Jamie Arber: Connecticut Brain Injury Expert

Brain Injury Clinical Expertise, Rehabilitation, Advocacy & Mental Health

Jamie Arber, MA, LPC, CBIS-T, CAGCS, is a Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer, brain injury rehabilitation leader, and traumatic brain injury survivor whose professional career has focused on supporting individuals living with acquired and traumatic brain injury.

Since entering the brain injury rehabilitation field in 2010, Jamie has worked at the intersection of brain injury, mental health, disability, rehabilitation, community integration, vocational development, and trauma-informed care. He currently serves as Executive Director of The Supported Living Group, where his work has included the development and oversight of community-based ABI/TBI rehabilitation and support services throughout Connecticut.

Through his clinical practice at Neurospark Counseling, Jamie brings this extensive brain injury experience into psychotherapy, providing counseling for individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, adjustment to disability, relationship challenges, identity changes, emotional regulation, and the psychological consequences of brain injury.

His media appearances provide an opportunity to discuss the realities of life after brain injury from multiple perspectives: as a clinician, rehabilitation professional, organizational leader, advocate, and person with lived experience of TBI.

A man in formal attire with crossed arms, standing indoors in front of a plant and a column.

A Connecticut Voice on Brain Injury

Brain injury is often discussed in terms of the initial injury and acute medical rehabilitation. Jamie's work focuses heavily on what happens afterward.

For many survivors, the most difficult challenges emerge months or years after the injury: returning to employment, rebuilding relationships, managing emotional changes, understanding cognitive differences, adapting to loss of independence, navigating disability services, and rebuilding a sense of identity and purpose.

Jamie brings more than 15 years of experience working with these long-term realities.

His professional experience includes community-based brain injury rehabilitation, supported living, vocational programming, community integration, disability services, behavioral health, clinical counseling, and collaboration with families, caregivers, rehabilitation professionals, and Connecticut state systems.

His perspective is particularly informed by the Connecticut ABI Waiver system and the practical challenges faced by individuals and families attempting to obtain and maintain appropriate long-term community supports.

Featured Podcast & Media Appearances

Featured Podcast & Media Appearances

Brain Injury, Recovery & Mental Health

1. Joe 2.0 — Interview with Jamie Arber
Jamie discusses brain injury, recovery, and related experiences.
Watch the interview on YouTube

2. Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast
When Brain Injury Changes Who You Are: Grief, Identity & Finding Purpose Again
A conversation about the emotional impact of brain injury, grief, identity changes, and finding meaning after neurological injury.
Listen to the episode

3. Rupture: The World of BestGuessistan
Brain Injury Recovery Is Broken: Dr. Jamie Arber on Trauma, Identity & System Failure
Jamie discusses brain injury recovery, trauma, identity, and systemic gaps in long-term support.
Listen to the episode

4. Universally Unique with Dr. Lori Noto, Ph.D.
Interview with Jamie Arber
A discussion of acquired brain injury, individualized support needs, and the experiences of individuals navigating life after neurological injury.
Listen on Amazon Music

5. Brain Wellness – the Podcast
165. TBI Community Supports in Connecticut with Jamie Arbor
Jamie discusses community-based brain injury rehabilitation, Connecticut ABI Waiver services, autonomy, and meaningful community participation.
Listen on Apple Podcasts

6. F* It, I Have a Brain Injury**
Meaningful Engagement in a Connecticut ABI Waiver Program: Jamie Arber
A conversation about Connecticut ABI Waiver services, community-based rehabilitation, and meaningful engagement after brain injury.
Listen on Podbean

Advocacy, Family Support & Disability Services

7. The Real Lives of TBI Wives
Life After Brain Injury: Support, Advocacy, and Resources for Families — Episode 42
Jamie discusses family experiences after traumatic brain injury, caregiver challenges, advocacy, and navigating support services.
Listen on Amazon Music

Leadership & Community-Based Care

8. Home Care Hindsight
How I Stopped Accepting the Status Quo and Started Building Better Support Systems — Jamie Arber
Jamie discusses advocacy, Medicaid waiver services, community-based care, and developing better support systems for individuals with disabilities.
Listen to the episode

9. Home Care Strategy Lab
Scaling a Specialized Home Care Model Leveraging Medicaid Waivers
Jamie discusses specialized community-based services, Medicaid waiver programs, and person-centered support for individuals with complex needs.
Listen to the episode

10. Feeney Talks With Friends
Episode 147: Feeney Talks with Jamie Arber
Jamie shares insights into brain injury rehabilitation, disability services, leadership at Supported Living Group, and his professional journey.
Listen on Amazon Music

Beyond the Podcast: Brain Injury Advocacy & Education

Jamie also writes and speaks publicly about issues affecting people living with acquired and traumatic brain injury in Connecticut.

His professional writing has addressed topics including:

  • Connecticut ABI Waiver services and access

  • Long-term brain injury rehabilitation

  • Mental health after traumatic brain injury

  • Trauma-informed brain injury care

  • Brain injury and employment

  • Brain injury and relationships

  • Housing and community integration

  • Invisible disability

  • Family and caregiver support

  • Neurodiversity and brain injury

  • Brain injury and vocational rehabilitation

  • Disability rights and advocacy

  • Brain injury and public policy

  • Meaningful engagement following brain injury

His professional writing and public advocacy reflect a broader commitment to improving the way Connecticut understands and supports people living with brain injury.

Brain Injury, Mental Health & the Person Behind the Injury

One of Jamie's central clinical beliefs is that brain injury should never become the entirety of a person's identity.

A survivor may have cognitive limitations, emotional changes, physical disabilities, or challenges with executive functioning. But those characteristics exist within a larger person who has relationships, ambitions, strengths, interests, values, history, and a desire for meaningful participation in life.

This perspective informs both Jamie's rehabilitation leadership and his clinical counseling practice.

At Neurospark Counseling, Jamie works with individuals experiencing the psychological consequences of brain injury, including:

  • Trauma and PTSD-related symptoms

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Grief and loss

  • Adjustment to disability

  • Changes in identity

  • Emotional regulation difficulties

  • Relationship and family stress

  • Social isolation

  • Reduced confidence and self-esteem

  • Employment and vocational concerns

  • Life transitions following rehabilitation

His clinical approach incorporates person-centered counseling, trauma-informed care, EMDR training, and an understanding of the cognitive and emotional considerations that can accompany brain injury.

Lived Experience of Traumatic Brain Injury

Jamie is not only a professional working in the brain injury field. He is also a survivor of traumatic brain injury.

His own experience with TBI has provided an additional perspective on the uncertainty, frustration, identity changes, and challenges that can accompany recovery.

That lived experience does not replace clinical training or professional expertise. Instead, it complements more than 15 years of professional work in brain injury rehabilitation and provides an additional understanding of why survivors need to be seen as whole people rather than defined by their injury.

A Career Dedicated to Brain Injury Rehabilitation in Connecticut

Jamie began working in the brain injury rehabilitation field in 2010 and has spent his career developing and leading services intended to help individuals with neurological and cognitive disabilities live more independently within their communities.

He joined The Supported Living Group in 2017 and progressed from Director of Services to Executive Director. His work has included community-based ABI/TBI rehabilitation, supported living, vocational services, community integration, disability services, and organizational leadership.

Jamie holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a master's degree in Community Psychology. He is a Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer, Certified Advanced Grief Counseling Specialist, and has advanced training in EMDR and trauma-informed clinical approaches. His professional credentials and training are publicly documented through his professional profile.

This combination of clinical counseling, brain injury rehabilitation, executive leadership, disability advocacy, vocational expertise, and lived experience informs Jamie's approach to helping individuals and families navigate life after brain injury.

Looking for a Connecticut Brain Injury Expert?

Jamie Arber is available for conversations concerning:

Brain Injury & Rehabilitation

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Acquired brain injury

  • Concussion and mild TBI

  • Long-term brain injury recovery

  • Community-based rehabilitation

  • Brain injury and employment

Clinical & Mental Health

  • Trauma after brain injury

  • EMDR and brain injury

  • Anxiety and depression following TBI

  • Grief and adjustment

  • Identity after brain injury

  • Emotional regulation

  • Relationships and family systems

Connecticut Brain Injury Services

  • Connecticut ABI Waiver

  • Community-based brain injury supports

  • Disability services

  • Vocational rehabilitation

  • Family and caregiver support

  • Brain injury advocacy and policy

Professional & Public Discussion

  • Brain injury rehabilitation

  • Brain injury mental health

  • Disability and neurodiversity

  • Community-based healthcare

  • Brain injury policy

  • Long-term support after TBI

For media interviews, podcasts, professional presentations, or conversations concerning brain injury, rehabilitation, trauma, disability, and mental health, Jamie brings a perspective grounded in clinical practice, more than 15 years of brain injury rehabilitation experience, organizational leadership, advocacy, and lived experience.

Connect With Jamie Arber

If you are a journalist, podcast host, healthcare professional, rehabilitation provider, or organization interested in discussing brain injury, trauma, rehabilitation, or disability, you can connect with Jamie through Neurospark Counseling.

Jamie Arber, MA, LPC, CBIS-T, CAGCS
Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor
Brain Injury & Disability-Associated Trauma Specialist
Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer
Neurospark Counseling

[Contact Jamie / Request a Consultation]

Frequently Discussed Topics

Connecticut Brain Injury • Traumatic Brain Injury • Acquired Brain Injury • TBI Rehabilitation • ABI Waiver • Brain Injury Counseling • Brain Injury Mental Health • Trauma After TBI • EMDR and Brain Injury • Brain Injury Recovery • Brain Injury Advocacy • Disability Services • Neurodiversity • Vocational Rehabilitation • Community-Based Rehabilitation • Brain Injury and Employment • Brain Injury and Relationships