CBIS Spotlight: Lenny Hawley

Lenore “Lenny” Hawley, MSSW, LCSW, CBIST, has served individuals living with brain injury and their families for more than 35 years, providing clinical treatment, program development, advocacy, and research. She is the Brain Injury Education Counselor at Craig, providing community advocacy and education, group treatment, and program development. Lenny also serves as a research clinician and is currently the Principal Investigator on Craig’s TBI Model System-funded randomized controlled trial investigating the Self Advocacy for Independent Life (SAIL) intervention.

Lenny is the author of “A Family Guide to the Head Injured Adult” and “The Self-Advocacy for Independent Life Workbook” and co-author and developer of “Group Interactive Structured Treatment – GIST: for Social Competence.” She has authored journal publications and book chapters related to brain injury rehabilitation. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Network of Social Workers in Acquired Brain Injury.

Why have you chosen a career in brain injury? 

After undergraduate school, I worked for a psychiatric facility in Austin, Texas, which specialized in treating individuals experiencing severe behavioral difficulties from a variety of diagnoses.  I worked specifically with a young man who had sustained a severe TBI. His significant cognitive, perceptual, and sensory challenges made it difficult for him to understand the world around him. I learned a great deal from working with him, gaining an understanding of brain-behavior relationships. Subsequently, we developed a brain injury program at the facility, in great part due to our work with him. Through his progress and determination, I was inspired to continue in the field.  

What are you most passionate about in the field?

I am most passionate about assisting individuals in developing social/interpersonal success and meaning in life. My colleague, Jody Newman, and I developed a social skills intervention called GIST: Group Interactive Structured Treatment.  This intervention combines the psycho-social, cognitive, and communication aspects of social interaction in a supportive group setting. I also developed a group self-advocacy intervention, SAIL: Self Advocacy for Independent Life. This group addresses self-efficacy, purpose, and self-advocacy.  I love leading both of these groups and am continually in awe of the insights and support shared by the group members. 

Why is having your CBIST important to you?

Having my CBIST has allowed me to encourage new learning and perhaps expanded awareness for other professionals in their work with individuals living with TBI. I lead interdisciplinary CBIS training groups for clinical staff at Craig Hospital, and I love the shared learning that takes place. Much of my work experience has been in community-based settings, rather than in a hospital setting. Leading these hospital-based CBIS trainings offers me the opportunity to shed some light on the lifelong living needs of these individuals and families.

How has your social work training prepared you during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Social work emphasizes the holistic health of the individual within the family and social system. My social work background helps me stay vigilant in understanding the needs of the whole person and family – especially the need for social contact and purposeful activity.   

What has been your recent work related to telehealth, mental health, and COVID-19?

I have been running SAIL self-advocacy groups via Zoom, helping individuals stay connected and engaged. I also organized a 6-part webinar series on brain injury and behavioral health, aimed at increasing the capacity of mental health services for people living with ABI. And I lead an annual event at Craig called Living Well with Brain Injury, offering education, support, and connection for our alumni and families. We’re doing this as a webinar this year, rather than an in-person event. The format offers some challenges, but also allows people to attend who might not have attended in the past due to transportation, distance, etc. We’ll see how it goes!