Rehabilitation professionals' perspectives on rehabilitation psychology in neurorehabilitation

When acquiring a brain injury (ABI), a person's life undergoes dramatic physical, psychological, and social changes. Rehabilitation aspires to be comprehensive. However, the psychosocial consequences are often given little attention during inpatient rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of rehabilitation professionals on the possible added benefits of psychological rehabilitation in combination with existing comprehensive rehabilitation. Rehabilitation professionals at an inpatient rehabilitation center participated in group interviews focusing on their understanding of psychological rehabilitation and its potential benefits for clients. Thirty-five rehabilitation professionals participated (N = 35), representing the following professions: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pedagogues, speech and language therapists, music therapist, schoolteacher, social and health assistants, and nurses. The interviews were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analyses as presented by Braun & Clarke. Results indicate that in the opinion of professionals, collaboration between them and the clients improved, and the overall outcome of rehabilitation was enhanced by the intervention. Furthermore, these formal caregivers experienced the therapeutic intervention as supporting the clients during rehabilitation. These qualitative findings extend and enrich existing evidence of the potential benefits of rehabilitation psychology. We therefore recommend further implementation and extended evaluation of psychological interventions as an integral, addition to existing rehabilitation programs.