CBIS Spotlight: Penny Brooks

Penny Brooks, LMSW, CBIS, is a therapist at Unity House of Troy, Inc., where she provides therapy to victims of domestic violence. She is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force, where she served as a Mental Health Craftsman. She deployed numerous times in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Her last deployment prior to retiring was to Iraq, where she worked as the non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the outpatient Mental Health Clinic. Her team was comprised of a total of three mental health professionals. Together, they were tasked with assessing and treating individuals suspected of sustaining mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Penny retired from the Air Force in 2013, but continues to serve her community in her current role. She is active in veterans’ organizations and spends her spare time with friends and family.

Why have you chosen a career in brain injury? What are you most passionate about in the field? 

I didn’t actually choose the area of brain injury. Rather, it chose me. I initially began working in brain injury through the mental health troop in the Air Force. I was part of a three-person team on a deployment to the Middle East, and we were tasked with assessing wounded warriors for mTBI. Upon my return to the states, I returned to my job working with domestic violence. I heard many reports following a domestic-related assault that made me realize what we were dealing with was a potential mTBI. It was then that I became passionate about establishing a similar response to victims of domestic violence as we had provided to our wounded warriors.

Why is having your CBIS important to you?

Having my certification allows me to bring a service to our clients that previously was not available. This is a huge step forward in the world of domestic violence because I am certain there are many victims of domestic violence that have untreated mTBIs.

How has having your CBIS benefitted your work or made an impact on your community?

It’s an ongoing work-in-progress, but my vision is to establish a specific and comprehensive response to victims of domestic violence who have sustained mTBIs. I also envision establishing a training program that I will offer to sister domestic violence programs, as well as other agencies in my community, that focuses on understanding domestic violence as a cause of mTBI.

What are some of the latest trends in practice or needs that you are seeing in supporting survivors of brain injury and their caregivers?

Within the community I serve, I have noticed a lack of mTBI identification due to lack of education around how it can be caused by domestic violence. This lack of education exists within the medical, legal, social services, as well as victim services agencies. Further, this lack of education also exists in the client as well – who often think their symptoms are nothing serious. Victims also tend not to seek medical attention following an assault due to fear, embarrassment, lack of resources, minimization, etc.