Mindset, Learning, and Return to School after Brain Injury / Concussion (with Jenny Traver)
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In this episode…
When facing cognitive challenges after a brain injury, your mindset has a massive impact on your overall recovery. Today, Cristabelle talks with speech-language pathologist Jenny Traver about mindset, learning, emotional recovery, and returning to school after a brain injury. Whether you are a student trying to go back to a busy school, a parent figuring out how to guide your child, or anyone navigating a unique path to wellness, this episode offers practical tips for your journey.
We also have a spotlight with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe from The Functional Neurology Center on learning and neuroplasticity. He explains how the brain rewires itself when you learn new tasks, especially when you mix brain exercises with simple body movements to get blood flowing.
🧠 In this episode:
How changing your self-talk helps your brain heal when facing difficult days.
Why managing brain fatigue is just as important as studying or working.
Learning to speak up for your needs is a skill you can practice and build over time.
Coping with the hard emotional shift when your daily abilities suddenly change.
Practical tips for parents and students returning to loud classrooms and managing mental fatigue.
Navigating school accommodations and learning to move forward step-by-step.
Caregivers don't need all the answers; just being a calm, supportive presence is a powerful tool.
Taking it one day at a time will help you get back to what matters most.
Meet Our Guest
Tawni Ballinger, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS
Jenny Traver, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS is a cognitive speech-language pathologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist dedicated to helping students return to school and cognitive activities after a concussion or traumatic brain injury. She is the founder of Cognitive SLP, a virtual private practice based in Massachusetts, where she specializes in the often-invisible challenges that follow a brain injury: memory lapses, word-finding difficulties, trouble concentrating, and mental fatigue that can make returning to school feel insurmountable. Her work bridges medical recovery and real-world function, guiding students back to academic and cognitive demands at every stage of healing.
Beyond her clinical work, Jenny is deeply committed to empowering parents and caregivers throughout concussion recovery. Her FREE Cognitive Recovery Guide provides practical, accessible tools to help families understand their child's experience and advocate for them in the early days. Jenny also created the Concussion-To-Classroom Roadmap, a program designed to give families a clear, step-by-step path through the confusion and uncertainty of concussion recovery and return to school, featuring recorded videos, downloadable tools, and live Q&A. You can find these resources and more at www.cognitiveslp.com.
Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC offers personalized neuro-recovery programs for anyone going through brain injury and a wide range of neurological conditions. Learn more: thefnc.com
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.
