Reframing the Story: Naseem Rochette’s Path to Healing
For Naseem Rochette, life changed in an instant. She was struck and run over by a car three times, an unthinkable trauma that left her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the months that followed, she found herself navigating not only physical recovery but also the invisible challenges that came with her new reality.
Finding Her New Normal
Before the accident, Naseem thrived as a sales leader in the fast-paced world of tech. Afterward, things felt different. She couldn’t juggle multiple tasks or handle chaos the way she used to, and she worried she’d never again be as capable or successful at work. But over time, something unexpected happened: she discovered a new rhythm, and with it, a new kind of success.
Choosing to Heal
Naseem credits early trauma therapy with helping her find a path forward. She also learned to lean on others, to accept help, and to practice kindness toward herself, things that didn’t come easily at first. Healing, she realized, wasn’t about becoming who she used to be, but about learning to understand and honor the person she was now.
Creating a Guide for the New Self
One of the most powerful tools Naseem created was her own “user guide.” Inspired by a Google best practice, the guide helped her communicate how her brain worked post-injury, what she needed, what supported her, and how she now processed information. It allowed her to show up fully and confidently as her authentic self at work, without apology or shame.
The Power of Reframing
Through her journey, Naseem learned that the way we think about our experiences shapes how we move through them. “Remember, we all go through difficult moments,” she says. “We choose our story. We choose how we think about it in the moment and how we reflect on it. It doesn’t mean the moment isn’t hard, it just means the moment isn’t everything.”
For Naseem, reframing became the cornerstone of her healing, the practice of shifting perspective, finding strength in struggle, and reminding herself daily that breaking does not mean being broken