How CTA was Inspired

Heather’s Story

Those who experience symptoms of age-related brain changes can feel very alone in their struggle to understand their condition and function as best as possible day-to-day. Family members can feel frustration at having to adjust to an ever-changing situation, and sadness at losing the communication connection and relationship they once had.

So, to help those whose lives are touched by these changes cope best, Heather Negin, SLP, created Communication Therapy for Adults CTA from a deeply personal family experience.

Heather’s dedication to being a ‘cognitive-communication-care-partner’ began long before her education and training as an adult Speech Language Pathologist SLP. Raised in a loving intergenerational family, her caring role came very naturally to her.

But it wasn’t until many years later that Heather’s caring ways were put to the test in her own family-life situation, when faced with the complex issues of dealing with the symptoms of age-related cognitive brain disease in her own Mother.

It was difficult waiting for a geriatrician specialist appointment to investigate the changes that were affecting her Mom – and the family. Heather remembers her Mom’s struggle to answer the cognitive screening questions correctly. And she recalls being told Mom’s failing test results and the final diagnosis:

“Your Mom has MCI, Mild Cognitive Impairment, which may lead to Alzheimer’s Disease”. And to further complicate matters……“Your Mom has Anxiety Disorder as well”.

Pharmaceutical treatment was efficiently prescribed by the doctor, and with a swift exit they were sent off with a ‘see you in 3 months’ farewell.

Nobody felt happy. Nobody felt reassured. The numbness and sadness were overwhelming knowing that more and more bad news was sure to follow. And how would she explain any of this serious news to her Dad?

It was initially difficult for Heather and her family to come to terms with what it all meant, what next steps to take, and cope with the worry and uncertainty of making plans for the future.

But here’s where the story took an interesting turn:

Over the next days, weeks, months … and years, Heather lead the way by creatively coupling her education and expertise as a SLP adult cognitive-communication rehabilitation therapist with her dedication to her Mom as a loving, caring and compassionate daughter.

What Heather discovered through this very long, emotional rollercoaster journey ultimately became the three core pillars on which she designed and developed Communication Therapy for Adults CTA, so that others too could benefit:

1. Create Connections: Heather routinely assessed her Mom’s challenges and abilities, and figured out meaningful day-to-day ways to communicate and connect with her. Importantly, she found ways for her Mom to shine as a wife, mother, grandmother and friend. This helped Heather have a deeper understanding and empathy for her Mom’s experience. In so doing, Heather was better able to meet her needs, find satisfying ways to have family and care-partners connect, and improve Mom’s overall quality of life and her deserved dignity.
2. Learn to Cope: Heather discovered ways to help herself and her family break through the emotions, fears and frustrations, overcome challenges, discover opportunities, and lovingly support her Mom through all stages of her fatal brain disease.
3. Promote Rehabilitation: Heather refined and developed the successes she created with her Mom, into a ground-breaking professional approach to clinical assessment, intervention and rehabilitation to help others. Heather’s Communication Therapy for Adults CTA helps those experiencing brain changes, their families, their care-partners and their medical-professional team, so that everyone can better manage the symptoms of age-related neurological disease and conditions, including:
• Alzheimer’s Disease AD
• Dementia’s (Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Fronto-temporal Dementia FTD)
• Mild Cognitive Impairment MCI
• Acquired Brain Injury ABI
• Stroke CVA
• Aphasia
• Neurological diseases ( Parkinson’s Disease PD, Multiple Sclerosis MS, Huntington’s Disease HD, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS)

CTA is built on core principles of proven scientific evidence, adult cognitive-communication, aging and brain diseases, behavioural interaction and adult learning.

Best of all, Heather delivers her CTA professional service in a way that feels personal, inclusive, reassuring and effective.

Learn More About How CTA can Work for You. Whether the first signs of symptoms are just emerging, or a diagnosis and treatment have been given, CTA helps improve memory, thinking, communication, behaviour and relationships and increases the joy of day-to-day life. Contact Heather today.