
- Living with the Effects of Stroke topics covered:
- Left brain vs right brain Vs brain stem strokes
- Changes after stroke that are: physical, communication/aphasia, cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and vision and hearing
- Recovery resources - topics covered:
- Managing your stroke, tips for daily living, home modifications, return to work, and exercise
Having a hard time finding an article or speaker? Our Resource Facilitation program is here to help. If you are feeling stuck reach out to the Resource Facilitation Manager, Wendy with what you are looking for and where you are located and she and her team will do their best to help you!
