Katherine Dunlap

Katherine's path to becoming a rehabilitation professional...
I received an undergraduate in Risk Management and Insurance. I started working in the Risk Management Department of a Fortune 100 company. After a number of years, I realized that the reason I was successful in my job were due to my interpersonal skills first and my risk management knowledge second. I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling so I could work with people with disabilities/chronic illnesses. Following graduate school, I began working for a neuropsychologist providing cognitive rehabilitation services and behavioral management of chronic pain. From this setting, I transitioned to working in a neurorehabilitation hospital administering/scoring neuropsychological tests, providing individual/group/family therapy to brain injury clients and their families, and some continuation of cognitive rehabilitation services and behavioral management of chronic pain. I became a vocational consultant after relocating to Montana. I currently provide vocational services to workers' compensation claimants, vocational expert services for both plaintiff and defense attorneys, life care planning/cost projection services, and some clinical work on the side.

Katherine's rehabilitation education...
I received a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University in 1995. I had the honor and privilege to study with Roger Weed, Ph.D. and to be his research assistant during my master's program. Since receiving my Master's degree, I studied for and received a certification in life care planning from the University of Florida program.

How Katherine developed her practice...
My practice has developed gradually. I established myself as a professional in the workers' compensation arena and built those connections. In performing this type of work, I have worked with many claimants who were legally represented. A number of my clients' attorneys like the work I did and have used my services in other areas. This provided an entree into performing forensic work. A natural complement to the forensic work is life care planning - which also builds on my clinical experience working with people with neurological impairments.

Katherine's "Ah-Ha!" moments that shaped her rehabilitation career path...
My greatest Ah-Ha moment occurred when I realized that my educational and work experiences to date built the foundation for my present work. I would never have anticipated that I would be working as a vocational consultant!

Katherine's outside interests that inform/influence her work...
I am fascinated with people and what motivates/drives us. My interest in people and my clinical work providing psychotherapy services has assisted me in working with people in addressing issues of vocation/injury.

How IARP has served Katherine's career..
IARP has been invaluable in my career progression/establishment. I have found the educational opportunities to be essential/helpful. From attending conferences and getting involved in the organization, I have developed personal and professional friendships and networks. Access to a nationwide network allows me incredible resources to which I would not otherwise have access. I believe this makes me more valuable as a consultant.

Katherine's advice to folks considering a career as a rehabilitation professional...
This is a great field! While this profession is not one you will read about frequently, it is a rewarding and interesting field that provides opportunity for intellectual interest and challenge.