Julia Rehn

Julia Rehn serves as a Visiting Professor for Social Medicine and Social Psychiatry at the Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin (ASH Berlin) since April 2023. She leads the working group "AI, VR and Robotics - Transformative Technologies in SAGE Disciplines" (Soziale Arbeit, Gesundheit, Pflege, Erziehung), driving innovation at the intersection of technology and social work practice.

Dr. Rehn earned her Doctorate in Social Sciences from the European University Viadrina/Frankfurt in 2020, with her dissertation focusing on "Spirituality as a significant recovery factor in mental illnesses with special consideration of transcultural treatment methods." She previously completed her Diploma in Social Education/Social Work at ASH Berlin between 2004-2010. Prior to her professorship, she worked for 14 years (2009-2023) in Social Services at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Mitte.

Her research program centers on digital innovation in social work, with particular emphasis on how artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and robotics can transform clinical social work practices. Dr. Rehn investigates spirituality in mental health contexts, transcultural treatment approaches for individuals with psychological disorders, and the application of AI in psychosocial care research, particularly regarding pandemic preparedness for vulnerable populations. Her work bridges traditional social work values with cutting-edge technological solutions to address contemporary challenges in mental health care.

Dr. Rehn's recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward digital transformation in social work education and practice. Her research examines VR counseling simulations, AI chatbots as mental health support tools, and pandemic impacts on psychiatric social work services. These works demonstrate her commitment to developing evidence-based digital tools that enhance rather than replace human connection in therapeutic settings, with particular attention to ethical considerations and potential biases in algorithmic systems.

She leads multiple significant research initiatives including the "Psychosocial care for psychiatric patients before and during the Covid19 pandemic (PVC19-Pan)" comparative study, the "Avatar-based psychosocial counseling (AVATAR-PSB)" project funded by IFAF Berlin, and the "Führerschein" transcultural method for destigmatizing schizophrenia. Her research has secured funding through various channels, demonstrating her ability to develop and implement innovative research projects with practical applications.

Dr. Rehn has pioneered an immersive VR counseling training system where students interact with AI-generated client avatars to practice clinical scenarios. This innovative approach allows repeated practice of counseling skills with immediate feedback based on Carl Rogers' client-centered conversation method, addressing traditional limitations in social work education while maintaining focus on core therapeutic principles.