Christine Helfrich, Ph.D.

Christine Helfrich, Ph.D.

christine.helfrich@yu.edu I 646-592-8028 | 1165 Morris Park Avenue, 4th Floor, Bronx, NY

Katz School Professor Christine Helfrich, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized leader in occupational therapy whose scholarship has helped define the profession’s role in supporting survivors of domestic violence, unhoused individuals and other underserved populations. Her early epidemiological studies identified the functional needs of these communities and informed subsequent needs assessments across a broad range of populations who are often underrepresented in research and practice. 

With support from multiple federal grants, Dr. Helfrich developed the Life Skills Manuals, evidence-informed resources now used by social service professionals in more than 60 countries. She plans to continue expanding and translating these manuals to increase their global reach and impact. 

A qualitative researcher with expertise in phenomenological methods, Dr. Helfrich is frequently sought for studies that center on the experiences of people who remain underrepresented in mainstream research. Most recently, she contributed to the development of a fall-prevention intervention for individuals with HIV, substance use histories and experiences of homelessness. She also regularly reviews grants for several federal agencies and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. 

As a mentor in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning program, she will lead a team of researchers examining how artificial intelligence can be integrated ethically and effectively into university classrooms.

Recent Publications

Books & Chapters

• Twinley, R. & Helfrich, C.A. (2025). Adult Interpersonal Violence: Illuminating the Dark Side of Occupations, London: Routledge.

• Helfrich, C. A. & Synovec, C. (2025). Homelessness & housing insecurity. In C. Brown, J.P. Munoz & V. Stoffel (Eds.), Occupational therapy for mental health: A vision for participation (3^rd ed., pp. 877-901). F.A. Davis Company. 

• Helfrich, C. A. (2024). Principles of learning and behavior change. In B. Schell, G. Gillen, M. Scaffa, (Eds.), Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy (14^th ed., pp. 667-682). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. 

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Gill, S. V. & Helfrich, C. A. (2025). Use of the Forging Alliances in Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Research (FAIRR) model to develop an intervention using a mixed methods approach. Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions. DOI: 10.22540/JMNI-25-364
• Dahlerbruch, K., Helfrich, C., & Gill, S., (Nov. 2024). Participation as co-occupation between parents and adult children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492241292267
• Gill, S., Shin, D., Kim, T.W., Magane, K.M., Hereen, T., Winter, M., Helfrich, C., & Saitz, R. (March, 2024) Fall prevention trial for people with HIV and alcohol use. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492241238956
• Choi, C. W., Cunha, D., Helfrich, C., & Gill, S., (2023). Factors contributing to whether or not people with obesity undergo bariatric surgery. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 17(6), 511-518, ISSN 1871-403X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2023.11.003.
• Taylor, C. J., Barlow, K. G., & Helfrich, C. (2023). Exploring professional behavior development in entry-level occupational therapy students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 7 (2), https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol7/iss2/2 
• Follis, K.H., Helfrich, C., & Sullivan, A. (2023). Life skill programs: An exploratory survey of school based programming in the public high school setting. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals. Retrieved from: https://www.naset.org/publications/jaasep-research-based-journal-in-special-education/jaasep-winter-2023/life-skill-programs-an-exploratory-survey-of-school-based-programming-in-the-public-high-school-setting.
• Choi, C. W., Gill, S., & Helfrich, C., (2023, May). Examining factors associated with undergoing bariatric surgery. In Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (Vol. 45, pp. S68-S68). Human Kinetics Publishing Inc.
• Shin, D., Gill, S. V., Kim, T. W., Magane, K. M., Mason, T., Hereen, T., Winter, M., Helfrich, C., & Saitz, R. (2022). Study protocol for a pilot randomized trial of a virtual occupational therapy fall prevention intervention for people with HIV and alcohol use. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 16:1-7. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/11782218221145548
• Forfa, M., Helfrich, C., & Simon, R. (2022). Perceptions on non-traditional models of fieldwork supervision. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6 (1). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2022.060111
• Gill, S.V., Shin, D., Ayoub, M., Keegan, L., Desrochers, P.C., Helfrich, C.A. (2021). Pivoting in context: Using the forging alliances in interdisciplinary rehabilitation research model to collaborate during COVID-19. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 100(6), 519-525. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001749. PMID: 33782276; PMCID: PMC8131232.
• Swiech, P, Sullivan, A. & Helfrich, C. (August, 2020). Adult self-feeding: Back to basics. CE Supplement in OT Practice (CEA0802), AOTA.

Manuals

• Helfrich, C. A. (2006a). Food management: A life skills intervention. Chicago: University of Illinois at Chicago. Available from: Life Skills Manual Order Form | Naric

• Helfrich, C. A. (2006b). Money management: A life skills intervention. Chicago: University of Illinois at Chicago. Available from: Life Skills Manual Order Form | Naric

• Helfrich, C. A. (2006c). Home and self-care: A life skills intervention. Chicago: University of Illinois at Chicago. Available from: Life Skills Manual Order Form | Naric

• Helfrich, C. A. (2006d). Safe community participation: A life skills intervention. Chicago: University of Illinois at Chicago. Available from: Life Skills Manual Order Form | Naric

Media & Speaking

• Gill, S.V., Shin, D. & Helfrich, C.A. (2026). Applying the Forging Alliances in Interdisciplinary Research (FAIRR) model in rehabilitation: Mentoring student professional reasoning in research. Reasoning Incubator conducted at the International Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy Conference, Online.

• Helfrich, C.A. & Sullivan, A. (2026). Impact of an OT fieldwork experience in social-emotional learning and its efficacy in an innovative urban setting for at-risk children. Poster presented at the 19^th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, February 9-12, Bangkok, Thailand.

• Gill, S.V. & Helfrich, C.A. (2026). Use of the Forging Alliances in Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Research (FAIRR) model to develop a virtual fall prevention intervention using a mixed methods approach. Poster presented at the 19^th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, February 9-12, Bangkok, Thailand.

• Helfrich, C., Sullivan, A., & Gill, S.V. (2025). Evaluating the efficacy and impact of a social-emotional learning intervention for at-risk youth on coping and sensory processing in an urban setting. Poster presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

• Sullivan, A. & Helfrich, C. (2025). Impact of a level I fieldwork experience on social-emotional learning and mental health promotion in an urban school and community-based program. Short course presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

• Helfrich, C. (2024) Improving evidence-based practice & research methods outcomes using team-based learning & interactive workshop models: An integrative approach to application. Poster presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association Educational Summit, Charlotte, N.C.

• Rodriguez, A. & Helfrich, C. (2024) Experience of participation in immersion level I mental-health fieldwork. Poster presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association Educational Summit, Charlotte, N.C.

• Helfrich, C., Shin, D., & Gill, S.V. (2024). Factors contributing to falls among unhoused people with HIV and substance use: A grounded theory qualitative study. Poster presentation at American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.

• Helfrich, C. (2024) Keynote Address - Social justice and cognitive disabilities: 
  Considerations for occupational therapy practitioners, Allen Cognitive Network Symposium, virtual. 

• Helfrich, C., Javaherian, H., Lynch, A., Rothman, E.F. & Russell-Thomas, D.C. (2022, April) Healing from trauma: The value of occupation and therapeutic alliance. AOTF State of the Science Symposium at The American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX. (Authors listed in order of presentation)

• Helfrich, C.A. (2020, November). The Role of Occupational Therapy in Community Mental Health Across the Lifespan Post Covid-19. [Editor for week long webinar series for Occupational Therapy.com]

Honors and Awards

• Academy of Research: American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Inducted Member, 2013
• Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Award of Merit, 2006
• Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association, for “Advancing the Psychosocial Practice of Occupational Therapy,” 2002