Strong Story Lab

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣
The 8th Just ASK. Aphasia Stroke Knowledge Annual Aphasia Awareness Conference is tackling the taboo topics that often go unspoken after brain injury, stroke, and aphasia.

Each free virtual session is designed to educate, support, and empower survivors, caregivers, and professionals

📅 Saturdays in June
⏰ 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
💻 Live on Zoom

Join us this June for a powerful and important conversation

➡️Register here: https://uek8uqvh.paperform.co/

New episode alert! 🎙️ Strong Story Lab director Katie Strong sits down with Rianne Brinkman (Hanze University of Applied Sciences & University of Humanistic Studies) for Episode 137 of Aphasia Access Conversations: Who Am I Now? Narrative Identity with Rianne Brinkman.

Narrative identity is central to person-centered aphasia care — and this conversation brings that to life with both theory and practice. A must-listen for clinicians, researchers, and anyone passionate about identity-centered work. 👇

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Released!

Tune in to our latest Podcast Episode #137: Who Am I Now? Narrative Identity with Rianne Brinkman, hosted by Katie Strong.

If you've ever felt like there's more to aphasia care than the therapy protocol in front of you, or wondered what identity-centered practice actually looks like in the real world, this
conversation will give you both the framework and the practical insights you need.

Listen today! 👉️ https://buff.ly/WdBKI0x

📣 New research from the Strong Story Lab!

"Building Therapeutic Alliances in Aphasia Rehabilitation: Developing Relational Competencies Through Narrative Practice" is now published in Seminars in Speech and Language.

This study asked: how do clinicians actually learn to do this work — the relational, person-centered, emotionally present work that narrative intervention requires?

The answer? Not from a textbook. From real relationships.

Eleven graduate story coaches co-constructed life stories with people with aphasia through our "Aphasia! This is Our World" program. Through focus groups, we learned how they grew — from uncertainty to confidence, from clinical distance to authentic partnership.

Four themes tell the story:
💛 Opening Space for Stories
💛 Discovering Their Story
💛 Holding Space for Emotion
💛 Building Story Partnerships

At the Strong Story Lab, we believe story co-construction changes both the storyteller and the listener. This research is the evidence.

Thank you to our story coaches, our storytellers, Allison Conrad, Dr. Barbara Shadden, Dr. Brianne Morrison, the Aphasia Recovery Connection, and Lingraphica for making this work possible.



https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-2845-0475

Shining a spotlight on Allison Strnad! ✨

Allison represented the Strong Story Lab at Central Michigan University College of Health Professions Research Day, presenting on the Virtual My Story Project — a program that uses collaborative storytelling to support identity reconstruction and advocacy in adults with aphasia. We are so proud of you, Allison! 🔥⬆️