Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Partnering with Shepherd Center for New Video Series
The series is titled Cultivating Resilience After Spinal Cord Injury Trauma
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis, has partnered with Shepherd Center, a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury to introduce a new video series, Cultivating Resilience After Spinal Cord Injury Trauma. When an individual sustains a spinal cord injury (SCI), there is no one path for coping with the emotions and the adjustments that need to happen in one's life. Many people have feelings of being lost, isolated and angry as they navigate their changed lives.
"This series was developed by our organizations to serve individuals in the community who lack resources for counseling and need guidance regarding emotional healing. Regardless of the rehabilitation and counseling the person may or may not have received after a spinal cord injury, returning home can be an isolating and challenging experience," said Diane M. Johnston, MSPT, Director of Professional Education at Shepherd Center.
"Our mutual goal is to provide the connections and real-life advice for individuals challenged by the emotional rollercoaster that is commonly experienced after a spinal cord injury, so they can continue to be productive and positive while faced with new challenges," said Angela Cantillon, Director of Operations, Paralysis Resource Center.
In this video series, individuals express how they felt about their injury at various points of their life and commentary and insights from counselors and medical professionals. The topics covered in this series include:
- Process of Emotional Adjustment after SCI – The Emotional Rollercoaster
- Re-Connecting After Injury
- Re-examining Values and Beliefs
- Is it Normal to Feel Sad or Depressed?
- Anxiety and Fear
- Feelings of Guilt After Injury
- Feeling Alone After Your Injury
- Anger
- Finding Your Voice-Advocacy
The complete video series and descriptions can be found on the Reeve Foundation and the Shepherd Center YouTube channels.
About Reeve Foundation
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis. By uniting the brightest minds in the field, we are working tirelessly to accelerate scientific discovery across the field of spinal cord research by investing in labs across the globe. Additionally, through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living, the Reeve Foundation's National Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) promotes the health, well-being, and independence of people living with paralysis, providing comprehensive information, resources, and referral services assisting over 100,000 individuals and families since its launch in 2002. The Reeve Foundation is committed to elevating our community's voices and needs to achieve greater representation and independence. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau's standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB's Charity Seal. For more information, please visit www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.
Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.