Communication & Confidence After Stroke: Practical Tools for Everyday Life, Shelby Bronfman, CCC-SLP

Описание: When Words Feel Stuck, Confidence Doesn’t Have To

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In this video, speech-language pathologist Shelby Bronlin joins Stroke Buddies to share practical tools for improving communication and rebuilding confidence after stroke. She explains aphasia in simple terms, offers real-life strategies for word-finding and fatigue, and explores the powerful connection between emotions and recovery. You’ll hear supportive group discussion about frustration, small daily wins, multitasking, and mindset. Whether you’re a stroke survivor or care partner, this conversation offers realistic, doable steps to strengthen communication and restore self-belief.

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Timestamps:
0:11 Welcome to Stroke Buddies Recovery & Science meeting
0:35 Introduction to Shelby Bronlin, SLP
1:54 Communication and confidence after stroke overview
3:59 Aphasia 101: What it is (and what it is not)
5:51 Fatigue and the neurological effort of communication
7:02 The emotional cycle: frustration, withdrawal, loss of confidence
10:19 Caregiver dynamics and finishing sentences
12:59 Compensatory vs restorative communication strategies
14:23 Word-finding tools: describe, gesture, write, draw
16:21 Handling “stuck” moments without panic
17:27 Scripts, notebooks, and practical daily supports
19:39 Restorative practice using everyday objects (toaster example)
23:21 Avoiding cognitive overload and overtraining
26:59 The power of music and singing in recovery
29:23 Emotional impact: identity shifts and social withdrawal
30:12 Stress management, breathing, and advocacy scripts
42:38 Maria example: small wins build momentum
45:01 Setting small achievable goals
51:40 Multitasking debate and cognitive load discussion
1:05:08 Mental health, support groups, and community healing
1:07:29 Handout information and closing remarks

Shelby Bronlin shares practical communication strategies for stroke survivors experiencing aphasia and cognitive fatigue. She explains how word-finding challenges, frustration, and emotional withdrawal can create a negative cycle—and how small, achievable daily “wins” can rebuild confidence and momentum. The discussion covers compensatory strategies (describing, gesturing, scripting, slowing down) and restorative exercises using everyday objects to retrain language pathways. Survivors also share insights about multitasking, patience, music therapy, and the importance of community support. The key message: recovery is not about perfection—it’s about consistency, self-compassion, and stacking small wins over time.

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Bio:
Shelby is a certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) licensed in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. She brings experience across school, clinic, and inpatient and outpatient hospital settings, with a heartfelt commitment to relationship-based therapy. She currently owns a private practice in Boston, Coastal Communication Speech & Wellness, serving the Greater Boston area and providing virtual services to clients in CT and NY. Shelby works with both children and adults, with a particular passion for helping adults regain communication and cognitive skills after a neurological event. With a background in psychology, her mission is not only to address communication challenges, but also the social and emotional barriers that can accompany them. She believes communication should never be treated in isolation—integrating a social-emotional approach helps clients rebuild confidence and participate more fully in their world.

She mailed everyone who attended the handout. If you'd like it, email her.

Shelby Bronfman, MS, CCC-SLP
Founder, Speech Therapist & Social Cognitive Specialist
Coastal Communication – Speech & Wellness
Phone: (203) 561-1799
Email: [email protected]
https://www.thecoastalcommunication.com