ACC funds Rehab People to provide therapy to people who have experienced sexual violence and need some support to manage their demands of daily life and integrate into their community. The therapy is based on the goals identified by the client, for example to be able to walk into a supermarket and get groceries, to participate in exercise or increase confidence and skills to socialise with others. Therapy provides strategies to manage barriers to engaging in life, offers supported practice and works alongside any clinical psychology or counselling the person may also be engaged in.
Physiotherapy Sessions
In discussions with the participants of the groups I am involved with the main goal of the sessions are based around their ability to actually participate in an exercise class, (with all the benefits that exercise brings). Participation in daily activities can be very challenging for stroke survivors. From the class some may gain slight improvement at the impairment level with strength and mobility but it is more realistic to expect to make gains at the participation level.
The group starts with a short discussion/education session where some important issues can be discussed and information shared. Fitness, range of movement, strength and mobility exercises are the focus of the groups with everyone participating at their own level. As in any class environment some healthy competition can occur which can help to motivate some to work a little harder, sometimes leading to them achieving a functional activity that they would not have necessarily been able to achieve independently.
Speech Language Therapy sessions
The main goal of these sessions is to provide a safe environment for the participants to communicate. It is about increasing people’s confidence and quality of life. Some people have had their stroke many years ago and it is not realistic to expect significant gains at the impairment level. Like physiotherapy, we achieve gains at the participation level and people are extremely supportive of each other.
The sessions also provide an environment where people can try out strategies such as writing or drawing when they cannot get their message across verbally. When people become more confident using their speech or using strategies, they are more likely to communicate and participate in the community rather than isolating themselves.
