Jasmine Morigney is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at Eastern Michigan University, just a few miles from the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience. As an undergraduate research assistant with U-M’s School of Public Health, Jasmine had the opportunity to work with students and student-athletes. She became deeply intrigued by the varying ways mental health impacts collegiate athletes, particularly after sustaining injuries such as concussions. 

In the past year, through her clinical practicum, Jasmine worked with faculty and clinicians at the University of Michigan’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program, directed by Dr. Katharine Seagly, a rehabilitation neuropsychologist and Clinical Associate Professor with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Michigan Medicine. The program aims to support recovery for all persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through evidence-based, time-limited holistic programming and services. One key focus area of this program is concussion recovery, which has proven to be invaluable for patients experiencing prolonged symptoms after concussion. “Our concussion program really focuses on providing patients with the evidence-based education and tools needed to get back to living life in a meaningful way, even if there is still some symptom experience,” said Dr. Seagly, “paradoxically, when we are busy living life and feel confident in our ability to manage symptoms, we don’t focus as much on symptoms which in turn helps decrease symptom severity and frequency.”

Jasmine’s practicum work involved exploring how a rehabilitation neuropsychology approach through the Concussion Recovery Group could help alleviate symptoms following concussion that may impact daily functioning or induce distress. The range of symptoms measured included anxiety, headache, sensitivity to loud noise, blurry/double vision, depression, trouble thinking, irritability, tiredness, sensitivity to bright light, difficulty remembering, difficulty concentrating, and dizziness. 

The Concussion Recovery Group is a six-session workshop built on evidence-based methodologies with an emphasis on patient values, patient-specific goals, and optimizing functional outcomes.  The group is led by a clinical social worker, Rebecca Squires, or a clinical neuropsychology postdoctoral fellow, supervised by Dr. Seagly. Since 2020, a virtual format has been offered to patients, which has increased accessibility. “The feedback I receive from patients is that the group model is helpful to them in two ways – consulting with others who are also recovering from concussion, and gaining interventions and tools for skill-building and re-engagement in life,” said Becca, “patient participants appreciate hearing from other individuals who have experienced similar circumstances around their symptom experience, and that provides motivation to practice and engage with the tools and interventions taught during group – including sleep optimization, pacing, mindfulness, emotional awareness, managing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and value-based goal setting.” 

Ms. Morigney’s practicum experience has turned into a scientific presentation at the 2023 Sports Neuropsychology Society Annual Concussion Symposium in Denver, Colorado. “Concussion patients often come in scared with a lot of unknowns,” said Jasmine, “and we can focus on ‘what now’ and what’s meaningful for the patients, give them an option for recovery.” 

Interested in learning more about the Concussion Recovery Group or the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program? Reach out to Dr. Katharine Seagly at [email protected] or Becca Squires at [email protected].