National Award Recognizing Dr. Gordon Muir Giles’ Innovative Neurobehavioral Rehabilitation Approach at Crestwood.
Crestwood Behavioral Health’s own Dr. Gordon Muir Giles, Director of Neurobehavioral Services at Crestwood Treatment Center in Fremont and Idylwood Care Center, was awarded the most prestigious honor related to clinical practice in the occupational therapy profession, the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award. This award was made in recognition of his “innovating the clinical practice of cognitive neurorehabilitation” through his groundbreaking work with clients who have severe neurological impair- ments.
Dr. Giles was presented with the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award by the Ameri- can Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) at its 2017 Annual Conference and Centennial Celebration on April 1st in Philadelphia. The Eleanor Clark Slagle Lecture- ship Award was named after a pioneer of the occupational therapy profession, and recog-nizes achievements in research, education, and clinical practice that make substantial and lasting contributions to the occupational therapy profession’s body of knowledge.
This award recognizes Dr. Giles’ efforts to improve the lives of Crestwood’s clients through innovative clinical practices, including his relational neurobehavioral approach to neurorehabilitation. This non-aversive method, which has been described as “relentless kindness,” assists clients with severe behavioral and emotional problems by empowering them through person-centered care and building positive relationships with them, rather than relying on confrontation, seclusion, or restraints. Dr. Giles uses this compassionate approach to treat clients whose neurological impairments have caused many of them to fail in other treatment settings due to difficult-to-manage behaviors. An example of this compassionate approach is being used with a client at Crestwood Treatment Center, Fremont who has had post-severe Trauma Brain Injury for 23 years. This client believes that he is a billionaire and that people are stealing his money. He would joke to the staff that they are stealing from him and if they would joke back, he would become very upset. To help deescalate this behavior, the staff now meet with him daily to review any areas of concern, assist him with solving any perceived problems, review his finances with him weekly and have him sign-off on any expenditures. Additionally, the staff responds to any of his questions about money by stating that taking money from him is unlawful and that if they did steal from him, they would go to jail. This increased focus on interpersonal factors and therapeutic relationships has made an amazing difference in this client’s life by helping to reduce his anxiety, stress, and negative attributional bias.
Karen Scott, Program Director at Crestwood Treatment Center, Fremont said, “The positive impact Dr. Giles has made with both his clients and colleagues is immeasurable. He is a tireless advocate for persons with neurobehavioral differences.” As part of winning the Slagle Award, Dr. Giles will deliver an AOTA lecture in 2018 that will discuss how best to meet the needs of clients with neurobehavioral disability in a changing healthcare environment. Contributed by: Karen Scott, Program Director Crestwood Treatment Center, Fremont