Kristen Dillon PsyD, ABPP

Dr. Kristen Dillon is a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified geropsychologist who specializes in hospice, palliative care, and bereavement.

Dr. Dillon completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Geropsychology at the VA Bedford Healthcare System and currently serves as a Staff Psychologist in Hospice & Palliative Care. In this role, she provides individual and group psychotherapy, implements evidence-based interventions, facilitates Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy, and offers grief support for Veterans at end of life and their families. She is an integral part of the Palliative Care Consult Team, conducting comprehensive psychosocial and diagnostic assessments and offering education and consultation to interdisciplinary teams. She also leads bereavement support groups and provides education locally and nationally on grief. She has been invited to speak at numerous conferences and was thrice featured on Dr. Chad Kessler’s COVID in 20 series - a career highlight that even rivals the time her virtual grief workshop didn’t get interrupted by tech issues or someone’s cat. 

With a passion for aging, PTSD, existential concerns, and caregiving, Dr. Dillon aims to improve quality of life for older adults facing serious illness. Her clinical expertise also includes PTSD in older adulthood, caregiving, and family dynamics at end of life. She has pursued specialized training in Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for patients with advanced illness, Complicated Grief Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure. Her research interests include anticipatory grief, PTSD and moral injury at end of life, family caregiving, and the use of virtual reality to enhance care. She has contributed to multiple research and quality improvement projects at the VA, focused on culture change, bereavement support, and innovative interventions for older adults.

Dr. Dillon is committed to training the next generation of psychologists, supervising practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral residents within and beyond Geropsychology. She serves on several national VA committees dedicated to enhancing mental health care for older veterans and holds a leadership role as the VISN 1 Geriatric Mental Health Champion. She has co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals, frequently presents at professional conferences, and has been awarded grants related to palliative care education and virtual reality initiatives in end-of-life care.

Outside of work, Dr. Dillon enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her children, Annaleigh and Wesley - usually outdoors, often with snacks – lots of snacks. She is the founder of Junie’s Place, Inc., a nonprofit that provides no-cost bereavement support to families who have experienced child or pregnancy loss and trains clinicians in grief- and trauma-informed interventions. The organization was created in loving memory of her daughter Junie, whose death transformed Dr. Dillon’s personal life and deepened her professional mission. Guided by both heart and clinical expertise, Dr. Dillon is committed to creating spaces where grief is acknowledged, supported, and never walked alone.

Publications

Gately ME, Shirk SD, Canell A, Laffer A, Corle M, Dillon K. "I Don't Get to Feel This Good Very Often:" Virtual Reality Intervention for Veterans Receiving End-of-Life Care. J Palliat Med. 2026 Feb 9:10966218261421071. doi: 10.1177/10966218261421071. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41661112.

Pimentel CB, Mills WL, Snow AL, Palmer JA, Wewiorski NJ , Allen RS, Sullivan JL, Dillon K, Hartmann CW. (2019). Adapting Strategies to Achieve Optimal Intervention Implementation in Nursing Homes: A Formative Evaluation. The Gerontologist.

Dillon, K. (2019). A review of “Charlie Company’s Journey Home: The Boys of ’67 and the War they Left Behind. Journal of Women and Aging, DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2019.1624122.

Pimentel CB, Mills WL, Palmer JA, Dillon K, Sullivan JL, Wewiorski NJ, Snow AL, Allen RS, Hopkins SD, Hartmann CW. (2019). Blended facilitation as an effective implementation strategy for quality improvement and research in nursing homes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 34(3):210-216.

Hartmann C., Mills W., Pimentel C., Palmer J., Allen R., Zhao S., Wewiorski N., Sullivan J., Dillon K., Clark V., Berlowitz D., Snow L. (2018). Impact of intervention to improve nursing home resident-staff interactions and engagement. The Gerontologist, 58(4): e291-e301.

Hartmann, C., Palmer, J., Mills, W., Pimentel, C., Allen, R., Wewiorski, N., Dillon, K. & Snow, L. (2017). Adaptation of a nursing home culture change research instrument for frontline staff quality improvement use. Psychological Services, 14(3): 337-346.

 Presentations & Workshops

 Dillon, K. & Canell, A. (Abstract submitted). Extended Reality Innovation to Support Older Adults’ Well-Being and Autonomy. Gerontological Society of America 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, Gerontological Society of America. 

Dillon, K. (Scheduled May 2026). Grief in the Clinical Setting: Pitfalls of Minimization and Medicalization. Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care Webinar Series, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series.

Dillon, K. & Gately, M. (Scheduled April 2026). I Don’t Get to Feel This Good Very Often:” Virtual Reality Intervention for Veterans Receiving End-of-Life Care. XR In Mental Health Community of Practice Webinar Series, Digital Health Office, Virtual Lecture Series.

Dillon, K. (Scheduled  April 2026). Grief in the Clinical Setting: Pitfalls of Minimization and Medicalization. VA Bedford Geriatric Grand Rounds, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Virtual Lecture Series.

Dillon, K. & Gately, M. (March 2026). I Don’t Get to Feel This Good Very Often:” Virtual Reality Intervention for Veterans Receiving End-of-Life Care. Extended Reality (XR) in VA Community of Practice Webinar Series, Digital Health Office, Virtual Lecture Series.

Dillon, K. (February 2026). Working with Complex Families, Geriatric Mental Health Seminar, VA Boston, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Dillon, K. (November 2025). Disappearing Grief: A History of Mourning in Plain Sight and Out of Sight, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care Webinar Series, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Dillon, K. (October 2025). Why We Cancelled the Five Stages of Grief and Other Ways We Miss the Mark on Grief, Geriatric Mental Health Seminar, VA Boston, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Dillon, K.,  & Canell, A. (October 2025). Caring for the Whole Veteran: Aging, Identity, and End-of-Life Care, 2025 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K. (February 2024). Why We Cancelled the Five Stages of Grief and Other Ways We Get Grief Wrong, Geriatric Mental Health Seminar, VA Boston, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Dillon, K. (January 2024). Why We Cancelled the Five Stages of Grief and Other Ways We Get Grief Wrong,VA Mental Health Behavioral Science Service Grand Rounds, VA White River Junction & Dartmouth Health, Virtual Lecture Series.

Dillon, K., McSweeny, M., & Canell, A. (October 2024). Managing Suffering in Veterans at End of Life, 2024 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K. (October 2024). Why We Cancelled the Five Stages of Grief and Other Ways We Get Grief Wrong, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care Webinar Series, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Dillon, K. (June 2024). Geriatric Mental Health Programming, Aging Here and Together: Addressing Housing and Emotional Needs of Aging Veterans, VISN 1 Geriatric Mental Health Annual Conference, VISN Geri MH, Virtual Conference. 

Dillon, K. (April 2024). Navigating the Path of Grief. Deer Oaks Seminar Series, Psychologists in Long Term Care, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Dillon, K. (March 2024) & Steadman-Wood, P. Suicide Prevention and Desire for Hastened Death at End of Life, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care Webinar Series, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Laffer, A., Corle, M., Canell, A., Moo, L., Gately, M., & Dillon, K. (November 2023). Implementation of Virtual Reality to Improve Quality of Life for Veterans in Hospice and Palliative Care, GSA 2013 Annual Scientific Meeting, The Gerontological Society of America, Tampa, FL. 

Dillon, K. & Telles, J. (October 2023). Managing Suffering in Veterans at End of Life, 2023 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K. & Telles, J. (October 2022). A Biopsychosocial Approach to Suffering in Veterans at End of Life, 2022 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K & Steadman, P. (June 2022). Suicidality at End of Life, Suicide Lecture Series, MIRECC, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Lecture Series. 

Dillon, K. (June 2022). Creating and Fostering A Community of Practice within Geriatric Mental Health [Poster presentation accepted]. 2022 VA Psychology Leadership Conference, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, San Antonio, TX. 

Dillon, K. (April 2022). Self-Care Strategies for Volunteers, Volunteer Symposium, Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K., Lim, L. & Dawson, K. (March 2022). Applying the Age-Friendly Framework to Interprofessional Care, New England GRECC Age-Friendly Interprofessional Workshop, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Conference. 

Dillon, K. & Duarte de Escalante (March 2022). Untangling the Web of Grief and Loss: A Personal Story, COVID in 20 with Dr. Chad Kessler, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Series.

Dillon, K. (January 2022). Grief & Grieving: How our loss from the past becomes our gain in the future, COVID in 20 with Dr. Chad Kessler, Veterans Affairs, Virtual Series.

Dillon, K. (December 2021). Navigating the Path of Grief, VA Boston Social Work Seminar Series, VA Boston, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K. (November 2021). One Year Later: The Continued Impact of COVID-19 on Grief, The Massachusetts Psychological Association’s 2021 Annual Conference, Massachusetts Psychological Association, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K. & Hinrichs K. (October 2021). Working with Veterans at End of Life. 2021 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Virtual Conference. 

Dillon, K. (October 2021). Palliative Care Education Rounds, Annual VISN 1 Palliative Care Conference, VISN 1, Virtual Conference.

Dillon, K. (August 2021). PTSD at End of Life. HPCFM Community Partner, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Virtual Training. 

Dillon, K. (October 2020). Dignity of Risk. 2020 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Norwood, MA. 

Dillon, K., & Gallant, M. (November  2019). Working with Veterans at End if Life. 2019 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Norwood, MA. 

Dillon, K. & Athappilly, G. (October 2019) Geriatric Mental Health  VISN 1 Mental Health Summit, Veterans Affairs VISN 1, Bedford, MA. 

Dillon, K, Taylor, L., Powell, N., Bruno, M. (June - September 2019), Suicide Prevention, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury, Empowering Hospice Community Providers in Working with Vietnam Veterans at End of Life, Various locations across MA.

Dillon, K. (April 2019). Dignity of Risk, Geriatric Grand Rounds, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA. 

Dillon, K. & Athappilly, G. (July 2019) Geriatric Flying Squad Lightening Presentation. Cultivating Promising Geriatric Mental Health Practices Conference, Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO), Washington DC. 

Dillon, K., Budnick, K., Gallant, M., & McMenamin, F. (November 2018). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at End of Life: Special Emphasis on Working with a Veteran Population. 2018 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Norwood, MA.

Hartmann, C., Mills, W., Pimentel, C., Palmer, J., Allen, R., Zhao, S., Wewiorski, N., Sullivan, J., Dillon, K., Clark, V., Berlowitz, D., & Snow, L. (November 2018). Enhancing Staff-Resident Interactions Through a Frontline Staff Quality Improvement Intervention. GSA 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting, The Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA. 

Dillon, K., Gallant, M., McMenamin, F. (May 2018). Understanding Veteran vs. Civilian PSTD at End of Life. Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of MA, The Residence at Valley Farm, Ashland, MA. 

Dillon, K. (May 2018). The Final Farewell: Helping Families Cope with End of Life. End of Life: Clinical Care, Spiritual and Ethical Challenges Conference, William James College, Newton, MA. 

Dillon, K., & Budnick, K. (November  2017). Treating Complex Family Dynamics at End of Life from Theory to Practice. 2017 HPCFM Education Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA, Norwood, MA. 

Dillon, K., Blount, D., Budnick, K., Lattimore, G., & Ugochukwu, S., (May 2017). PTSD at End of Life. Geriatric Grand Rounds, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA.

Dillon, K., Budnick, K., Khodeir, M., & Desarmes, T. (April 2017). The Effect of a Bereavement Systems Redesign on the Bereaved Family Survey. Geriatrics & Extended Care Leads Conference, Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, Florida. Abstract submitted and accepted as an E-Poster. 

Dillon, K. (March 2017). Palliative Care: Focusing on the Care not the Cure. Breast Friends Cancer Support Radio Network, Voice America. https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/97981/palliative-care-focusing-on-…

Dillon, K. & Budnick, K., (December 2016). Weaving a Tapestry After the Loss of a Loved One. Geriatric Grand Rounds, Bedford, MA. 

Dillon, K. & Budnick, K., (October 2016). Weaving a Tapestry After the Loss of a Loved One. VISN 1 Palliative Care Conference, Bedford, MA. 

Dillon, K., Blount, D., Budnick, K., Delgado, J., (November 2015). PTSD at End of Life. All Care Hospice, Lynn, MA. 

Hartmann, C., Palmer, J., Allen, R., Wewiorski, N., Dillon, K., Hopkins, S., Parmalee, P., & Snow, L. (March 2015). Developing a Research Tool and Adapting It for Clinical and Performance Measurement Needs. Paper accepted for presentation at the annual Gerontological Society of America¸ Orlando, FL.  

Dillon, K., & Rosowsky, E. (March 2014). The Relationship between Anticipatory Grief, Depression, Burden and Pre-dementia Closeness in Caregivers of a Parent with Dementia. Aging in America Conference, American Society on Aging, San Diego, CA.