Dr. Christiana Bratiotis is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, where she teaches social work practice classes across the bachelor’s and master’s programs. She serves as the chair of the MSW program and currently leads a comprehensive curriculum renewal process. She pioneered work in the primary area of the formation and operation of multi-disciplinary community hoarding task forces, which is highlighted in her first book titled, “The Hoarding Handbook: A Guide for Human Service Professionals” published by Oxford University Press. She is the leading global authority on implementing community-based interventions for hoarding and hoarding behaviour primarily in the context of affordable housing programs and the related inspections and treatment interventions. In mid-2020, Christiana co-authored her second book titled, “Hoarding: What Everyone Needs to Know” also published by Oxford University Press. It offers a concise and comprehensive overview of hoarding disorder in a practical, approachable easy-to-read style.
Throughout her academic career, she has also taught courses in social welfare, mental health policy and social analysis. In addition to her scholarly work, she supervises students who provide clinical treatment and she offers national and international consultation on hoarding behaviour to families and communities.
In 2017 Christiana took advantage of an opportunity to relocate to Vancouver to work with the UBC Centre for Collaborative Research on Hoarding. Here, as the Associate Director of the Centre, she conducts cross-disciplinary research and co-supervises clinical psychology students.
She has given more than 200 invited community lectures, keynote addresses, agency clinical trainings and academic presentations around the world. In 2011, Christiana developed the HOMES Multidisciplinary Hoarding Risk Assessment which has been translated into six languages and is the preeminent tool used to assess risk and guide hoarding interventions.
Christiana earned her PhD in Social Work and Sociology from Boston University where she also completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the school of social work. She holds a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she also earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology. Christiana completed a one-year post-MSW fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine, Child Study Center. Christiana served as executive director for two non-profit organizations and has more than 23 years of experience working in and with communities to build capacity and address issues of diversity and social justice.
Her work has been highlighted by media outlets including the Canadian Press, The Vancouver Sun, the New York Times, Boston Globe and the Chicago Tribune.
In 2014, Christiana received the Tenancy Assistance Program Individual Award from Boston’s MassHousing and in 2010, she was recognized with an Excellence in Teaching Award by Boston University School of Social Work. She consistently achieves exceptionally high teaching evaluations and in her words, “is honoured to contribute to the development of emerging social work practitioners and behavioural health interventionists.”
Christiana Bratiotis 