At the Neurological Rehabilitation Centre Godeshöhe, we try to support the reintegration of patients into family and work with neuropsychology, psychotherapy, pedagogy, and speech therapy. Here you can find out more about the individual forms of therapy in cognitive rehabilitation.
Neuropsychology, Psychotherapy, Pedagogy
In addition to neuropsychological diagnostics and the individual therapy plan, our treatment offer includes psychological counselling and support for patients - also with their relatives. Here we have summarised the most important points for you.
The first step in our neuropsychological treatment of functions is always a detailed anamnesis with the patients and a hypothesis-guided examination of the brain’s performance functions. Here, modern, sensitive examination procedures enable differentiated functional diagnostics. There are instrument-based (computer-assisted) procedures available, everyday-oriented examination procedures, and questionnaire instruments, as well as procedures that are used for bedside diagnostics at the patient's bed. Based on this, we draw up an individual therapy plan. Neuropsychological examinations are also used to measure the success of the therapy and to "fine-tune" the further therapy content.
We carry out the improvement of cognitive functions in individual and/or group therapies, which are sometimes also computer-assisted - but always tailored to the individual needs of the patients.
In individual cognitive training, we use modern therapy software to train specific performances. The therapy methods are used adaptively, and oriented to the current performance capacity and resilience of the patients.
In our disorder-specific groups, we impart knowledge about the respective disorder and how to deal with the specific symptoms. In addition, we develop compensation strategies for everyday life, and address the quality of life and social aspects of the disease situation. Under the moderation of experienced therapists, we facilitate and encourage the exchange of information and experiences within the groups.
We offer support to each patient, and accompany him or her in coping with the disease and crisis. If necessary, we also involve the patient's social environment in this process. In addition, we run various groups to build up stress tolerance and regulate relaxation (including mindfulness therapy, autogenic training, intuitive archery). Our ward also offers examination and counselling on fitness-to-drive after neurological diseases. In neuropsychology and psychotherapy, we conduct accompanying scientific research in order to use our results for the development of new therapy options.
Patients with work-related issues receive social-legal and work-related counselling and support from the team of educators after a detailed job analysis. If necessary, individual training is carried out and learning strategies and compensatory techniques are developed and taught. With regard to a possible need to take up alternative activities or necessary qualification measures, the focus is on reviewing and teaching work-relevant knowledge and skills. Neuroeducational support is also offered for cognitive deficits as well as arithmetic, writing, and reading disorders. If necessary, further measures are initiated via consultation with the patient (including gradual reintegration and benefits for participation in working life) and support is provided with applications.
Speech therapy: Overcoming speechlessness
As a result of neurological disease patterns, the patients' ability to speak is often affected - and thus so is one of the most important aspects of social life: communication with others.
Speech therapy deals with the diagnosis and therapy of centrally-caused speech and language disorders, reading and writing disorders, facial paralysis, and swallowing disorders.
People who have suffered strokes or craniocerebral injuries are often unable to communicate orally or in writing, often they can no longer adequately follow what others are saying. Some speak unclearly and have problems with their voice and breathing. Still others have swallowing disorders of various types and degrees.
This is caused by disorders of the central speech centres or the centres in the brain that control the organs necessary for speaking and eating, such as the tongue, lips, throat, and larynx.
For each patient we plan the therapy individually and as disorder-specific. We treat mainly through individual therapy - and offer group therapy, computer-assisted therapy methods, and sound therapy as supplementary.
For patients with complex and multiple disorders, we start treatment during the early rehabilitation phase. Here we are often not yet able to use the usual standardised test procedures. Only gradually, during the therapy, does the exact extent of the impairment become apparent.
In addition to individual therapy sessions, we offer a wide range of group therapy sessions for all types of disorders:
Aphasia groups covering different degrees of severity
Discussion groups
Communication groups, to test and promote linguistic flexibility and performance in professional life
Aphasia café
Patient choir
Dysarthria groups
Dysphagia groups
Parkinson's groups
Facialis groups
Cognitive dysphasia groups
We see every day how important small advances are for our patients that healthy people may hardly notice: through early speech therapy measures, our patients can first learn to answer questions in the affirmative or in the negative, to understand simple statements from their environment, and to react to them with phrases or gestures. If the progress is favourable, our patients learn to speak, read, and write comprehensibly again.
Successes like these encourage those affected to continue the lengthy treatment with commitment, even at home. As a result, many of our patients manage to participate in everyday life again with the support of family and friends.
Our team of speech therapists, speech therapy pedagogues, and clinical linguists advises relatives on how best to deal with patients whose communication is often severely impaired - and helps with referral to further treatment after the end of their hospital stay.
Art therapy
The goal and task of every art therapy treatment is the activation of individual resources, the mediation of positive self-experience, and expansion of one's own experience and actions from artistic experiences, as well as the experience of self-design competence.
Through one's own creative expression, the processing of an illness is supported, and a sense of well-being is fostered. Art therapy is offered as both an individual and group therapy. The work with patients is resource-oriented, emotion-regulating, and ego-strengthening.
About your stay
Find out more about your stay in our rehabilitation centre.