Kathryn Richardson

OTR/L, TPS, FPS

Pain Science

Bio

Kathy is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience treating pediatrics and adults with persistent pain. She has been working with EIM since 2021 and currently serves as Faculty Experience Advisor for Pain Sciences (TPS, FPS), Integrative Behavioral Health, Lifestyle Medicine, Pelvic Health and Hand Certification programs at EIM. In addition to her role as FX advisor, she also serves as Program Director for EIM’s Pain Science Fellowship. Kahy continues to work to expand and shape content areas to support the inclusion of OT practitioners and other rehabilitation providers. Kathy also serves as Assistant Program Coordinator for Southern California University-Health Sciences Post-Professional OTD Program.

Kathy earned her Master’s of Occupational Therapy degree from Louisiana State University in 2005. Following graduation, Kathy moved to Chicago, IL and began working at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab) where she specialized in both pediatric and adult outpatient pain management. Kathy, along with her colleagues, authored the current clinical guidelines for the treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Through this publication, she was able to integrate more current treatment strategies (graded motor imagery/mirror therapy) into the treatment algorithm driving best practice for this population.

Kathy also completed the Therapeutic Pain Specialist certification and has earned her Fellowship of Pain Sciences through International Spine and Pain Institute in partnership with EIM in 2022. Kathy has advanced training in pain neuroscience education (PNE), postural/body mechanics, sensory modulation, work simplification/energy conservation, graded motor imagery/discrimination, functional desensitization, and environmental/ergonomic assessment.

Research Interests

• Pain Neuroscience applications across the Lifespan