Heike Dumke

About Heike

Dr. Heike Dumke, PsyD — Mind your Brain

Dr. Heike Dumke provides counselling and cognitive rehabilitation through secure TeleHealth services, including online sessions and telephone support (some in-person counselling is available). She works with adults experiencing changes in thinking, functioning, mood, or quality of life related to brain injury, physical injury, cancer treatment, cognitive ageing, caregiving, anxiety, and stress.

Dr. Heike has a specialization in cognitive rehabilitation and extensive experience in brain injury rehabilitation and neuro-informed counselling, particularly for people who have experienced an acquired brain injury. She also provides support for dementia worry—worries or anxiety about developing dementia or experiencing cognitive decline.

Dr. Heike has worked as a cognitive rehabilitation therapist since January 2008, supporting people living with acquired brain injury and other conditions affecting cognitive and everyday functioning. Her approach combines counselling, cognitive rehabilitation, education, practical strategies, and emotional support to help people better understand and manage the challenges they are experiencing in everyday life.

Areas of Practice

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Support following concussion, traumatic brain injury, stroke, anoxia, meningitis, encephalitis, brain tumour, and other acquired brain injuries. Counselling and cognitive rehabilitation may address changes in attention, memory, processing, fatigue, emotional regulation, confidence, and everyday functioning.

Cognitive Rehabilitation & Wellness
Individualized cognitive rehabilitation focused on practical functioning in everyday life. This may include education about cognition, compensatory strategies, attention and memory strategies, managing cognitive fatigue, adapting routines, and developing approaches that support successful participation in daily activities.

Brain Health & Cognitive Ageing
Support for people navigating normal cognitive ageing, concerns about changes in memory or thinking, and questions about maintaining cognitive wellbeing. Dr. Heike also works with dementia worry—anxiety or persistent concern about developing dementia or experiencing cognitive decline—helping clients better understand their concerns and develop practical ways of responding to them.

Caregiver Support
Counselling for family members and caregivers supporting someone experiencing brain injury, cognitive changes, illness, or disability. Support may include coping with changing roles and responsibilities, managing stress and emotional strain, communication, boundaries, and finding sustainable ways to support both the person receiving care and oneself.

Physical Injury Rehabilitation Counselling
Counselling support for people adjusting to the physical, cognitive, emotional, and everyday-life consequences of injury. The focus may include adjustment, coping, identity and role changes, reduced functioning, return to meaningful activities, and the emotional challenges that can accompany rehabilitation and recovery.

Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI)
Support for people experiencing changes in attention, memory, concentration, processing, or mental clarity during or following cancer treatment. Cognitive rehabilitation and counselling can help with understanding these changes, developing practical strategies, managing associated distress, and adapting daily activities.

Anxiety
Support for anxiety that may arise independently or alongside brain injury, cognitive changes, health concerns, injury, caregiving, or other life circumstances. Counselling may focus on understanding anxiety, reducing its impact on daily functioning, and developing practical coping strategies.

Stress Management
Support for managing the cognitive, emotional, and physical effects of ongoing or overwhelming stress. This may include identifying sources of stress, understanding how stress can affect attention, memory, sleep, and emotional functioning, and developing strategies to improve coping and everyday balance.

How Dr. Heike Works

Dr. Heike takes a collaborative, individualized approach. She listens carefully to each person’s experience and helps untangle the cognitive, emotional, and practical challenges that may be affecting everyday life.

Depending on your goals and circumstances, counselling and cognitive rehabilitation may include education about how the brain and cognition function, practical cognitive and functional strategies, exploration of emotional responses, and support with adjustment to changes in health or functioning.

For example, someone experiencing memory or concentration difficulties may benefit from learning more about how attention and memory work, identifying factors that may be affecting cognitive functioning, and developing individualized strategies for managing everyday demands. Someone coping with injury, illness, caregiving, or concerns about cognitive ageing may benefit from both practical problem-solving and emotional support.

Dr. Heike’s professional background includes extensive experience in brain injury rehabilitation, physical injury rehabilitation, and cognitive ageing, as well as research and publications in the areas of cognitive ageing and traumatic brain injury. Her work brings together psychology, cognitive neuroscience, rehabilitation, and evidence-informed practice.

Her overall goal is to help people regain their footing in life, strengthen confidence in their ability to manage challenges, and improve everyday functioning and quality of life.