Nov 4, 2025
Alex Terrill, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapy and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and co-Director of the Center for Quality of Life After Stroke and Jaime Lee, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, have received a Tier 4 Pilot Award from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Their project, “Resilience-based aphasia friendly treatment (RAFT): Adapting an intervention to support couples coping with post-stroke aphasia”, focuses on promoting resilience and improving communication between individuals with aphasia and their partners following stroke.
The RAFT study aims to adapt and evaluate an evidence-based intervention developed by Terrill that is designed to strengthen emotional well-being, connection, and coping strategies within couples navigating life after stroke. RAFT aims to make this intervention accessible to couples facing the additional challenges associated with aphasia. By integrating resilience training with aphasia-friendly communication approaches, this work seeks to enhance recovery outcomes and support long-term quality of life for stroke survivors with aphasia and their loved ones.
This new collaboration combines Lee’s expertise in aphasia intervention and communication access with Terrill’s experience in clinical psychology, neurorehabilitation, and the development of dyadic treatment for couples coping with stroke. Their work exemplifies the impact of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex rehabilitation challenges and improving outcomes for individuals with stroke and aphasia. With pilot funding supporting this initial phase, they plan to continue this line of research and pursue extramural funding to evaluate and expand the reach of RAFT.