Type:Cognitive Rehabilitation Services for Adults
Location:Greenwich, CT, USA
Size:Private Practice
HappyNeuron Pro User Since:2013
The Restoring Cognitive Health Institute (RCH Institute) is located in Greenwich, CT. Sitting 45 minutes from New York City, Gregg Pauletti provides cognitive rehabilitation services to people with aging complications, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. Gregg is a rehabilitation counselor who has been trained by Dr. Alice Medalia in the NEAR model of cognitive rehabilitation therapy. He helped develop and implement the first non-residential cognitive rehabilitation program in Connecticut.
At the RCH Institute, Gregg provides clients with cognitive remediation services which include a combination of one-on-one sessions in addition to group therapy. With his training in NEAR, Gregg developed the LINK program, which is a NEAR informed model of therapy that also incorporates motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive psychology techniques. Clients work with Gregg for about 30 sessions. In addition to client’s sessions, Gregg prescribes clients homework using HappyNeuron Pro, so that clients can continue therapy outside the clinic.
Gregg Pauletti
MS Rehabilitation Counseling
Founder, Director of the RCH Institute
Gregg started using HappyNeuron Pro when he worked at a non-profit. He started his private practice – the RCH Institute, about two years ago. On his own, he continues to use HappyNeuron Pro to assist his clients get the most out of their therapy.
With HappyNeuron Pro, Gregg uses HappyNeuron Pro’s online and offline exercises that target different areas of cognition. In the digital workspace, Gregg creates exercise plans for his clients that they can do with him side-by-side, during group sessions, and for home practice. The ability to create and schedule exercise plans at any time is a feature that many clinicians value for its versatility and flexibility according to client’s needs.
Gregg is also able to view his client’s results from home or from the office, and send reminders to clients through his patient’s accounts if they need to complete a scheduled workout.
During his sessions, Gregg evaluates his clients and gets an understanding of what difficulties they are having in life, how these problems relate to cognitive function, and how they impact brain health. From there, he goes through HappyNeuron Pro’s exercises to develop a customized exercise plan that focuses on building the foundations of cognitive skills his clients are struggling with.
“With clients, I start them on HappyNeuron Pro by working with them side-by-side. That way, clients can be eased into using a software program and gain confidence using the platform”. – Gregg Pauletti.
When using the digital platform, Gregg ensures that his clients have a solid introduction to using HappyNeuron Pro. This includes working side-by-side with them going over examples of the exercises, demonstrating how the exercises work, and having his clients perform a trial run of the exercises. For people with cognitive dysfunction, this process of acclimating to using a new tool is critical for client reception. By working with his clients side-by-side, Gregg is able to show clients that they can not only use technology, but also have fun using a new therapeutic tool.
“Cognition is about learning. The key to improving your daily life is not about drinking a magic shake or taking a brain-charging pill. It is about ‘working out’ your brain to enhance your cognitive wellness. Re-teaching your brain to think and being comfortable in who you are, is critical in your journey to restoring your cognitive health to where it once was”. – Gregg Pauletti.
As a NEAR informed program, LINK provides a stress-free and fun learning environment for clients to receive cognitive rehabilitation therapy. Clients are adequately challenged during therapeutic exercises, and take time with Gregg to reflect on strategy approach and implementation. In addition to reflecting upon strategies, Gregg addresses emotional concerns of clients as they perform exercises. Many people with cognitive deficits can become depressed when they do not successfully complete exercises. Ensuring that clients receive positive reinforcements keeps them engaged during therapy.
During group therapy sessions, Gregg prints and uses HappyNeuron Pro’s free worksheets. “The free worksheets provide an easy transition from discussion to exercising without having to log back onto the computer“, says Gregg. Many of the exercises that are “print-friendly” are adapted and modified to provide new ready-to-use content for clinicians to use with their patients. New worksheet material is also inspired by known neuropsychological tests in addition to the digital content provided by HappyNeuron Pro.
With his training in NEAR, Gregg saw the importance of providing cognitive rehabilitation therapy.
Many clients come to Gregg when they notice they have difficulty remembering where they placed objects in their home, have trouble focusing while reading, and not performing well at work or in school. These gradual problems can become severe with aging disorders, neurological damage, and psychiatric conditions leading to the loss of independence.
“Many therapists do not know about cognitive rehabilitation therapy. Being founded in the northeast US, its practice is primarily concentrated here. More therapists need to be doing cognitive rehabilitation with their clients.“ – Gregg Pauletti
Gregg is aware of the interplay between cognition and emotion. Many people living with cognitive impairment experience depression, anxiety, and frustration as they have difficulty performing everyday tasks and are at risk for losing their independence. Therapeutic intervention must be tailored to clients cognitive and emotional states, which is why Gregg incorporates elements of positive psychology into his treatment plan. By doing this, he ensures a safe learning environment for his clients that reduces stress and encourages exploration and cognitive growth.
Gregg works with clients ages 16+. Many clients come from the Greater New York City area and Connecticut suburbs. You can visit the RCH Institute website at www.restoringcognitivehealth.com. You can contact Gregg to learn more about therapeutic options here.
To learn more about HappyNeuron Pro, you can visit our website. You can access free resources here and by connecting with us on our LinkedIn page.
Page last updated on May 15,2020
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