Dr Lorena Georgiadou (Counselling and Psychotherapy Research New Researcher Award 2014)

Lecturer, Programme Director for MSc Counselling Studies

Biography

Background

Having obtained a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, I moved to Scotland to continue my studies in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. In 2009 I was awarded an MSc in Counselling Studies with distinction from the University of Edinburgh (UoE). The following year I started my PhD in the same subject area, for which I secured a College of Humanities and Social Science Research Award. My thesis explored international counselling trainees’ experiences of beginning intercultural and interlinguistic practice. During my doctoral studies I worked as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Edinburgh, a Visiting Lecturer at Queen Margaret University and a Research Analyst for a market research company. Upon completion of my PhD I was employed as a postdoctoral researcher on two Principal’s Teaching Award Scheme (PTAS) projects at the UoE. In September 2014 I joined Edge Hill University as a Lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy, while securing an Honorary Fellowship with the School of Health in Social Science, UoE. A year later I returned to the University of Edinburgh as Lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy, where I currently teach, supervise masters and doctoral students and  undertake research. I am Programme Director for the MSc Counselling Studies and the Academic Misconduct Officer for the School of Health in Social Science. 

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

MSc Counselling Studies, University of Edinburgh

PhD Counselling Studies, University of Edinburgh

Pg Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Aberdeen University (BACP accredited course)

Pg Certificate in Counselling Skills, COSCA 

Undergraduate teaching

Language and Communication in Health and Society (course organiser)

Postgraduate teaching

MSc Dissertation (Counselling) - Course co-ordinator

Counselling Across Languages and Cultures - course organiser 

Practice and Process Group facilitator

 

 

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Areas of interest for supervision

I supervise masters and doctoral projects that are broadly related to: 

  • Culture (e.g. cultural difference, international exeprience, intercultural practice, communication and engagement)
  • Language and self-expression (e.g. second-language use; bilingualism; impact of language use on counsellor and/or research practice; role of language in representation of experience)
  • Counsellor education (e.g. trainee experience in practice and training; personal and professional development; trainee support)
  • Higher Education (e.g. internationalisation of Higher Education; international student experience; study abroad experience; student support provisions)
  • Couselling practice and process (e.g. therapist and/or client experiences of different aspects of the therapeutic process) 

Methodologically, my expertise lies broadly in Phenomenology (e.g. heuristic inquiry, hermeneutic phenomenology; IPA; reflexive phenomenologies), Narrative Inquiry and Interview-based research. I also have experience in supervising ethnographic and autoethnographic projects.  I am affiliated with the Centre for Creative-Relational Inquiry and my current project ("Collaging our Brexit Stories: using arts-based methodologies to explore mental wellbeing in Brexiting Britain) is exploring how Collage as Inquiry may facilitate explorations of cultural belonging and mental wellbeing. 

Current PhD students supervised

Giulia Carrozzi (PhD)

Barbara Erber (PhD) 

Yuqing Huang (PhD) 

Kelly Stewart (PhD)

Nikos Tsogkas (Phd)

 Duncan Roebuck (PhD)

Kayla Roden (Professional Doctorate)

Jaz Halow (Professional Doctorate) 

 

 

Past PhD students supervised

Agne Bieliunaite (PhD)

Ying Liu (Professional Doctorate) 

Xuebing Liu (Professional Doctorate)

Yu-Ying Wu (PhD)

Research summary

  • Inter-cultural and inter-linguistic practices in counsellor training, supervision and practice and in Higher Education more broadly 
  • Cross-cultural transitions/interactions, Belonging and Well-being
  • Second-language use and intercultural/interlinguistic communication 
  • Counsellor education and professional development
  • International student experience and wellbeing
  • Qualitative methods, and in particular, hermeneutic phenomenology and reflexive approaches to exploring human experience

Research activity

I am Principal Investigator on a funded project that explores the impact of Brexit on people's mental health and wellbeing ("Collaging our Brexit Stories: using arts-based methodologies to explore mental wellbeing in Brexiting Britain"). Preliminary findings highlight how arts-based methodologies, and collaging in particular, can facilitate explorations of personal experiences of cultural transitions, liminality, uncertainlty and belonging, especially in relation to mental well-being. We are currently in the analysis phase of the project and we envisage scaling up this enquiry and expanding our use of arts-based methodologies in exploring the impact of other crucial socio-political circumstances on mental health and wellbeing, such as the lockdown period of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

I have recently led a UKCISA-funded project on the "Mental health and wellbeing of global access students" in collaboration with colleagues at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme at the University of Edinburgh. I am also involved in an ongoing interdisciplinary research collaboration between the Institute for Academic Development (IAD) and different schools within the College of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Edinburgh to evaluate the ‘Third Space’, a pilot programme aiming to enhance students’ intercultural experiences and global citizenship skills. 

In the past, I have been part of a collaborative project, funded by the Principal’s Teaching Award Scheme (PTAS), with Dr Alette Willis and Siobhan Canavan. The project was entitled “From Periphery to Core: Personal Tutoring in transition” and explored the role of the ‘Personal Tutor’ (now renamed Professional Development Mentor), a unique support provision for Counselling and Psychotherapy students on professional programmes at the University of Edinburgh.

I have also explored the use of digital tools, and particular blogging, as a way of developing an academic identity and making sense of perplexed experiences through narrative.

 

 

Affiliated research centres

Project activity

I am currently doing research on the impact of Brexit on mental health and wellbeing. I have recently secured funding to develop a pilot project using arts-based methodologies to explore the emotional and psychological impact that Brexit may be having on people. In this project I am collaborating with Dr Zoi Simopoulou and artist teacher Tessa Wyatt. 

Recently, I collaborated with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars programme at the University of Edinburgh to explore the mental health and wellbeing needs of global access students as they transition into University life. Click here to view the report from this UKCISA-funded project.

I am involved in an ongoing interdisciplinary research collaboration between the Institute for Academic Development (IAD) and different schools within the College of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Edinburgh to evaluate the ‘Third Space’, a pilot programme aiming to enhance students’ intercultural experiences and global citizenship skills. 

I have recently completed a collaborative project, funded by the Principal’s Teaching Award Scheme (PTAS), with Dr Alette Willis and Siobhan Canavan. The project was entitled “From Periphery to Core: Personal Tutoring in transition” and explored the role of the ‘Personal Tutor’ (now renamed Professional Development Mentor), a unique support provision for Counselling and Psychotherapy students on professional programmes at the University of Edinburgh.

I am also exploring the use of digital tools, and particular blogging, as a way of developing an academic identity and making sense of perplexed experiences through narrative.

Current project grants

School of Health in Social Science Step One Seed Funding

Past project grants

PTAS award
UK Council for International Students Affairs Research Grant

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