Survivor Acceptance

Member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (A.C.S.W.) and a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress (B.C.E.T.S.), with Board Certification in Disability Trauma (B.C.D.T.), Nancy Bauser is also a survivor of a severe brain injury sustained in 1971. Following her injury, she had to relearn to walk, talk, think and function independently. She went on to complete her undergraduate and subsequently a graduate degree in social work. Ms. Bauser has lived for more than 36 years experiencing the triumphs and defeats that accompany living with a traumatic brain injury.

Nancy Bauser developed Acceptance Groups for Survivors: A Guide for Facilitators out of her life experiences. This structured group program for survivors of trauma and those who are recovering from disabling emotional and physical diseases and/or addictions is based on the concept of acceptance of one’s life circumstances. It employs interactive discussions of a series of themes and questions common to survivors coping with trauma.

Out of her own experiences as a brain injury survivor, Nancy Bauser presents a step-by-step methodical guide on how to help victims of catastrophe. Bauser, who survived an automobile accident in 1971, developed a systematic approach for facilitators, social workers, psychologists and rehabilitation personnel to use in order to help others who have undergone similar physical traumas. Groups help survivors become invested in recovery, understand personal worth, become aware of strengths and weaknesses, deal with loss, learn problem solving skills, and later to reach realistic goals. RECOVERY IS MAKING PROGRESS is the underlying message of the book.

After sustaining a severe and life-threatening brain injury in 1971, Nancy Bauser made more than just a full recovery. She went on to earn her Bachelors degree from the University of Michigan in 1973 and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. Ms. Bauser became a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers in 1984. After establishing herself as a Disability Peer Counselor and making presentations in San Diego, California in 1995 and in Seville, Spain in 1997, she published Acceptance Groups for Survivors, A Guide for Facilitators in 2001. In 2004, Ms. Bauser achieved Diplomate status in the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, with Board Certification in Disability Trauma. In 2007, a revised and updated edition of her book was released.