Concussion support with cognitive rehabilitation after a motor vehicle accident

If you have experienced a concussion following a motor vehicle accident in British Columbia, accessing appropriate rehabilitation support early can help you better understand symptoms, manage challenges, and work toward returning to meaningful daily activities.

Dr. Heike Dumke provides counselling and Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT)-informed support for individuals experiencing ongoing challenges after concussion, including cognitive fatigue, brain fog, attention difficulties, emotional adjustment, stress, and return-to-work or daily functioning goals.

With more than a decade of experience supporting individuals with brain injury and concussion, including work within WorkSafeBC concussion programs (2008–2022) and community-based rehabilitation, Dr. Heike brings specialized knowledge of the cognitive, emotional, and functional impacts of concussion and evidence-informed Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) approaches.

Support may include:

• Understanding and learning how to address concussion symptoms such as brain fog, cognitive fatigue, sensory sensitivity, and attention difficulties
• Developing strategies to improve concentration, pacing, and energy management
• Addressing sleep disruption and fatigue
• Managing stress, anxiety, and emotional responses related to injury and recovery
• Supporting gradual return to work, school, or daily activities
• Building coping strategies for symptom flare-ups and setbacks
• Improving confidence in thinking, memory, and daily functioning
• Supporting communication and self-advocacy within the recovery and rehabilitation process
• Reducing the impact of concusison symptoms, and gradually return to meaningful daily activities, work, and routines.

Discuss Concussion Counselling Support

If you are experiencing ongoing symptoms after an MVA-related concussion, contact Dr. Heike to discuss whether cognitive rehabilitation-informed counselling support may be appropriate.

Physical Injury Rehabilitation Counselling for ICBC Clients

Physical injuries after an MVA can affect daily life, confidence, independence, and emotional well-being. Rehabilitation counselling provides support for coping with pain, stress, changes in functioning, and the challenges that can occur during injury recovery.

Dr. Heike provides rehabilitation counselling support for individuals adjusting to physical injuries after motor vehicle accidents, including challenges related to pain, stress, sleep, confidence, daily functioning, and return to work or activities.

Areas of support may include:

• Pain education and pain management strategies
• Understanding how stress and emotions can influence pain experiences
• Coping with frustration, uncertainty, and prolonged symptoms
• Sleep education and strategies
• Anxiety and mood management related to injury adjustment
• Confidence rebuilding and return to activities

With more than a decade of rehabilitation experience supporting individuals after injury, including WorkSafeBC rehabilitation programs and community-based rehabilitation, Dr. Heike understands the cognitive, emotional, and functional challenges that can affect recovery, adjustment, and return to meaningful activities.

Discuss Physical Injury Rehabilitation Counselling

If you are adjusting to pain, physical limitations, stress, or changes in daily functioning after an MVA, contact Dr. Heike to discuss rehabilitation counselling support.

How Rehabilitation Counselling Complements Other ICBC Services

Rehabilitation counselling may complement services such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy by supporting:

• Adjustment to changes after injury
• Coping with symptoms and uncertainty
• Emotional and cognitive barriers affecting participation
• Confidence returning to daily activities and work

Accessing ICBC Rehabilitation Counselling Support

ICBC Concussion Care & Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Support

If you have recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident in British Columbia, ICBC provides early access to counselling support, which typically allows you to begin sessions without prior approval within the initial 12 weeks following your accident. Sessions are directly billed to ICBC. Dr. Heike provides post-injury rehabilitation counselling (e.g., physical injury due to an MVA) as well as cognitive rehabilitation-informed concussion care.

If you are participating in ICBC’s Early Access Concussion Recovery program with an Occupational Therapist or Kinesiologist, counselling services could be accessed alongside your rehabilitation care.

Individuals injured in a motor vehicle accident may access ICBC-funded counselling support without prior ICBC approval during the first 12 weeks following the accident date. This Early Access period allows eligible clients to begin rehabilitation support while adjusting to concussion symptoms, physical injuries, pain, stress, and changes in daily functioning.

Dr. Heike provides direct billing to ICBC. To arrange ICBC-funded services, clients are asked to provide their ICBC claim number and case manager contact information when booking so eligibility and billing arrangements can be confirmed.

After the initial 12-week Early Access period, continued ICBC-funded counselling and therapeutic care requires ICBC approval. For eligible clients, Dr. Heike supports this process through required documentation, which may include treatment plans, progress reports, and assessment reports requested by ICBC.

Important Information About Services (Scope)

Dr. Heike provides rehabilitation-focused counselling related to injury recovery, adjustment, coping, and daily functioning. Trauma-focused counselling for PTSD or trauma processing is not provided. Individuals seeking trauma therapy are encouraged to connect with a qualified trauma therapist.

Discuss Your ICBC Rehabilitation Support Options

• Contact Dr. Heiketo discuss whether ICBC-funded concussion support or physical injury rehabilitation counselling may be appropriate for your recovery needs.