After two worlds collided on July 25, 2024, the day Dr. Erdner was diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome, it was apparent a necessary shift was needed within the field of psychology of injury and rehabilitation. Having experienced sport injury herself and years spent teaching and applying the psychology of injury and rehabilitation throughout her career, Dr. Erdner quickly realized that no textbook chapter or peer-reviewed research publication was going to fully help her navigate this rare syndrome. What followed were two years, seven surgeries, and an epidural-hydromorphone pain pump that, in time, yielded deeply personal and professional insights into how we can better support injured-ill individuals across the rehabilitation-recovery landscape.

With her core values of curiosity and learning in tow, Dr. Erdner heard from countless doctors in how the landscape of medicine has forever changed since COVID-19; there’s been a vast rise in autonomic dysfunction (e.g., POTS) [1] and autoimmune conditions (e.g., lupus, connective tissue disease) [2-3], among others. Often, an autoimmune condition can be waiting in the shadows until an injury occurs. It is during these periods of significant physiological stress that illness can emerge, as the injury itself can act as a trigger that “switches on” the genetic predisposition for an autoimmune condition to manifest [4-5]. While this does not imply that illness always presents alongside acute injury, it does demand use of a widened conceptual lens. Taken together, we as psychology of injury and rehabilitation practitioners must not neglect the different pigments offered by these new horizons; we must humbly move forward with the intent to remain both grounded in science and open to the evolving colors of the human experience through injury-illness to better shape healing, resilience, and adaptation to life’s challenges.

The COPE Center exists to help both clients and practitioners metaphorically learn to paint with these new colors to achieve the various saturation and hues that come at the turn of a historical shift, merging what we once knew about the psychology of injury and rehabilitation with the dire need to intellectually play in unknown territory. How does this new landscape inform how we psychologically conceptualize injured-ill client cases? What brushes are we to use to ensure quality blending between overwhelming diagnoses with all past, present, and future hopes and dreams? In what ways can we honor different palettes that weren’t there before but are drenched to the point of forcing us to realize they can’t be ignored.

Although The COPE Center does not position itself as having all the answers to these complex and evolving questions, Dr. Erdner is inspired by the creative and exploratory nature of this work. As a pragmatic humanist, she prioritizes collaboration as essential to advancing knowledge, practice, and interdisciplinary impact. If you’ve found yourself here and also find yourself aligned with this work, Dr. Erdner would love to collaborate with you!

We exist not only to advance research but also to aid in helping injured-ill clients, and the practitioners that serve them, navigate the rehabilitation-recovery landscape from a psychological standpoint. The COPE Center delivers psychological expertise, collaborative frameworks, and referral pathways needed for clients to heal more completely and for practitioners to work more competently. Whether we are:

• helping individuals navigate fear, uncertainty, and readiness when considering return to sport, work, or meaningful life participation

• supporting meaning-making through the injury-illness journey, including identity shifts, growth, and adaptation

• assisting with grief, loss, and adjustment related to sudden health changes or disrupted life trajectories

• consulting with healthcare professionals (e.g., athletic trainers, dietitians, physical therapists, surgeons) to address psychological or behavioral barriers affecting recovery

• partnering with medical clinics and organizations to develop integrated, psychologically informed models of care

The COPE Center’s is here to ensure every client and practitioner receives the comprehensive, compassionate, and coordinated support they deserve as we all navigate this changing landscape. If you’d like to learn more, you’re welcome to explore the main menu sections most relevant to your needs. You may also submit inquires to Dr. Erdner using the contact form below.