These resources are oriented towards people living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion in British Columbia, Canada. This page brings together high-quality resources on understanding TBI, managing its effects on thinking and mood, accessing rehabilitation, and finding support. It is intended as a starting point — not a substitute for advice from your own medical team.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an external force disrupts normal brain function. TBIs range from mild concussion — the most common form — to severe injuries involving extended loss of consciousness or structural brain damage.
Mild TBI (concussion) may follow a fall, sports injury, motor vehicle accident, or any blow to the head. Most people recover fully within days to weeks. However, a proportion experience persistent symptoms lasting months or longer, a condition known as post-concussion syndrome. Symptoms can include headaches, cognitive difficulties, fatigue, sleep disruption, and mood changes.
Moderate and severe TBIs can result in significant and lasting changes to cognition, behaviour, and personality.
How neuropsychology helps
Neuropsychological assessment following TBI serves several purposes:
- Documenting cognitive effects: standardised testing provides an objective measure of the cognitive impact of the injury, covering memory, attention, processing speed, executive function, and language.
- Monitoring recovery: serial assessments track improvement over time and inform decisions about return to work, school, or sport.
- Medicolegal documentation: detailed assessment reports provide objective evidence for insurance claims, legal proceedings, or workplace accommodation requests.
- Guiding rehabilitation: understanding the specific cognitive profile guides targeted rehabilitation strategies and supports.
Assessment begins with a clinical interview covering the injury history, current symptoms, and their functional impact. Cognitive testing typically covers memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function. Testing duration varies depending on the nature and severity of the injury, typically ranging from two to five hours.
The assessment report includes a summary of findings, interpretation in the context of the injury history, and practical recommendations.
Patient resources
The sections below are intended for people who have experienced a TBI or concussion, and for their families. Resources are selected for quality, accessibility, and relevance to patients in BC.
Why does TBI affect the way I think? — The biology
A brain injury disrupts the biology of thought. Understanding why can make the experience less frightening and help you engage with recovery.
In a concussion or TBI, the brain is subjected to rapid movement or force. This causes two main types of damage. First, nerve fibres throughout the brain can be stretched or torn — a process called diffuse axonal injury — which disrupts communication between brain regions. Second, the injury triggers inflammation, changes in blood flow, and a temporary energy crisis in brain cells, all of which impair how the brain functions even in areas that are not visibly damaged.
The parts of the brain most commonly affected include:
- The frontal lobes, which govern planning, decision-making, impulse control, and the ability to switch between tasks.
- The hippocampus, which is central to forming new memories.
- The networks that connect these regions, which underlie attention, processing speed, and mental efficiency.
This is why people with TBI often describe difficulty concentrating, a sense of mental fogginess, trouble finding words, or feeling overwhelmed by tasks that were previously easy. These are not signs of laziness or psychological weakness — they reflect a real change in brain biology.
Recovery occurs as inflammation resolves, the brain re-establishes connections, and healthy areas compensate for damaged ones. For most people with mild TBI, this happens within weeks to months. For some, recovery takes longer and requires active support.
Cognitive effects after TBI or concussion
- What thinking skills are commonly affected by TBI? — BrainLine overview of the cognitive changes that commonly follow TBI, including attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function.
- How does TBI affect memory? — Headway (UK) explains the different types of memory problems that can follow a brain injury, and practical strategies for managing them.
- What is executive dysfunction, and why does it happen after TBI? — Headway explains executive dysfunction — difficulties with planning, organising, and self-monitoring — and why frontal lobe damage makes this so common after brain injury.
- What are the broader cognitive effects of a brain injury? — Headway overview of how brain injury affects speed of thought, concentration, communication, and problem-solving, with practical strategies.
- How does TBI affect attention and concentration? — Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) factsheet on cognitive difficulties after TBI, including attention, memory, and information processing, with evidence-based coping strategies.
Emotional and psychological effects after TBI or concussion
Changes in mood, personality, and emotional regulation are among the most common — and least expected — consequences of TBI. They can affect the person with the injury and everyone around them.
These changes arise from two overlapping causes. The first is neurological: damage to the frontal lobes and the circuits that regulate emotion (including the amygdala and its connections) can directly alter how a person feels and reacts, independently of their circumstances or thoughts. The second is psychological: experiencing a brain injury involves real losses — of independence, of cognitive ability, of identity — and it is entirely natural to grieve, struggle, and feel overwhelmed by these changes.
Both mechanisms are real and both deserve attention. Depression affects approximately one in three people after TBI; anxiety affects roughly one in four. These are among the highest rates of any medical condition.
- Why do so many people feel depressed after a TBI? — MSKTC factsheet on depression after TBI: what causes it, how to recognise it, and what treatments help.
- What emotional changes are common after TBI, and why do they happen? — MSKTC factsheet covering the range of emotional changes that follow TBI, including mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and grief.
- Why might my personality or behaviour seem different after a brain injury? — MSKTC factsheet on behaviour changes, including impulsivity, disinhibition, and emotional lability — and why these reflect neurological change rather than character.
- What are the psychological and emotional effects of brain injury? — Headway overview of the behavioural and emotional effects of brain injury, including practical guidance for individuals and families.
Mental health support in BC
Living with a TBI or concussion — particularly when recovery is slow — carries a high risk of depression, anxiety, and adjustment difficulties. Support is available.
Counsellors and psychologists
A psychologist has completed a doctorate in psychology (PhD or PsyD) and is registered with the College of Psychologists of BC. In addition to providing therapy, psychologists are qualified to conduct formal psychological assessments — which can be useful when there are questions about whether difficulties reflect mood, cognition, or both.
A Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) typically holds a master’s degree in counselling and is registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). RCCs provide talk therapy and are well-suited for working through anxiety, depression, grief, and the emotional challenges of adjusting to life after a brain injury.
Both psychologists and RCCs can provide effective, evidence-based therapy. A psychologist may be the better fit if you also need formal assessment alongside therapy.
To find a psychologist or counsellor in BC:
- How do I find a registered psychologist in BC? — BC government resource listing registered psychologists, searchable by location, specialty, language, and availability.
- How do I find a Registered Clinical Counsellor near me? — The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors’ searchable directory of RCCs across BC. Filter by location, session style (in-person or online), and areas of practice.
- Where else can I search for a counsellor or psychologist? — CounsellingBC is a searchable directory of counsellors and psychologists across BC.
Most extended health benefit plans cover a number of counselling or psychology sessions up to a set dollar amount per year. Check with your benefits provider or HR advisor to understand your coverage before your first appointment.
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who has completed specialist training in mental health. Unlike psychologists and counsellors — who are trained primarily in therapy — psychiatrists can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. They typically work alongside a GP or therapist rather than replacing them.
Antidepressants and antianxiety medications can meaningfully reduce depression and anxiety after TBI — in the same way that blood pressure medication helps someone with hypertension. Depression and anxiety after a brain injury often have a direct neurological basis, and medication can help to correct the underlying imbalance. It is entirely reasonable to decide that medication is not for you, but it is worth having the conversation with a specialist, particularly if you have been struggling for some time.
To access a psychiatrist in BC, ask your family doctor or neurologist for a referral. You can also call HealthLink BC (8-1-1) for guidance on mental health services in your region.
Other BC mental health resources
- Where can I find BC-specific mental health information? — Here to Help BC provides mental health information, self-assessments, and connections to local services.
- How do I find mental health programs in my community? — The Canadian Mental Health Association BC can help you find mental health programs and peer support across BC.
- Is there a crisis or distress line I can call? — The Crisis Line Association of BC maintains a directory of volunteer-operated crisis and distress lines across British Columbia.
- What if I need immediate emotional support right now? — Call or text 310-6789 (310 Mental Health Line, no area code needed) for free, 24/7 emotional support and referrals anywhere in BC.
- What if I am in crisis? — Call or text 9-8-8 (toll-free, 24/7) for immediate support.
Cognitive rehabilitation
Cognitive rehabilitation is a structured, evidence-based approach to improving or compensating for thinking difficulties after a brain injury. It is one of the most well-supported treatments available for TBI-related cognitive problems.
Rehabilitation does not rebuild damaged tissue — instead, it works by harnessing the brain’s ability to reorganise itself (neuroplasticity), teaching new strategies for managing cognitive challenges, and helping people adapt tasks and environments to work with their current abilities. The strongest evidence exists for rehabilitation of attention, memory, and executive function.
Rehabilitation is typically provided by neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists working as part of a team. It is most effective when tailored to the individual’s specific cognitive profile, goals, and daily environment.
- What is cognitive rehabilitation, and does it work? — BrainLine overview of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT): what it involves, who provides it, and what the evidence says about its effectiveness.
- Where can I learn more about cognitive rehabilitation for TBI? — Concussion Alliance summary of the evidence base for cognitive rehabilitation after concussion and TBI.
Accessing rehabilitation in BC
- Can I access specialist concussion rehabilitation through GF Strong? — GF Strong Adult Concussion Services (GFACS) provides outpatient specialist assessment and rehabilitation for adults with persistent concussion symptoms. Referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required.
- What inpatient brain injury rehabilitation services are available in BC? — Vancouver Coastal Health’s Acquired Brain Injury Inpatient Program at GF Strong provides specialist inpatient rehabilitation for adults after moderate to severe TBI. Referral is through a physician.
- Where can I find other brain injury rehabilitation programs across BC? — Brainstreams is the BC Brain Injury Association’s online directory of services, including rehabilitation programs, across the province.
Support groups in BC and Canada
Connecting with others who understand can be one of the most valuable parts of recovery. Peer support reduces isolation, provides practical advice, and offers perspective from people further along in their recovery.
- How do I find a brain injury support group in BC? — Brainstreams lists peer support groups, community programs, and services for people with brain injury throughout BC.
- Is there a national directory of brain injury services and support groups? — Brain Injury Canada Connect maintains a searchable Canada-wide directory of community support groups, searchable by province and service type.
- Are there peer support programs specifically for women after concussion? — Pink Concussions provides peer support specifically for women, girls, and female-identifying people living with concussion and brain injury, including Canadian online groups.
Organisations and further reading
In British Columbia
- Where can I find a broad range of BC brain injury services? — Brainstreams (BC Brain Injury Association) is BC’s primary online hub for brain injury education, resources, and service directories.
- Are there brain injury community organisations near me in BC? — The National Brain Injury Alliance lists BC-based brain injury groups and associations by region, including many that offer local peer support and services.
- Is there a brain injury rehabilitation research centre in BC? — The CEDAR Lab at UBC and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre conducts research on brain injury recovery and community reintegration, collaborating directly with people living with brain injury.
Across Canada
- Is there a national brain injury organisation in Canada? — Brain Injury Canada is the national organisation supporting the brain injury community through advocacy, education, and research funding.
- How do I find brain injury services anywhere in Canada? — Brain Injury Canada Connect is a searchable national directory of brain injury services, organisations, and support groups.
International
- Where can I find comprehensive, reliable information about TBI? — BrainLine is a US-based, editorially rigorous resource covering all aspects of TBI — from acute injury through long-term recovery — with articles by clinicians and people with lived experience.
- Where can I find clear, evidence-based information about living with brain injury? — Headway (UK) is a well-regarded brain injury charity with an extensive library of accessible, evidence-based information on all aspects of TBI and acquired brain injury.
If you are interested in a neuropsychological assessment to better understand the cognitive or psychological effects of a traumatic brain injury, please contact us or submit a referral.