Mary has extensive experience in the assessment and therapeutic practices. She keeps up-to-date with current practice. Whilst recognising the use of standardised tests, it is now well established in the literature that owing to the complexity and heterogeneity of cognitive communication difficulties following acquired brain injury, standardised tests are not sensitive enough to the changes that survivors experience.
Mary is experienced in dynamic assessment, which means creating bespoke assessments, usually in everyday settings that are tailored to the needs of the person she is working with.
therapy in context
Mary does not have a clinic base, although rooms can be booked if needed. Usually assessment begins in the client’s home. Sessions can then be planned at home, in the community or in personally relevant settings. This could be a café, shop, pub, work place, activity group, gym, volunteer placement and other relevant location places.
Therapy with conversation partners
Communication is also a two way process so assessment and therapy also involves working with significant people related to the client. This might be a partner, children, workplace mentor, friends, colleagues, university tutors or a personal trainer for example.
Developing simple and personal tools to support the client and those around them, Mary’s professional but relaxed style develops communication skills that the entire team benefit from. If we could change anything it it that we would have brought Mary into the MDT alongside the Psychologist and before the rest of the MDT. It doesn’t matter what the message you’re trying to communicate, if you don’t know how to communicate to the client,
Alan (husband) 2024
When clients are supported by rehabilitation assistants or carers, regular supervision and training will be offered.
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Mary is committed to providing relevant, achievable independent practice following each session. This is always personalised to each individual using engaging materials, rarely worksheets. Independent practice will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
There are also some useful apps on iPads and sometimes android tablets, which can be used to further enhance therapy. Mary has extensive knowledge of the apps, which are available and how they work. She will recommend these to you if/when she feels they will be of value in your therapy.
Communication Changes 