Webinar

Treating Fatigue and Sleep Disturbance after Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke

Date: 18th November 2025 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm via Virtual Attendee Hub

Presenters: Dr Lucy Ymer, Dr Kate Frencham & Dr Natalie Grima
Chair: Professor Jennie Ponsford

Synopsis: Fatigue and sleep disturbance affect up to and over half of all people with a traumatic brain injury or stroke. These debilitating symptoms increase the risk of mental health disorders, impact participation in day-to-day activities and can delay return to work or study after an injury. It is therefore critical that fatigue and sleep are targeted early and effectively during rehabilitation.

This workshop aims to present a novel, person-centred psychological therapy devised specifically to address sleep and fatigue symptoms for individuals with a brain injury – cognitive behavioural therapy for sleep disturbance and fatigue (CBT-SF). We will present a brief background to the topic, discuss the development and evaluation of CBT-SF in our recent randomised controlled trial, and offer some of the key practical skills and techniques covered in this manualised intervention. We will discuss important adaptations for common cognitive impairments when working with people with a brain injury, present case studies and allow for question time. This workshop aims to be interactive and assist clinicians in building their skills and confidence in supporting their clients with fatigue and sleep problems.

Learning objectives/outcomes:

1. Increase knowledge of common sleep and fatigue problems after brain injury and how they impact rehabilitation and recovery

2. Understand current treatment approaches and the benefits of tailored psychological interventions

3. Learn key CBT-SF techniques for managing fatigue and sleep symptoms and how to adapt this psychological intervention for people with a brain injury

Cost:
ASSBI Members: $75
Non-Members: $100
Students: $35
LMIC: $0

Biographic Information: Jennie Ponsford, AO, BA(Hons), MA(Clin Neuropsych), PhD, MAPsS, FCCN is Professor of Neuropsychology in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University, where she established and directed the doctoral training program in Clinical Neuropsychology 2000-2019. She is Director of the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre at Epworth Healthcare. Over 42 years she has conducted clinical work and research with individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), investigating outcomes and the efficacy of rehabilitative interventions, with over 470 publications, including two books. She is Past-President of the International Neuropsychological Society (INS), International Association for Study of TBI and Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment. She has received the Robert Moody prize for Distinguished Initiatives in Brain Injury and Rehabilitation (2013), INS Paul Satz Career Mentoring Award (2015), IBIA Jennett Plum Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement in Brain Injury Medicine (2023) and in 2017 was made Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished contributions to neuropsychology and diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of TBI. In 2020, 2022 and 2023 The Australian’ named her as Australia’s leading researcher in the field of Rehabilitation Therapy. She serves on editorial boards of seven journals and is Associate Editor of Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

Biographic Information: Lucy Ymer is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Researcher at the Monash Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre. She is currently the trial co-ordinator of an Australia-wide randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for sleep disturbance and fatigue following acquired brain injury. She works clinically in hospital and private settings, providing assessment and intervention for a variety of clients including those with acquired brain injury, neurodegenerative, psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Biographic Information: Kate Frencham is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in private practice. She has specialised in community rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury since 2010 and currently provides neuropsychological interventions for people with ABI, their families, and teams. Since 2015, she has been a treating clinician for a randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for sleep disturbance and fatigue following acquired brain injury.

Biographic Information: Dr. Natalie Grima is a practising Clinical Neuropsychologist within the public and private sector. After completing her doctorate at Monash University, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology in Boston (USA), before returning to her home town in Melbourne, Australia. Natalie specializes in treating patients with insomnia and circadian sleep disorders, and since 2018 she has worked as a therapist on a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in treating sleep disorders and fatigue following acquired brain injuries.