CBIS Spotlight: Suzanne Heppel

Suzane Heppel, LPMT, MT-BC, CBIS, is a music therapist for INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital in Oklahoma City. She is a Music Therapist, Board Certified Neurologic Music Therapist, and Certified Brain Injury Specialist.

Why have you chosen a career in brain injury? Why are you passionate about brain injury?

My passion for working with the brain-injured population truly began when I learned about music therapy. I was drawn to how music was processed in the brain and how that could rehabilitate a person in recovery. This led to a natural draw to working with those having sustained any form of brain injury and how music would play a role in that recovery. Music is a personalized experience that can be tailored to the individual. This is ideal when working with unique injuries that are very rarely the same. It naturally makes my job challenging and creative, but most of all, gratifying to see the success in a person’s healing.

How has the field of brain injury changed in your time working?

I think the biggest change in the field of brain injury comes from the therapists’ advancing techniques to heal the injured with drastically less time in the inpatient acute setting. This has required therapists to be more creative, concise, and persistent in the goals and expectations for patients and families during a critical time in the recovery process.

Why is having a CBIS important for you? How is it helpful in your daily work?

I am a huge advocate for continuing education. I feel it is the primary way of holding a professional accountable to develop and evolve their skillset and knowledge. The CBIS certification allows professionals to stay informed and educated on the current trends in treatment, research, and challenges faced by this population. It also offers insight into the needs of families and caregivers who play a critical role in any length of recovery process.

What are some challenges you have faced working with individuals with brain injury?

The challenges over the last few years have not been exclusive to the brain injury population, but in the healthcare setting. I feel that the significantly decreased amount of time allowed by insurance in an active treatment program, the “rush” of moving patients out of an acute setting, and the decreased funds/availability of resources in the community have affected all our patients. The brain injury population has been dramatically affected since these types of injuries sometimes get overlooked when individuals “appear normal” or “medically stable” but cannot maintain a working and thriving lifestyle.

How can clinicians best support individuals, caregivers, and family members?

Clinicians need to remember that they are the lifeline for families in crisis, such as those recovering from a traumatic brain injury. Being a lifeline means expressing patience and care in all your interactions, even when it is the hardest. These families are individuals who are scared and hungry for information. Education protocols by the clinical team are imperative in making a smooth treatment plan and discharge expectations for the caregivers. Being a lifeline is also about providing encouragement and resources for success. We, as clinicians, should have a solid team approach to providing education both verbally and with support materials. The support cannot end with discharge. There must be a network for the continuum of care, one that would include brain injury support/wellness groups and community events.

What do you see as the future of the brain injury field?

The future of the brain injury field lies in two parts, the first one being research and clinical applications. This will guarantee that the clinicians working with this population will have the latest knowledge and tools to provide the best care and treatment plans. The second part is education. Education that we share, education that we need to be leaders in the field of brain injury recovery. Having that strong education component in an individual’s treatment plan will provide that assurance to caregivers and family members to trust the process and have realistic expectations for the future.