Brain Northwest

🌿 Leisure Exploration Series 🌿
📅 Wednesday, September 23
⏰ 4:30 PM PDT
💻 Live on Zoom

What does leisure really mean — and why does it matter to our overall well-being?

Join Brain Northwest for an introductory Leisure Exploration class with Meadow Amster as we take a closer look at the activities, interests, and experiences that bring meaning and enjoyment to our lives.

Leisure can be about so much more than simply “having fun.” It can create opportunities for joy, relaxation, creativity, connection, exploration, and a sense of purpose. 💚

During this class, we’ll explore what leisure looks like in our own lives and how things like brain injury, changes in abilities, energy levels, interests, and circumstances can affect how we participate in the activities we enjoy.

This is a chance to learn, reflect, ask questions, and get curious about what brings you enjoyment and meaning.

✨ Bring your questions, ideas, and curiosity — and come explore with us!

Register here: https://givebutter.com/leisure-exploration-series-mfchzp

You’ll receive the Zoom link by email after registering.

We look forward to exploring leisure together with Meadow as our guide! 💙

Leisure Exploration Series By Brain Northwest

🧠 Building Resilience After Brain Injury with Cy Clarke!

📅 Friday, September 18 @ 4:30 PM PDT
💻 Live on Zoom — link sent via email after you register

Life after a brain injury can bring unexpected changes, challenges, and uncertainty. Resilience doesn't mean simply "bouncing back" or pretending things are okay — it's about learning how to adapt, find your footing, and build new ways of moving forward.

In this class, we'll explore what resilience can look like after brain injury and how it can be strengthened over time. We'll talk about managing setbacks, adjusting to change, recognizing your strengths, and developing practical strategies that support emotional well-being and everyday life.

Together, we'll explore ways to:
✅ Build confidence and self-awareness
✅ Navigate setbacks and difficult days
✅ Develop healthy coping strategies
✅ Create routines and supports that promote stability
✅ Recognize progress, even when it feels small
✅ Reconnect with purpose, hope, and the things that matter to you

Whether you're newly navigating life after a brain injury or have been living with its effects for years, this class offers a supportive space to learn, reflect, and discover tools for building resilience — one step at a time.

📝 Register now — https://givebutter.com/building-resilience-after-brain-injury-with-cy-clarke-a9sq2u

🧠 HOLDING THE CHANGE

Thursday, September 10 @ 11 AM PDT
💻 Live on Zoom
Register here: https://givebutter.com/holding-the-change-grief-and-ambiguous-loss-after-brain-injury-0uhazv

Holding the Change: Grief and Ambiguous Loss After Brain Injury
Grief after brain injury can be complex, ongoing, and difficult to name. Changes in identity, abilities, relationships, and expectations can leave us grieving a life that may feel unfamiliar or unresolved.

This three-part series explores ambiguous loss and what it means to live with grief after traumatic or acquired brain injury.
Session 3: Carrying the Grief

Our final session focuses on carrying grief forward, rather than waiting for it to completely resolve.

We’ll explore:
• Grief that doesn’t fully “complete”
• Building a life with loss
• The cyclical nature of grief
• Navigating triggers like holidays, milestones, and anniversaries
• Creating a simple “Grief Plan” for difficult days

Join us for reflection, conversation, and practical tools for making room for grief while continuing to build a meaningful life. 💙

🧠 MOVING FORWARD: WHEN LIFE GETS IN THE WAY OF OUR GOALS

📅 Tuesday, September 8
⏰ 11:00 AM PDT
💻 Live on Zoom

Register here: https://givebutter.com/moving-forward-a-therapists-guide-to-building-meaningful-goals-after-a-brain-injury-5e6jar

Join us for the second session of Dr. Whitley Grant Goodman’s Goals Series, where we’ll explore the real-life challenges that can make it difficult to reach the goals we set for ourselves.
Living with brain injury can bring unexpected obstacles. Fatigue, frustration, memory difficulties, emotional setbacks, and changes in motivation can all affect our ability to stay on track.
In this session, we’ll explore practical, therapist-informed strategies to help you:

✨ Manage obstacles and unexpected setbacks
✨ Strengthen resilience
✨ Develop supportive routines
✨ Adjust your goals without giving up
✨ Build consistency while practicing self-compassion

This will be a practical and encouraging conversation focused on tools you can use in everyday life to keep moving forward — even when things don’t go as planned.

💙 You don’t have to give up on your goals just because the path changes.

Register today and join us on Zoom!

After you register, you’ll receive the Zoom link by email.

As we move into the fall season, we’re ramping up to provide some amazing new classes, launch our new program, ANCHOR, continue our phone resource line, and host our second virtual conference. 🍂💙

Please help us continue this important work and make sure survivors and caregivers have access to the support, resources, education, and hope they need.

Your support makes this work possible.

Donate here: https://givebutter.com/qqAsZu

🧠 Anti-Inflammatory Eating

📅 Friday, September 4 @ 1 PM PDT
💻 Live on Zoom

Register here: https://givebutter.com/anti-inflammatory-eating-njen2d

Join us for a conversation about chronic inflammation and how it can affect the body. We’ll explore common signs and symptoms, contributing factors, and the connection between inflammation and everyday health.

In this class, Jessica will review foods and eating patterns associated with inflammation, foods that may help support a healthier inflammatory response, and current research on anti-inflammatory dietary approaches.

We’ll also introduce the gut microbiome and explore how lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, physical activity, to***co, and alcohol can influence inflammation.

✨ Practical strategies for incorporating more anti-inflammatory foods and healthy habits into everyday life will be included.

Come learn along with us! 🌱

🏃‍♀️💙 RUNNING YOUR OWN RACE 💙🏃‍♂️
Tuesday, September 1 | 2 PM PDT | Live on Zoom

How often do we find ourselves comparing our progress to someone else’s?

After brain injury, it can be especially easy to look around and wonder, “Why am I not further along?” or “Why does their recovery look so different from mine?”

Join Caterina for a supportive conversation about letting go of comparison and learning to define progress on your own terms.

Together, we’ll explore self-compassion, intrinsic motivation, and practical ways to recognize the progress that matters to YOU. 🌱

✨ You’ll leave with:
• A better understanding of comparison and how to redirect it
• Personal ways to measure progress based on your own values
• Self-compassion tools you can use right away
• Strategies for staying grounded in your own journey
• A renewed understanding that your healing path is your own — and your pace is just right for you

Who is this for?
Survivors, caregivers, and anyone interested in defining progress on their own terms.

📅 Tuesday, September 1
⏰ 2 PM PDT
💻 Live on Zoom

Register here: https://givebutter.com/running-your-own-race-wey6fx

When you register, you’ll receive the Zoom link by email.

🧠 Moving Forward — Today at 11 AM PDT!
Register here: https://givebutter.com/moving-forward-a-therapists-guide-to-building-meaningful-goals-after-a-brain-injury-qgseee

Life after a brain injury can mean adapting to changes in motivation, memory, emotions, and daily routines. Moving forward can feel challenging, but progress is possible—one step at a time.

Join us today, Tuesday, August 11 at 11 AM PDT on Zoom for the first session of Moving Forward, a therapist-led series with Dr. Whitley exploring the emotional and psychological side of goal setting after brain injury.

Each session will include:
✨ Meaningful discussion and reflection
✨ Practical, evidence-based strategies
✨ Tools to build confidence and overcome barriers
✨ Simple ways to make meaningful progress in everyday life

We hope you’ll join us and take this time to focus on your goals, your progress, and moving forward. 💙

Live on Zoom — Tuesday, August 11 @ 11 AM PDT

Live on Zoom Today! 🚨
🗓️ Tuesday, August 4
🕑 2:00 PM PDT

Are you preparing to return to work, volunteer, or become more involved in your community after a brain injury? Join us for this free, interactive class designed for brain injury survivors and caregivers.

Returning to Work & Community Confidence
Presented by Catina Turner

This empowering session will provide practical tools to help you build confidence as you take your next steps. You'll learn about self-advocacy, workplace accommodations, and ways to find meaningful opportunities that match your strengths, goals, and current capacity.

✨ You'll leave with:
✅ Knowledge of accommodation options and how to communicate your needs
✅ Practical language for self-advocacy conversations
✅ Ideas for meaningful work, volunteer, and community opportunities that fit your strengths
✅ A sustainable plan for moving forward with confidence

📩 Registration is required. Sign up today, and we'll email you the
Zoom link before the class begins.

Register here: https://givebutter.com/reentry-returning-to-work-and-community-confidence-byrg2e

We hope to see you there! 💙

🌻 Our August Newsletter Has Arrived! 🧠💙

August is packed with opportunities to learn, connect, and support your brain injury recovery journey.

✨ Inside this month's newsletter:
🧠 Returning to Work & Community Confidence
😴 Sleep Tips for Better Rest
🎯 Building Meaningful Goals After Brain Injury
💙 Grief & Ambiguous Loss
🌿 Somatic Workshop: Exploring Everyday Rituals That Help Your Body Feel Held
🍽️ A delicious recipe to try at home
🤝 Support group spotlights and community updates

We'd love to have you join us! Sign up for our August classes and read the newsletter here: https://brainnw.org