ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide an accessible relational focus on the bread and butter of Acquired brain injury (ABI) clinical work. It seeks to make explicit those everyday practices that are already inherently orientated towards relationships, and to also suggest some concepts and practice tips that might extend and sharpen practice to fully encompass all things relational. The chapter identifies relationships of relevance for the brain injury clinician, and explores the various ways in which these relationships can be encountered and supported at all points of liaison across service contexts. Vocational rehabilitation interventions will necessarily require liaison with pre-injury employers and colleagues, or, if job retention is not possible, the introduction of a whole new system of relationships. In the inpatient setting, the injured person might be admitted for further rehabilitation within weeks of sustaining their injury. As such, professionals must prioritise supporting the connections that an ABI client has with those close to them through more relationship-focused rehabilitation activities.
