Relentless Optimism

In this Bonus episode of Relentless Optimism, we uncover the story and meaning behind our beautiful podcast cover art featuring three birds which was created by PBS+PLUS participant, Trevor, and digitised by our graphic designer Kat Orgallo. Trevor's brain injury means that he struggles to communicate verbally. We chat with his sister, Wendy, about his strong passion and obvious talent for art as...

In this episode of Relentless Optimism, we talk to Barry, a 59 year old computer analyst who had brain injury about 3 years ago and Jai Carmichael, a provisional psychologist and doctor of clinical neuropsychology candidate in the new Turner Institute Training Clinic at Monash University called the Positive Behaviour Service. We discuss antecedents and flexible behaviour analysis elements of PBS+P...

In this episode of Relentless Optimism, we talk with Ashley about how he found creating meaningful PBS+PLUS projects helped him regain his confidence, many years after his brain injury. Together with Occupational Therapist, Nadine Holgate, we discuss the vital role of projects that result in tangible, real-life products, serve to helping people experience success and practice self-regulatory behav...

In this episode of Relentless Optimism, Melissa Capo, a Speech-Language Pathologist at College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, and long-time collaborator of Mark Ylvisaker and Tim Feeney, shares stories from their early days in the field, the importance of meaningful projects, and how she uses PBS today. Melissa provided expert independent evaluation of over 100 sessions of PBS+PLUS from our tr...

In this episode of Relentless Optimism, we discuss the importance of building a team and valuing everyday people. The team and 'everyday people' are often made up of family members, friends and important individuals in the community. Paid workers and  clinicians also form key parts of the team of the individual with the injury. Everyday people can provide vital details and information that can hel...

In this episode we dive into the way 'Theory of Mind' can be used as a skill building and assessment strategy within PBS+PLUS. We chat to Jeremy, who sustained a severe brain injury at 19 years old following a car incident. Also joining us is Jeremy's Dad, Shane, and Dr Belinda Renison, Occupational Therapist and Neuropsychologist. We discuss the difficulties Jeremy faced after the injury includin...

In this episode we explore 'The Person's Environment'. We can think about the environment in different ways, including physical and sensory aspects, as well as resources and people. These can all impact on the way we behave in a situation, and can be important opportunities for intervention that support people with challenging behaviours after brain injury. Fiona, who sustained a brain injury 31 y...

In this episode we talk with Kez, who has a severe hypoxic brain injury and Trace, Kez’s sister and key support. We are joined by Dr. Kim Trezise, a clinical neuropsychologist. Together we unpack how we use A Flexible Framework in PBS+PLUS to guide the design of an individualised intervention. We also delve into the challenges and strengths of such a person-driven approach and explore the PBS+PLUS...

In today’s episode we discuss the research evidence behind PBS+PLUS! Joining us is Professor Jennie Ponsford, AO, Director of the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre (MERRC). Jennie breaks down what we did and what we found in our Transport Accident Commission funded study,  called "Positive Behaviour Support for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury and Challenging Behaviour: A Randomised C...

In this episode, Kate chats to Tim Feeney, a world-leading behaviourist who has worked with individuals with behavioural problems for the past 30 years. Exploring his work with Dr Mark Ylvisaker in Collaborative Brain Injury Intervention, we dive into the history behind PBS+ PLUS.  Want to learn more? Head to our socials! Twitter: @RelentlessOpt Facebook: Relentless Optimism Podcast Email: Relentl...

Welcome to Relentless Optimism, a podcast by Monash University, hosted by Dr. Kate Gould. This series aims to teach, encourage and inspire listeners. Throughout these episodes we will chat to PBS+PLUS practitioners, people with brain injury and their support teams and researchers, to hear about their experience with this person-driven, individualised, flexible, evidence-based and multicomponent in...