Today we will hear from Colleen Baratka, who was in clinical practice for over 30 years before she suffered from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2015. After her recovery, Colleen began co-leading a TBI support group and now works part time for a private practice where she works with her clients on psychodrama as a form of therapy.
In this episode, we will hear about Colleen's story, learn about psychodrama, and the adaptations she has made post injury and post pandemic.
For more information about the TBI support group, email: pcstbi.mail@gmail.com
Colleen Baratka, MA TEP is a Fellow of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and winner of the Hannah Weiner Award for a lifetime of service. Beginning her career as a Special Education teacher which led her use of creative arts to teach special needs and disenfranchised children, Colleen graduated from NYU’s Drama Therapy program and has been in clinical practice for over 30 years. Beginning her clinical work in addiction and family prevention, Colleen had the opportunity to create Psychodrama and Trauma programming at two psychiatric hospitals . She has served as the psychodrama trainer for the Caron Foundation’s Family Education Program and would later integrate this work into her Renfrew experience running multiple family groups of up to about 100 people. Colleen is published on the topics of trauma and eating disorders and had been guest lecturing at many local universities, organizations and treatment centers. In August 2015 while walking out of PT for a concussion, Colleen was struck by a car and suffered another more severe TBI. It was then that she began co-leading a TBI group with her colleague Deborah Karner in late 2017. Most recently Colleen has begun a study into traumatic brain injuries and trauma, and the role spontaneity plays in recovery. She is also now working towards becoming a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
