The Communication, Aphasia Recovery, and Emotion (CARE) Lab aims to advance our understanding of the role of emotion and psychosocial well-being in language and communication among people with aphasia and neurotypical, aging adults. Broadly, the CARE Lab is committed to exploring ways to improve aphasia rehabilitation outcomes. We also investigate the behavioral and neural correlates of post-stroke language recovery.

One focus of our research is to develop methods to address the emotional and psychosocial well-being of people with aphasia to improve quality of life and rehabilitation outcomes. We advocate for centering the importance of psychosocial well-being in rehabilitative settings to improve both quality of life and clinical outcomes. Another focus of our research is investigating the ways in which emotional stimuli and contexts impact language processing in neurotypical, aging adults.

At the Communication, Aphasia Recovery, and Emotion (CARE) Lab, we believe that meaningful scientific progress is grounded in honoring the full humanity of the people we serve and the communities we work alongside. Our work is driven by the understanding that every individual brings unique life experiences, communication needs, cultural backgrounds, and strengths that enrich both clinical practice and research.

We are committed to creating an environment where all people feel respected, welcomed, and supported—whether they are research participants, students, collaborators, or community members. Because our research centers on the emotional and psychosocial dimensions of communication, we intentionally cultivate a lab culture that prioritizes kindness, curiosity, dignity, and compassion. We aim to foster a collaborative, supportive research environment in which team members can grow, question, and contribute fully.

In the CARE Lab, we seek to advance rehabilitation science in ways that promote fairness, broaden representation, elevate marginalized voices, and ultimately improve quality of life for all people navigating communication challenges. Our values guide not only how we conduct research, but also how we interact with each other and with the world.