'A new sense of my former self' - transforming the self through vocational rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury.

Abstract

Background: Acquired Brain injury (ABI) causes ripples throughout the occupational and social fabric. It enters people's lives at a significant personal cost, encroaching on people's sense of self. Vocational rehabilitation is a viable venue to regain control of their life and support them in forming a new sense of self. From an occupational perspective, little is known about how vocational rehabilitation can support people through transforming their sense of self.

Aim: This study aims to explore how vocational rehabilitation may influence the relationship between sense of self and occupational engagement for persons with ABI. Material and Methods: Six persons with ABI were purposely sampled. Data were collected using semi-structured individual interviews and analysed using a hermeneutic approach.

Results: The analysis resulted in three themes: a new sense of my former self, engaging in occupations as transformation, and the significance of support.

Conclusions: Participating in vocational rehabilitation can enable persons with ABI to form a new sense of self. Engaging in occupations and professional support is significant in the transformation process.

Significance: From an occupational perspective, the knowledge gained in this study stresses the essential role occupational engagement and proper targeted support have for people struggling to return to work after ABI.