Donja Brunner (PhD)

I have always been deeply curious about people and fascinated by how psychological and physical health interact. After earning my Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Basel, where I focused on the intersection of mental-physical comorbidity and somatic symptom research, I became a federally licensed systemic-resource-oriented psychotherapist. My passion lies in translating research into practice to improve mental health care and early intervention strategies, particularly for young people facing adversity.

Believing strongly in interdisciplinarity, I have deliberately sought experience across different sectors—including academia, the private sector, and public services—to bring together diverse perspectives in my work. My background includes extensive experience as a clinical psychologist, occupational health psychologist, psychotherapist, and research lead in various institutions. Throughout my career, I have worked on topics such as mental well-being, resilience, and public mental health, always striving to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.

Research Interest: Prevention and Intervention Research, Public Mental Health and Early Childhood, Developmental Psychopathology, Child Welfare and Refugee Populations

Find me on LinkedIn.

Google Scholar

ORCID: 0000-0001-5519-690X

• START NOW Modellversuch

• START NOW Adapted: Testing the Effectiveness of the Culturally Adapted Skills Training START NOW to Reduce Mental Health Problems in Adolescent Refugees

• START NOW für geflüchtete Familien: In Zusammenarbeit mit Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt des Kantons Basel-Stadt, gefördert durch Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft - Staatssekretariat für Migration (Programm "Stabilisierung und Ressourcenaktivierung von Personen mit besonderen Bedürfnissen")

• FamilyReBel: Familiäre Ressourcen und Belastungsfaktoren in der Pädiatrie

Other Projects
www.istartnow.ch
 

Please find a list of my publications on Google Scholar.