The Ingredients of Magic: Investigating Clinician and Patient Behaviors in Community Aphasia Group

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and about 1/3 of strokes result in aphasia. Aphasia is a language disorder that impairs the ability to comprehend or formulate language. One beneficial rehabilitative treatment for aphasia is group therapy. Group therapy for people with aphasia (PWA) has been reported by clinicians and clients as having an aspect of “magic”. This “magic” has been described as a feeling, atmosphere, energy, or a vibe. Although these group characteristics have yet to be fully identified, they are reported to be an essential part of the success of group therapy. To identify the seemingly secret ingredients to “magic”, we will observe the University of Montana’s Community Aphasia Group (CAG), that is implemented by graduate student clinicians in speech-language pathology. The CAG meets weekly for 1 hour and includes 3-10 PWA across a range of aphasia types and severities. The CAG provides social opportunities and enhances language skills for PWA. We will observe CAG sessions and document clinician behaviors and patient engagement behaviors during moments that feel positive, motivating, and sincere to create a comprehensive list of identified “magic” features. Communication barriers associated with aphasia often decrease quality of life, increase emotional distress, and cause social isolation. This study will investigate the moments of magic that occur during group therapy. Ultimately, these findings will help researchers and clinicians implement high-quality, meaningful group therapy for PWA.