No problem, Mike!

If I can make one suggestion: let your friends send their letters directly to the neuro-psychologist. If they think you're going to look at them they may feel inhibited in what they say. If they don't want the contents of their letters disclosed to you in the post-test report, give them that option. Don't speak with them about any "changes" before they write their letters. Otherwise, the neuro-psychologist won't get the best possible letters and you won't get the best possible report. Don't sweat the letters: your family and friends love you and are only doing their best to help.

In fact, it was family and friends who told me (gently) that I might benefit from the neuro-psych. Now, I'm really grateful they did. I'm getting cognitive therapy targeted to my specific issues - and my friends and family are right there helping me with the homework!

I won't lie to you: I suffered a spiral injury (brain did a 360 scrapping itself everywhere along the inside of my cranium) and I ended up with a diffuse axonal injury, so (with current medical science) there is no way I will ever be the same. Still, I have seen improvement from the therapy. I am doing better with daily tasks and that has increased my independence and reduced my frustration and anxiety.

You're right to pick your neuro-psychologist with care. I can't remember how you were injured. Anyway, if you are involved with any sort of litigation, the wcb or an insurance company you need to be careful to the point of paranoid.

The sad truth is that doing "independent" medical assessments (IMA) for insurance companies is a major source of income supplementation for Canadian specialists. Even if you're referred by your GP, if your neuro-psychologist is in the pocket of the insurance company he/she will not bite the hand that feeds him. If you're litigating and he says you're badly injured, word will get round and the insurance companies will punish him by withholding future business. Yeah, it's a sick system - but I'm not kidding. There are doctors who fly all over the country doing IMAs who would exhume Rocket Richard and declare him fit to play in the Stanley Cup Final.

So how do you find a good neuro-psychologist? I would suggest that you visit the BC Brain Injury Association (www.bcBrainInjuryAssociation.com). They are there to help the brain injured. You can call them at (604) 465-1783 and ask for a suggestion. Any neuro-psychologist serving on the board would be a good bet as a competent, compassionate clinician. Although it's a new chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Canada, they may also have support groups in Vancouver. In addition to going there to talk (with I suggest), it's a good place to get information about doctors. Find a couple of members with TBIs from car accidents and ask them what neuro-psychologists their lawyers sent them to.

Good Luck