Table 2.
Overview of interventions in the BackUp program, by session.
| Session title | Session goals and exercises | Mindfulness exercises | Homework activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre-interview with assessment and initial case formulation | Framework Psychoeducation: brain injury, rehabilitation, transition Assessment: WHO-5, SCS, HADS, PGIS |
Short body scan | |
| 2 | Psychoeducation about brain injury | Psychoeducation: biopsychosocial model of health, major rehabilitation models, cognitive sequela after ABI, (mental) fatigue | Weekly schedule planning and registration, “goal stairs” | |
| 3 | Psychoeducation: emotional reactions | Psychoeducation: crises responses and grief reactions Education about identity change Depression and quality of life |
Registration of activities that give or take energy | |
| 4 | CBT | Case formulation and defining important issues Psychoeducation: CBT-model, education about automatic negative thoughts |
Short body scan | Daily activities schedule, registration of negative thoughts |
| 5 | CBT | Continuation from the previous session Work with client-chosen topics or alternatively with suggestions from the therapist |
3. min. breathing exercise | Meaning: What makes life worth living anyway (ACT worth chart) |
| 6 | Introduction to Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) | Education and work with Gilbert's model Topic: “You have a tricky brain and it is not your fault” Goal: treat yourself properly when you face difficulties - no matter whose fault it was |
Compassionate breathing exercise | Self-compassion journal |
| 7 | CFT | Continuation from the previous session Exercise: Compassionate letter to yourself Topics, e.g., It is not fair, It was my fault Goal: Learning to let it go—inner workings with self-criticism |
Compassionate breathing exercise | Self-compassion journal |
| 8 | CFT | Continuation from the previous session Exercise: Visualization with a compassionate figure |
Compassionate breathing exercise | Self-compassion journal |
| 9 | CFT | Continuation from the previous session Exercise: Compassionate reminiscence Topic: Family—guilt/shame/self-criticism |
Compassionate breathing exercise | “Important and most important”—What was important in your life at a different age? |
| 10 | Identity reconstruction and quality of life | Topics: Before and after ABI trauma—the quality of life, identity, values, and meaning of life Exercise: All behavior is assessed through the magnifying glass |
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| 11 | Identity reconstruction | Continuation from the previous session Exercise: 90th birthday Goal: Get in touch with personal values |
Short body scan | |
| 12 | Feedback | Assessment for post-tests and feedback |