B. Heidi Ellis, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, and a licensed clinical psychologist. She is also the Director of the Trauma and Community Resilience Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, a partner in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Dr. Ellis' primary focus is on understanding and promoting youth mental health and well-being, with a particular emphasis on understanding how trauma exposure, violence, and social context impact developmental trajectories. Over the past 15 years she has conducted a Community Based Participatory Research program with Somali youth and was Principal Investigator of a multi-site, longitudinal research project examining developmental pathways to and away from violence, including ideological violence, gang involvement, and civic engagement. She is also conducting research to advance a public health approach to preventing violent extremism across the ideological spectrum. Dr. Ellis is co-developer of the trauma treatment model Trauma Systems Therapy, and is engaged in capacity building and training related to trauma-informed multidisciplinary approaches to the repatriation and reintegration of children from formerly ISIS-controlled territories. She also directs the Massachusetts Area Prevention Framework, a multidisciplinary team approach to preventing targeted violence and terrorism among adolescents.
Research Background
Dr. Heidi Ellis received her B.A. from Yale University, her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Ellis is currently the Director of the Trauma and Community Resilience Center at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Publications
Promoting positive development among refugee adolescents. J Res Adolesc. 2023 12; 33(4):1064-1084. View Abstract
Supporting Women and Children Returning from Violent Extremist Contexts: Proposing a 5R Framework to Inform Program and Policy Development. Terror Political Violence. 2024; 36(4):425-454. View Abstract
Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Women and Children Returning from Violent Extremist Contexts: A Rapid Review to Inform Program and Policy Development. Terror Political Violence. 2024; 36(4):455-487. View Abstract
Leveraging community-based mental health services to reduce inequities for children and families living in United States who have experienced migration-related trauma. Psychol Trauma. 2024 Aug; 16(Suppl 2):S426-S434. View Abstract
Discrimination and mental health of Somali immigrants in North America: a longitudinal study from 2013 to 2019. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2022 May; 57(5):1049-1059. View Abstract
The role of discrimination, assimilation, and gender in the mental health of resettled Somali young adults: A longitudinal, moderated mediation analysis. Transcult Psychiatry. 2023 02; 60(1):74-85. View Abstract
Partnering with refugee communities to improve mental health access: Going from "why are they not coming" to "what can I (we) do differently?". Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2022 Jul; 28(3):370-378. View Abstract
Risk and Protective Factors Associated With Support of Violent Radicalization: Variations by Geographic Location. Int J Public Health. 2021; 66:617053. View Abstract
Civic development and antisocial attitudes/behaviors among Somali immigrants: Change over one year. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2021 Apr; 27(2):157-168. View Abstract
Discrimination, marginalization, belonging, and mental health among Somali immigrants in North America. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2021; 91(2):280-293. View Abstract
Understanding the needs of children returning from formerly ISIS-controlled territories through an emotional security theory lens: Implications for practice. Child Abuse Negl. 2020 11; 109:104754. View Abstract
Factor structure and concurrent validity of the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) in a sample of Somali immigrants living in North America. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2020; 90(6):787-798. View Abstract
Residential mobility, mental health, and community violence exposure among Somali refugees and immigrants in North America. Health Place. 2020 09; 65:102419. View Abstract
Bhutanese Refugee Youth: The Importance of Assessing and Addressing Psychosocial Needs in a School Setting. J Sch Health. 2020 09; 90(9):731-742. View Abstract
A Qualitative Examination of How Somali Young Adults Think About and Understand Violence in Their Communities. J Interpers Violence. 2022 01; 37(1-2):NP803-NP829. View Abstract
The Dilemma of Predicting Violent Radicalization. Pediatrics. 2017 Oct; 140(4). View Abstract
Comparing Trauma Exposure, Mental Health Needs, and Service Utilization Across Clinical Samples of Refugee, Immigrant, and U.S.-Origin Children. J Trauma Stress. 2017 06; 30(3):209-218. View Abstract
Building community resilience to violent extremism through genuine partnerships. Am Psychol. 2017 Apr; 72(3):289-300. View Abstract
Culturally adapting a physical activity intervention for Somali women: the need for theory and innovation to promote equity. Transl Behav Med. 2017 03; 7(1):6-15. View Abstract
The Impact of Acculturation Style and Acculturative Hassles on the Mental Health of Somali Adolescent Refugees. J Immigr Minor Health. 2016 08; 18(4):771-778. View Abstract
Relation of psychosocial factors to diverse behaviors and attitudes among Somali refugees. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2016; 86(4):393-408. View Abstract
Understanding Bhutanese refugee suicide through the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2015 Jan; 85(1):43-55. View Abstract
Emotion Regulation Among Preschoolers on a Continuum of Risk: The Role of Maternal Emotion Coaching. J Child Fam Stud. 2014 Aug; 23(6):965-974. View Abstract
Multi-tier mental health program for refugee youth. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013 Feb; 81(1):129-40. View Abstract
Mental health service utilization of Somali adolescents: religion, community, and school as gateways to healing. Transcult Psychiatry. 2010 Nov; 47(5):789-811. View Abstract
Discrimination and mental health among Somali refugee adolescents: the role of acculturation and gender. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2010 Oct; 80(4):564-75. View Abstract
Past horrors, present struggles: the role of stigma in the association between war experiences and psychosocial adjustment among former child soldiers in Sierra Leone. Soc Sci Med. 2010 Jan; 70(1):17-26. View Abstract
The "Lost Boys" of Sudan: Use of health services and functional health outcomes of unaccompanied refugee minors resettled in the U.S. Journal of Immigrant Health. 2008; 10. View Abstract
Cognitive behavioral therapy for symptoms of trauma and traumatic grief in refugee youth. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2008 Jul; 17(3):585-604, ix. View Abstract
Mental health of Somali adolescent refugees: the role of trauma, stress, and perceived discrimination. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008 Apr; 76(2):184-93. View Abstract
Perceptions of discrimination in traumatized vs. non-traumatized Somali refugee adolescents. 2007. View Abstract
Somali adolescents and pathways to mental health care: Understanding help seeking within one refugee community. 2007. View Abstract
Mental health treatment for child and adolescent refugees and immigrants. Immigrant Medicine, Eds. Walker and Barnett. 2007. View Abstract
Psychosocial approaches for children with
posttraumatic stress disorder. Handbook of PTSD, Eds. Friedman, Resick and Keane. 2007. View Abstract
Ethical research in refugee communities and the use of community participatory methods. Transcult Psychiatry. 2007 Sep; 44(3):459-81. View Abstract
Belonging and connection to school in resettlement: young refugees, school belonging, and psychosocial adjustment. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007 Jan; 12(1):29-43. View Abstract
Screening for PTSD among Somali adolescent refugees: psychometric properties of the UCLA PTSD Index. J Trauma Stress. 2006 Aug; 19(4):547-51. View Abstract
Collaborative Treatment of Traumatized Children and Teens: The Trauma Systems Therapy Approach. 2006; 344. View Abstract
Mental health interventions for children affected by war or terrorism. Children Exposed to Violence, Eds. M. Feerick and G. Silverman. 2006. View Abstract
Emotion Language, Emotion Regulation and PTSD in children at risk for maltreatment. 2005. View Abstract
Trauma Systems Therapy: Dissemination and implementation in two settings. 2005. View Abstract
Concordance of Somali refugee adolescent and caregiver reports: Trauma and PTSD. 2005. View Abstract
Addressing stigma of mental illness among Somali refugees. 2005. View Abstract
National Survey of Refugee Programs. 2005. View Abstract
Comprehensive Care for Traumatized Children: An open trial examines Trauma Systems Therapy. Psychiatric Annals. 2005; 35(5):443-448. View Abstract
Mental Health of Somali Adolescent refugees: Risks and Resiliencies. 2004. View Abstract
Community Participatory Methods in Research with Somali Refugees. 2004. View Abstract
Mental Health and Post Resettlement Stressors of Somali Adolescents resettled in Boston, Massachusetts USA: Preliminary findings. 2004. View Abstract
Trauma Systems Therapy for Refugees. 2004. View Abstract
Predictors of disruptive behavior, developmental delays, anxiety, and affective symptomatology among institutionally reared romanian children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004 Oct; 43(10):1283-92. View Abstract
Bioconductor: open software development for computational biology and bioinformatics. Genome Biol. 2004; 5(10):R80. View Abstract
Review of child and adolescent refugee mental health. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004 Jan; 43(1):24-36. View Abstract
A Neurons to Neighborhood approach to treating refugee children. 2003. View Abstract
Emotion language and emotion regulation in maltreated preschoolers. 2000. View Abstract
Early Intervention Foster Care: A Model for Preventing Risk in Young Children Who Have Been Maltreated. Children’s Services: Social Policy, Research and Practice. 1999; 2(3):159-182. View Abstract
