*NEW* THC Research Session: Understanding and building resilience in family members providing support to relatives with traumatic injury

Family resilience is a focus of research and clinical attention in the field of traumatic injury (brain injury, spinal cord injury). Some have suggested that this presents a paradigm shift in the way researchers understand how a family responds to traumatic injury. In this presentation, the broader context for resilience will be outlined, highlighting (i) the clinical context; (ii) the policy and service delivery implications; (iii) and at a theoretical level, its position as part of the growing positive psychology and strengths-based movements. Approaches to defining resilience will then be outlined, followed by the role of resilience in family adjustment to traumatic injury. An intervention program aimed at building resilience will then be described, and finally future directions for resilience research will be discussed.