About Dr. Dillahunt
Overview
Dr. Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga is a distinguished scholar, researcher, and practitioner in the fields of rehabilitation counseling, vocational evaluation, career counseling, and life care planning. With a career dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with diverse disabilities, she has made significant contributions to academia, vocational rehabilitation, and rehabilitation medicine. She also serves in the legal field as an expert witness.
Academic Background and Professional Credentials
Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga earned her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Florida and is currently a tenured professor at the University of South Florida (USF) in the Department of Child and Family Studies. She specializes in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, where she teaches and mentors students pursuing careers in vocational rehabilitation and rehabilitation medicine. Dr. Dillahunt is completing a Master of Science in Law (MSL) program at Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law. She anticipates her graduation in December 2025.
She holds multiple certifications, underscoring her expertise in vocational rehabilitation, life care planning, and career counseling:
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
- Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE)
- Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP)
- Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST)
- International Certified Cost of Care Professional, ICCCP (F)
- Diplomate International Certified Vocational Evaluator (ICVE-D)
- Fellow of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (FACRM)
- National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern
Her extensive professional training, teaching, and research contributions have positioned her as a national leader in vocational rehabilitation, employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, and career counseling.
Contributions to Career Counseling and Vocational Rehabilitation
Dr. Dillahunt has played a crucial role in advancing career counseling services for individuals with disabilities, particularly those recovering from traumatic injuries. Her work focuses on vocational guidance counseling and disability adjustment counseling, helping individuals reintegrate into the workforce. Her research interests in employment for individuals with disabilities, caregiving support, resource facilitation, and community reintegration have led to the development of vocational models of service delivery that improve job placement and retention rates for people with disabilities.
She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and clinical practice guidelines, offering data-driven insights into rehabilitation practices.
Research Focus and Contributions
As a leading researcher in vocational rehabilitation, Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga’s studies focus on:
- Employment outcomes for individuals with disabilites, including the challenges they face in finding and maintaining jobs.
- The role of caregiving and family support in the rehabilitation process.
- Community reintegration strategies for veterans and civilians with cognitive and physical impairments.
- Vocational and economic impacts of brain injuries, influencing policy and rehabilitation practices.
Her work has had a profound impact on shaping rehabilitation policies, helping to identify the barriers and facilitators that affect employment success for individuals with disabilities.
Expert Witness and Legal Consultation Work
Beyond her academic and research contributions, Dr. Dillahunt-Aspillaga is a highly sought-after expert witness in legal cases involving vocational rehabilitation and life care planning. With over two decades of experience, she has provided objective vocational evaluations and more recently expert testimony in legal proceedings. This work is performed on a part-time basis.
Professional Impact and Legacy
Through her extensive research, teaching, career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, life care planning, and legal consulting, Dr. Dillahunt has made significant contributions to the landscape of rehabilitation sciences and vocational evaluation. Her work continues to influence rehabilitation professionals, legal experts, and policymakers.
- https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Reports/2017/07/19/Longitudinal-Study-on-Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Incurred-by-Members-of-the-Armed-Forces
- https://acrm.org/ecng-newsletter-june-2018/research-spotlight-christine-dillahunt-aspillaga/
- https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/research/dre_studies.cfm?DRE=Treatment%20-%20Comparative%20Effectiveness
- https://www.polytrauma.va.gov/news-and-resources/2015-11-TBIMS-IMAP-NewsletterIssue3.pdf
- https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9608154
The views expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health or the United States Government.