"Now I Am Myself": Exploring How People With Poststroke Aphasia Experienced Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Within the SOFIA Trial. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Northcott, Sarah; Simpson, Alan; Thomas, Shirley; Barnard, Rachel; Burns, Kidge; Hirani, Shashivadan P.; Hilari, Katerina
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 31:Number 11(2021)
• Page Start: 2041
• Page End: 2055
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: brain injury -- communication -- community and public health -- hope -- psychology -- psychological issues -- aphasia -- stroke -- therapies -- well-being -- qualitative -- framework analysis -- England; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/10497323211020290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

Aphasia, a language disability, can profoundly affect a person's mood and identity. The experiences of participants who received Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, a psychological intervention, were explored in the Solution-Focused brief therapy In poststroke Aphasia (SOFIA) Trial. Thirty participants with chronic aphasia, 14 with severe aphasia, participated in in-depth interviews that were analyzed using framework analysis. Two overarching themes emerged: valued therapy components (exploring hopes, noticing achievements, companionship, sharing feelings, and relationship with therapist) and perceptions of progress (mood, identity, communication, relationships, and independence). Participants were categorized into four groups: (a) "changed, " where therapy had a meaningful impact on a person's life; (b) "connected, " where therapy was valued primarily for companionship; (c) "complemental, " where therapy complemented a participant's upward trajectory; and (d) "discordant, " where therapy misaligned with participants' preference for impairment-based language work. This study suggests that it is feasible to adapt a psychological therapy for people with aphasia, who perceive it as valuable.