Aphasia & Stroke Recovery

Aphasia changes the way someone connects to language: finding words, understanding others, reading, writing. It doesn't change who they are. Recovery is possible, and it continues well past the windows that hospitals and inpatient rehab cover. The goal is communication that works in your actual life, not on a worksheet.

What it is

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder, most often caused by stroke but also resulting from brain injury, tumor, or progressive disease. It can affect speaking, understanding, reading, writing. Sometimes one area more than others. Recovery varies, but progress is possible months and even years after the initial event.

Who this is for

• Adults who had a stroke and feel words don't come the way they used to
• Anyone whose insurance-covered therapy ended before they felt ready
• Families looking for skilled outpatient support after hospital discharge
• People with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) seeking specialized care

How I approach this work

Aphasia recovery is one of the core threads of my career. I served on the Stroke and Brain Injury committee at a rehabilitation hospital for two years, collaborating across the full care team to maximize therapy outcomes. I also helped create the curriculum for a stroke education class for patients and their families. In graduate school I volunteered with B.R.A.I.N., a California nonprofit, participating in weekly support groups for stroke and brain injury survivors and their families. That experience shapes how I work today: tying in as much personal and functional content as possible so the work translates beyond the session.

What sessions look like

Session frequency depends on your availability and clinical needs. We'll talk through what makes sense at the consultation. Sessions use the conversations, words, and situations that actually matter to you. Photos of family, names of regular contacts, the way you order at a favorite spot. All of it becomes therapy material.