Are you or someone you love feeling frustrated or overwhelmed with day to day activities? Do you feel like no one understands? You're not alone. Keep reading to discover how you can bring language, life and function together to create a positive change in your life.
As I hacked through the dense forest of life, I found myself supporting friends, family, and clients in a variety of unexpected ways.
Eventually, I realized that my advanced education in psychology woven together with my career in speech-language pathology gave me a different perspective.
My understanding of the cognitive-linguistic difficulties associated with every day stress and chronic mental illness is unique.
What is "cognitive-linguistic"?
Cognitive is anything to do with thinking.
Linguistic is everything related to language.
--->Both are necessary for successful day to day functioning. #ThinkTalkDo
Who am I?
Family, friends, and experience define who I am today. I am a survivor and the partner of a survivor. I work hard to be a good listener, talk to my cats, find nature therapeutic, and I cry easily.
My career as a speech-language pathologist (#SLP) gave me the expertise to diagnose and treat both cognitive-linguistic and communication disorders.
Cognitive-linguistic disorders include difficulties with:
Memory
Processing information
Reasoning
#ExecutiveFunction (attention, organization and planning)
Impulse control
Judgement
Problem solving
Communication disorders include difficulties with:
Receptive Language (understanding and following directions).
Expressive Language (effectively communicating wants and needs).
Pragmatic Language (appropriately navigating verbal and non-verbal language in social situations).
Advanced education in psychology provided me with the knowledge and skills to:
Differentiate normal and disordered cognition.
Understand, predict, and manage behavior.
Determine motivations.
Recognize the power of emotions.
Examine self-regulation.
Identify perceptions.
Personal and professional experience granted me the ability to mesh the two together in a unique way.
More about Robyn.
Why is CogniCoach different?
CogniCoach looks at the impact of daily stress on cognition and communication through a cognitive-linguistic lens.
Mental health professionals diagnose and treat mental illness through social-emotional lens. They often miss the cognitive-linguistic aspects.
Cognitive-linguistic professionals frequently miss the social-emotional aspects of cognitive-linguistic disorders.
Who will find value in CogniCoach?
Individuals - Family Members - Professionals
How will you benefit from CogniCoach?
If you appreciate effective communication, you will benefit!
Successful functioning is dependent on effective #communication.
Effective communication relies on fluid #cognition.
Cognitive stress makes thinking and reasoning more difficult.
What to expect:
You will find four topics of discussion in the CogniCoach Blog:
1) CogniCoach: Information, tips, and strategies to:
Say what you mean. Mean what you say.
Match words to body language.
Develop realistic and achievable goals.
Increase focus and attention to task.
Improve reliable memory.
Expand effective problem solving skills.
Reduce cognitive stress and tension.
Discover the impact mental illness has on communication.
2) PopTalk: Discussions related to emotions and reactions related to cognitive-linguistic difficulties and/or mental illness.
*Please be aware that powerful emotions often evoke PG-13 language.
3) Guest Posts: Interviews and guest posts navigating experiences and coping techniques related to communication, cognitive stress, mental health, and mental illness.
4) #EndTheStigma: Informational and experiential posts associated with anxiety, depression, executive functions, trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (#PTSD), dissociation, and dissociative identity disorder (#DID). This section is written from the perspectives of being a survivor and living with a survivor.
Join the community for exclusive tips and strategies.
Know someone who will benefit from CogniCoach? Click share below.
Tell me in the comments the topics you want to discuss.
About the author: Robyn's career as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) together with her graduate education in psychology gives her a unique perspective of cognitive-linguistic (thinking-talking) difficulties associated with daily stress and mental illness. #ThinkTalkDo
Disclaimer: Content in this blog is for informational purposes only. Statements are Robyn's thoughts and opinions and should NOT be used to diagnose or treat any disorders related to cognition, communication, or mental illness.
For mental health concerns please contact your doctor or therapist. If you need a mental health provider, Psychology Today is an excellent resource.