www.casemanagement.co.uk

Children and Young People forming Relationships after ABI:

Relationship Status :

“Up for Anything”

Rita Greaves

Clinical Support Manager

JSP Ltd

Introduction

• Stage of development

• Types of Relationships

• Case Studies

• How we can assist

Issues relating to the young person

• Development stage

• Adjustment to change

• Expectations

• Pressures

Relationships

• Parents

• Siblings

• Extended family

• Friends in School and at Home

• Acquaintances

• Intimate relationships

How are the family coping: Parents

• Anxiety • Guilt• Fear• Tiredness• Loss of social contact • Job loss • Career on hold• Part time work• Financial difficulties • Depression or other Mental Health problems• Change in parenting skills

How are the family coping: Siblings

• May feel neglected

• Jealous of attention the young person is getting

• Angry with the individual young person

• Increased fighting

• Competition

• Seeking approval , wanting praise

• May feel Loss - Lost their parents

Case Study A

• Young girl aged 14years old • TBI at age 7 years old in Road Traffic Accident• Attended mainstream secondary school• Very immature • Minimal physical difficulties • Very significant cognitive difficulties • She was having difficulty maintaining any friendship

with any of her peers

She wants a boyfriend

Help and support provided

• Discussion about friendships • Education about relationships • Fun questionnaires• Hypothetical situations• Internet safety • Peer relationships• Brain injury education to school staff • Appropriate and suitable relationships • Sex education • Brain injury education to the boyfriend • Ongoing support to maintain her relationships

Case Study Two

• Young man 17yrs old • TBI at age 3 yrs old• He attends a 16 plus unit and attends college one

day per week• He does have some physical difficulties• Significant cognitive difficulties• Some difficulties controlling his anger • Has a twin sibling who is in a relationship

He wants a girlfriend

Help and support provided

• Anger management• Relationship with his Twin • Education about types of relationships • Social situations to meet peer group • Sex education sessions• Speech Therapy • Education with Support staff• Physiotherapy • Emotional / sexual developmental stage • Re assured ok to say “No”

How can we help ?

• Education and Explanation

• Do not assume

• Let the individual be involved in decision making

• Good management

• Firm boundaries

• Consistency

• Ongoing support to maintain relationships

We need to be there for the individual and the FAMILY when they need us.

Prevention

Ideally we should be preventing any crisis. If a crisis does occur then management of this is important.