Small Group, Big Impact for Cognitive Communication Skills

Adults who live with acquired communication challenges from a stroke, brain injury or neurological condition must continually work to maintain their improved skills.

To support and strengthen skills, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation’s Cognitive Communication Skills Group offers a structured yet relaxed setting where participants practice communication strategies in a way that feels supportive, social and fun.

Led by a certified speech-language pathologist, it’s the only group of its kind in the Lehigh Valley region.

Unlike traditional support groups, Cognitive Communication Skills Group members talk about challenges and work through them in real time. The typical group includes four to six individuals diagnosed with aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria or other cognitive communication disorders. Despite differing diagnoses, participants share the same goal: improve the ability to effectively communicate.

Each session focuses on active skill building and follows a thoughtful structure that balances routine with engaging activities:

• Introductions and goal-sharing. After introducing themselves, members share their goals and strategies they’re working on. This helps build familiarity and encourages peer support.
• Brain warm-up. Simple exercises to get cognitive and language skills flowing may include naming items in a category or identifying similarities and differences between objects.
• Main activity. This is where the fun comes in. Participants might play a group version of Family Feud, take part in a show-and-share or engage in other cognitive-linguistic games designed to challenge communication in a low-pressure way.
• Real-life application. The group discusses how the day’s activity connects to everyday situations, helping participants bridge the gap between practice and daily life.
• Positive wrap-up. Sessions end on an encouraging note, with each member reflecting on what they did well.

Real Benefits

The Cognitive Communication Skills Group’s impact is evident in the experience of a few members:

• A woman in her late 60s, recovering from a stroke, struggled with both understanding speech and expressing herself. With limited opportunities to practice at home, the group became a vital outlet. Her family noted how much they valued having a dedicated space for her to engage and improve.
• A participant in her late 60s faced difficulty finding and producing the right words. By attending ongoing therapy and the group, she applied her strategies in real conversations. She not only improved her own skills but also became a source of encouragement for others.

How to Participate

Good Shepherd’s Cognitive Communication Skills Group meets at Good Shepherd’s Hyland Center, 850 S. 5^th St. in Allentown, in six-week cycles during the winter, spring and fall.

The group is open to the public. Participants can be active in or discharged from speech therapy. Cost is $75 per cycle.

To learn more or get started, visit the Cognitive Communication Skills Group page.