Many of our returning military and their families are struggling with the consequences of traumatic brain injury and PTSD, and a spotlight has recently been cast over problems in their care:

• long wait times
• misdiagnosis
• multiple medications
• persisting stigma

This spotlight has shed light on a much more widespread problem. These gaping holes in mental health care are not limited to the military--anyone who struggles with mental illness or brain injury faces the same challenges of limited resources, long waits, general confusion, and disabling stigma.

We aim to fill these gaping holes by equipping patients and their families with the tools they need to advocate for better care and strive for faster recovery.

Empowered patient is a term used to describe people who take control of their healthcare, something that is especially important for people with mental illness or brain injury. But it's easier said than done. We don't just encourage people to become empowered patients, we show them how.

Recent comments about our service!

"I also love your title "Empower...ALLY! Great work for TBIers and other brain injury folks! Many thanks for all you are doing for this community!"

"I was drawn to your website, not only by your genuine communication and articles, by your sincere caring heart, reflected in your  words.. additionally to your dedication to the ‘WOUNDED OTHERS”  you are planning /proposing  to globally touch and make whole."

"I really wanted to just thank you for talking to me when I had no one and helping me push myself to get better."

Our website was established from both scientific expertise and personal experience. But we don't just talk about the latest research or news, and we don't just talk about our personal stories. We aim to provide information and support that helps put people back in control of their lives, for instance:

• Practical "how-to" videos and articles--how to organize medications, how to get the most out of a doctor's appointment, or how to file for disability
• Ebooks and articles that explain the "why"--why people experience certain symptoms or side effects, why it can take so long for medication to work, or why personalities can change after an injury
• Resource list of specialized professionals such as disability lawyers, psychiatrists, neurologists, therapists, and rehabilitation facilities
• Personal consultation and coaching for people who are in crisis or who believe they have the wrong diagnosis or medication--via email, phone, or video
• A community forum where people can share without fear of stigma or judgment

There has been a surge of interest and support since the original website launched. We've learned a lot about what people need. We want to update our website to accommodate these needs, beginning with a name change from Brain Health Consulting to EmpowermentAlly, which better illustrates our dedication to showing people how to become empowered patients.

One thing we learned early on is that the people who need our help the most are also experiencing financial difficulties. We don’t want to only help people who have money to spare. We want to make our services free or very inexpensive, so that everyone gets help, and no one falls in the cracks.

We are raising these funds to convert our current service into a free membership website that provides these resources for everyone. Your bid will help underwrite the support that is so desperately needed by others.

Whereas people who are seeking help will have access to free membership, verified specialists and professionals will pay an annual fee for a premium listing in our resource section.

Marie Rowland is a neuroscientist specializing in brain injury and mental illness, and also has personal experience as a caregiver for someone who suffers from severe depression and anxiety.

She is a prolific author most recently published on

Anxiety Panic Health

Natasha Tracy's Mental Health Blog

Mark McGrath is a retired attorney who has 20+ years experience with injury, workers compensation, and competency cases. As a person who suffers from depression, Mark has personally experienced the gaps in mental health services.

We started Brain Health Consulting as a way to help people who suffer from brain injury, mental illness, or other brain disorders by providing the tools to help them become educated and empowered patients.

For more information about this growing problem, we suggest you check out the following articles:

War Wounds from the New York Times on 8/12/12

One a Day from Time Magazine on 7/28/12

When My Crazy Father Actually Lost His Mind from the New York Times Magazine on 6/22/12

And an interesting article about a similar idea for general healthcare.

The Hot Spotters from The New Yorker on 1/24/11