Olivia Kanapitsa

Olivia Kanapitsa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy & Social Studies (BA, University of Crete), a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (BSc, University of Essex) and a Master’s degree in Health Psychology (MSc, University of Bath). The last three years, she has been training as a psychotherapist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Psychotherapy and Professional and Personal Development Institute (IPSEPA) in Nicosia.

Olivia has worked in many different settings; she worked as a research assistant at the Cognitive Neuroscience Department at the University of Essex. While in the UK, she also gained experience by working in the NHS, at the Occupational Health and Safety Department, at the Royal United Hospital of Bath. Olivia has worked as a part- time lecturer in Psychology and has been delivering seminars in both academic and professional environments regarding health-related issues, their impact on mental health and ways for better communication with the patients and their families. She has also been involved in projects for healthcare professionals on motivational interviewing.

Her current duties in NOESIS involve, offering psychoeducation to patients and their families/ carers, training health professionals on how to communicate effectively with the patients, and organizing psychosocial activities for the patients, in co- operation with the other professionals of the unit (clinical neuropsychologists, cognitive psychologists and occupational therapist), that aim to improve patients’ quality of life and promote their physical and mental well-being.