The Cognitive FX Blog

For years the protocol has been to rest until symptoms stop, and that if you start participating in an activity and you experience symptoms to stop what you are doing and rest. In the first few weeks after initial injury, rest is important and can help prepare the brain to be active and function properly again, and for the majority of people they recover from their injury in this time frame. There are however a group of individuals (around 15% of those diagnosed with a concussion) where symptoms persist after a few weeks. Typically, the diagnosis is post-concussion syndrome. So when do you stop resting and start being active again? 

For Immediate Release – April 3, 2017, Provo, UT

Dr. Norman Doidge M.D. is a psychiatrist and a psychoanalyst. He has written many books including New York Times Best Seller, “The Brain that Changes Itself.” He also has written “The Brain’s Way of Healing.” Both books focus on the unique ways the brain changes and heals itself based on the concept of Neuroplasticity.

Dr. Alina Fong, Director of Cognitive FX in Utah, Joins the U.S. BIA Public Policy Committee

Clinical Neuropsychologist will play an advisory role on national committee .

For Immediate Release –Washington, D.C. Members of the United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA) Public Policy Committee Public Policy are thrilled to announce that Dr. Alina Fong of Utah has stepped onto their committee. Dr. Fong is an active and engaged member of the board for the Brain Injury Alliance of Utah, an affiliate of the USBIA, and is a respected national expert in concussion. The Public Policy Committee reviews and endorses legislation for the entire USBIA network and works with the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, chaired by Congressman Bill Pascrell of New Jersey and Todd Russell Platts of Pennsylvania.

Emily is a NeuroCognitive Therapist here at Cognitive FX. 

By Brittany Prijatel, Sports Psychology Consultant

With the new year comes new changes. I would like to give you 6 ways to help you identify changes that you want to make and how to fit them into a current daily routine or schedule.

1- Have a clear idea of what it is that you want to incorporate into your daily routine.

• How much time do I want/have to commit to this activity each day/week?

2- Map out what your current schedule is like during the day/week.

• It is always easier to do this with someone else so that you do not criticize and instead you analyze. There are many ways you can map out a daily routine. One way is to start with a piece of paper and write the hours from 7 am to 11 pm down the side (Hours may vary depending on your schedule). Then block out the time for each activity you are doing that day. Then you can easily see where time is going, where to add in the things you want to incorporate and what to adjust.

Cognitive FX is excited to announce that we will be at this year’s Your Health Expo on February 25 from 9 am to 6 pm at the South Towne Expo.

By Brittany Pritajel

Self-talk is a necessary skill to develop as you seek to increase your well-being. Self-talk is managing what you say to yourself (either out loud or in your head). As you look to improve your life after a concussion or injury you may target changing your behavior. It is important to know that behind the behavior is thoughts because what you think affects how you feel, and how you feel affects how you behave.

You can change how you talk to yourself. Positive self-talk can support you as you make changes in your life and strive to reach your goals in your concussion recovery.

Brittany Prijatel is an EPIC Coach here at Cognitive FX.

By Brittany Prijatel, Sports Psychology Consultant

Motivation comes and goes, but one thing to remember is that it is possible to cultivate motivation. You can find and create motivation even when you are feeling unmotivated.

 As we move forward into the new year, we are at the height of personal change as well as establishing new routines.

Here are 4 tips to keep in mind as we approach all the changes that we are looking to incorporate into our life.

This Christmas we received many letters and thank you notes from some of our past patients. Joan shared her experience with us, and we wanted to share her experience with you.

Everyone has their own ideas and opinions about goals and goal setting. One of the things that I notice as I work with individuals during EPIC concussion treatment, is that a lot of time it is not the goals that we are failing at but instead the goal setting. It may sound like a small difference but it can have a huge impact on achieving our goals.

Jake is a Neuromuscular Therapist here at Cognitive FX. 

Barbara Fredrickson, a psychology researcher at the University of North Carolina, conducted a study about the ways positive thinking affects us. She is quantifying positivity with emotions and life impact using a positive outlook.

By Brittany Prijatel - Sports Psychological Consultant

Gratitude is a profound tool for cultivating positivity. Gratitude is simply the conscious act of bringing your attention to what you have or want to appreciate. More importantly, gratitude is a choice. By taking the time to appreciate the abundance that we have in our lives, we create a momentum towards receiving even more. When you begin to say thank you for the things that you have, and the kindness others share, you truly notice all the great things you have to be thankful for each day.

Gratitude has been demonstrated to have a large impact on multiple areas of your life. By being grateful studies have shown that individuals have seen improvements with:

• Immune System
• A Decrease in Blood Pressure
• Improvements in Sleep & Relationships
• Increases in Happiness
• More Feelings of Enthusiasm, Interest, Attentiveness, Energy, & Determination

Jessica Heath is a Neurological Occupational Therapist here at Cognitive FX.

Jessica received her degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Utah. Jessica has mostly worked with individuals that are recovering from stroke or brain injuries and brings a lot of experience and insight to patients throughout their week of EPIC Treatment. We asked Jessica to share her thoughts on what makes Cognitive FX an effective clinic for patient outcomes.

By Brittany Prijatel – Cognitive FX Sports Psychology Consultant  

The pinnacle of improvement is awareness. Before you can implement any sort of mental skills or techniques to help manage daily symptoms, it is important to understand the biggest piece of the puzzle is cultivating awareness.

Awareness allows you to understand your symptoms as well as what may trigger them. This empowers you to create a better situation, a better day, and a better life. After EPIC Treatment it is important that you practice and use awareness to continue improving.

5 Ways to Practice Awareness & Improve Your Daily Life

By Britany Prijatel - Cognitive FX Sports Psychology Consultant 

What is Awareness?

Awareness is defined as having knowledge, or being in the state or condition of being conscious of your surroundings. This concept can be applied to many different subjects, but awareness is an important part of understanding a concussion and your recovery process. It takes awareness to facilitate change, even if it is changing a mindset. 

April Crystal is one of our NeuroCognitive Therapists here at Cognitive FX.

There are a variety of imaging technologies that can be used to look at a brain injury or a concussion, and are used in unique ways to address and review specific concerns with a head injury. These imaging technologies each have their place and use in addressing and understanding not only a brain injury and concussions but many injuries that may occur throughout our bodies. It is important to know that not all imaging technologies are alike or able to clear detect and diagnose a concussion.