معرفی
Prof. Dr. Paul Boelen serves as a full Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University. He maintains dual roles as an academic researcher and clinical practitioner, working as a psychotherapist at ARQ Centrum'45 and holding an affiliation with the ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre. His career spans academic leadership, clinical practice, and public engagement in the specialized fields of clinical psychology, psychotraumatology, and grief processing.
Dr. Boelen's research program focuses extensively on psychotraumatology and grief, particularly prolonged grief disorder, traumatic bereavement, and the psychological impact of loss across diverse populations. His work examines cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions of grief in contexts ranging from refugee experiences to disasters like the MH17 plane crash. He has pioneered digital interventions for grief processing, including the 'My Grief' app, and has made significant contributions to understanding grief in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. His research often takes a longitudinal perspective, tracking grief trajectories over time.
His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent scholarly focus on grief and trauma across multiple populations and contexts. Recent work explores cognitive-behavioral models of prolonged grief disorder, the development of assessment tools like the Traumatic Grief Inventory, and innovative digital interventions. His research frequently adopts a cross-cultural perspective and addresses the intersection of grief with other psychological phenomena including PTSD, depression, and emotion regulation.
- Editorial board member: Death Studies, Journal of Loss and Trauma, European Journal of Psychotraumatology
- Active media contributor (2015-2021) on grief-related topics including MH17 bereavement and national bereavement leave policies
- Delivered inaugural lecture as full professor on April 13, 2016
- Former Acting Head of Training for Healthcare Psychologists (Central Rinogroep Utrecht)
As department head, Dr. Boelen oversees academic programs while maintaining clinical practice, effectively bridging research and practical application. His work has significantly advanced evidence-based approaches to complicated grief, translating academic findings into accessible interventions for bereaved individuals across the Netherlands and internationally.
