FOSTERING EFFECTIVE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH MENTORING

Mentoring has been used successfully by leaders in business and education organizations to facilitate professional training and development of employees who show promise. Many of the principles and practices used in these mentoring programs can be applied to families of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This article defines mentoring, explores several commonly used mentoring practices, and shows how these practices can be used to develop specific skills of family members. Suggestions are offered for encouraging and implementing a mentoring orientation in treatment programs for individuals with TBI. Through mentoring processes, professionals can increase the inclusion and involvement of families in planning and treatment.