About Dr. Heike Dumke, PsyD.

• Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
• Specializing in Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT)
• Published Researcher in Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Cognitive Ageing
• Founder, Mind your Brain – Therapy and Care

Bridging Neuroscience and Counselling: Specializing in Brain Injury Rehabilitation & Cognitive Ageing

Dr. Heike Dumke, PsyD, RCC (BCACC #11568), is a Registered Clinical Counsellor specializing in Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT), brain injury rehabilitation, and cognitive ageing. She combines neuro-informed counselling with cognitive rehabilitation to support individuals navigating brain injury, health-related cognitive changes, and concerns about cognitive health and functioning.

Her work bridges cognitive neuroscience, psychological practice, and rehabilitation.

Research Profile
Dr. Heike’s work includes peer-reviewed research and advanced academic training in cognitive neuroscience, rehabilitation, brain injury, cognitive ageing, and brain health. Her research has examined rehabilitation outcomes, return to work following brain injury, and age differences in cognition.

For all services I provide as a therapist, please see my Services, or see the links below for

Resources on Aging

Resources for Brain Injury

Resources for Brain Health

Research & Publications

Research Contributions in Brain Injury and Cognitive Ageing

Dr. Dumke has contributed to the scientific literature on rehabilitation outcomes following brain injury and cognitive changes associated with health conditions across the lifespan. Her published research has examined factors influencing recovery, symptom experiences, and return-to-work outcomes following brain injury, dementia worry, and age differences in everyday problem-solving.

Education & Professional Credentials

• Paediatric nurse with a specialization in intensive medical care for children (registered in Germany)
• BA (first-class honours) in Psychology with a focus on Neuropsychology at Simon Fraser University – BC, Canada
• Masters of Science (2012), Clinical Application in Psychology at University of Leicester – United Kingdom
• Certificate in Cognitive Rehabilitation (2012)  Brain Tree – United Kingdom
• Ph.D. candidate (2003-2005): Cognitive/Clinical Neuroscience at the Brain Research Center at the University of British Columbia – BC, Canada: Correlating Structure and Function- the Impact of Myelination of Corpus Callosum on Cognitive Development
• Ph.D. candidate (2015-2019), Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia- Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy: Fatigue following traumatic brain injury
• PsyD (Doctorate in Psychology), summa cum laude:

  Psychosocial Factors in the Ageism–Cognitive Impact Nexus: A Systematic Literature Review

All of my academic education has been geared towards understanding cognitive functioning including the normal cognitive aging process and how the healthy brain creates our experiences (i.e. thinking, emotions, and behaviour) as well as the interrelationships between these experiences and other factors (internal and environmental influences).  Throughout my work, I have gained insight into how cognitive changes as part of the aging process or due to a brain insult (e.g. trauma or disease) can impact and compromise a person’s functioning (i.e. cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, quality of life).

In addition, my personal experiences instilled in me a perspective of compassion, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.  As such, my educational background (medical studies in nursing, Germany; cognitive neuroscience; human neuropsychology; rehabilitation and occupational sciences> see above) and personal experiences have provided me with unique insights that have allowed me to bridge the neuroscience aspect with the human aspect within the field of cognitive rehabilitation. It is this unique combination of knowledge and experience that I believe has made me so successful in working with clients who have experienced cognitive difficulties.

Professional Memberships:

I am a member in good standing in the following professional organizations

• Society for Cognitive Rehabilitation (~ 2009 – present)
• Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada (2013 – 2023)
• BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (2014 – present)

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