What I Actually Do

(A note from Dennis Radman)

I’ve spent years designing clinical frameworks, co-developing digital health tools, building programs, and conducting research in rehabilitation and mental health. If you look at my work on paper, it’s about systems: patient portals, protocols, implementation plans, algorithms, and evidence-informed resources that support people in moments of transition.

But the truth is, I’ve always been drawn to something more profound.

At first, I framed it in terms people understood—feasibility, functionality, better care delivery. These are important. But they’re not the full story. Over time, I started noticing that the real questions I was trying to answer weren’t just about efficiency or outcomes. They were about something quieter, and harder to measure:

Can we build systems that feel like they belong to the people inside them?
Can we design processes that remember people—not just their needs, but their stories, values, and ways of being?
Can we repair what illness or injury has disrupted—not just physically, but personally?

I found myself returning to this again and again—especially in rehabilitation, where recovery isn’t just a medical process. It’s often about reorientation: rebuilding identity, renegotiating relationships, reclaiming autonomy. In those moments, the systems we build shouldn’t just function well. They should help people feel held, respected, and seen.

So, I started designing differently. I listened more. I built tools that adapt to real lives—not ideal ones. I started building with people, not just for them, not just end-users, but partners.

What Matters Most

In every role I’ve taken—clinical, research, systems-level—I’ve been pulled toward work that helps people feel grounded. Work that holds space for nuance. Work that doesn’t rush to simplify complexity, but instead asks: What needs to be preserved here? What matters most to this person, in this context, right now?

Sometimes that means helping someone regain a sense of control after a brain injury.
Sometimes it means translating complex research into something a clinician can use tomorrow.
Sometimes it means creating a tool that helps two people—patient and provider—talk to each other a little more clearly.

But every time, it’s about meaningful repair—about finding the human thread inside the system and strengthening it.

So yes, my work involves feasibility studies, outcome tools, stakeholder engagement, and implementation strategies. I take all of that seriously. But behind those deliverables is a much simpler goal:

To build things that make people’s lives feel more coherent, more navigable, and more their own.

That’s what I actually do.

Therapy With Me

Whether you’re navigating a brain injury, managing the strain of caregiving, adjusting to chronic health changes, or facing challenges that feel harder to name—therapy can be a place to pause, reflect, and reorient.

I offer collaborative, grounded therapy that is focused on what matters most to you. My approach is not about diagnosis or fixing—it’s about creating space to make sense of your experiences, explore what’s changed, and figure out where you want to go from here.

For some people, therapy is a place to talk and process.
For others, it’s a space to build practical strategies for day-to-day functioning.

And for many, it’s both.

Who I Work With

I support adults who are navigating:

- Acquired brain injuries (including concussion and traumatic brain injury)
- Changes in memory, attention, or executive functioning
- Chronic illness or long-term health conditions
- Caregiving responsibilities and relationship stress
- Loss of roles, identity, or autonomy
- Returning to school, work, or daily life after health changes
- General life transitions, grief, and adjustment

You don’t need to have a specific diagnosis or a clear “goal” in mind—many people come to therapy because something feels off, overwhelming, or unresolved. That’s more than enough reason to reach out.

How I Work

I tailor each session to the person in front of me—drawing on a mix of approaches that support emotional insight, practical coping, and meaningful progress over time.
Some of the approaches I may draw from include:

- Narrative Therapy – exploring how you make sense of what’s happened, and how your story continues to evolve.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – building flexibility and strength to face difficult thoughts, emotions, or changes.
- Cognitive Rehabilitation Strategies – personalized tools to support attention, memory, organization, and everyday functioning.
- Emotion-Focused and Relational Work – understanding how health challenges intersect with identity, connection, and emotion.
- Psychoeducation and Skill-Building – I offer strategies and tools drawn from research and clinical practice when it’s helpful.

The work is always collaborative. I’ll bring knowledge, care, and structure—but you set the direction.

What Therapy Might Look Like

Therapy can take many shapes, depending on your needs and where you are in your process. It might look like conversations that help you name and understand what’s changed, or sessions focused on developing tools to manage fatigue, forgetfulness, or overwhelm. We might explore family dynamics, questions of independence, or the challenges of making decisions in new circumstances. For some, therapy offers space to process grief, anger, or confusion after health-related losses. For others, it’s about gently building structure—setting goals, making plans, and regaining a sense of momentum. Most of all, therapy is a place to talk honestly about what’s hard, and to reconnect with what still matters.

If you’re not sure whether therapy is the right fit, or if you’re looking for someone who understands the complex intersections between health, identity, and daily life—I’d be happy to talk. You’re not expected to arrive with answers.

You’re welcome to begin wherever you are.