About
Marianna is a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)-registered drama therapist and psychotherapist working integratively, drawing on psychodynamic, creative, psychodrama, and solution-focused approaches, tailored to each client’s needs.
She specialises in addictive behaviours, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders and psychosis. She has worked across the NHS, community, and charity sectors in outpatient, inpatient, primary and secondary care settings.
Her experience includes working with LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent clients, refugees, families, adults, children and young people, using a holistic, trauma-informed approach.
Marianna is passionate about culturally-informed and creative therapeutic approaches that support clients in exploring and expressing the deeper roots of their difficulties - forming a deeper understanding of themselves.
Position at Priory
Marianna is an addictions therapist at Life Works House. She has been working at Priory for the past 6 months, which has been a fruitful and instructive experience for her.
Training
Marianna studied Psychology and Neuroscience at The Ohio State University, where she was involved in research exploring neurological conditions and speech pathology. During this time, she worked as a research assistant on PhD projects in linguistics and in a neurology-engineering collaboration focused on Parkinson’s disease.
Alongside her academic interests, Marianna developed a strong connection to the arts and worked as a professional performer in street and musical theatre for 2 years. This experience led her to explore the intersection of psychology and creativity, and she completed an MA in Drama Therapy at University of Roehampton, graduating with distinction.
Research interests
Marianna’s academic interests sit at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience and creative therapies. While studying Psychology and Neuroscience at The Ohio State University, she contributed to neuro-linguistics research projects and worked as a research assistant on doctoral studies exploring language and neurological conditions.
Her MA thesis at University of Roehampton examined liminal spaces in therapy, exploring the therapeutic value of silence and transference within the therapeutic relationship.
Marianna has also contributed to an academic research paper on refugee populations and creative therapy (currently awaiting publication). Her ongoing research interests include the use of script work in drama therapy and how it can be facilitated safely and therapeutically in clinical settings. She is currently contributing to the literature review of a research project on psychodynamic and creative therapy interventions for eating disorders.
She has also participated in the May Contain Nuts therapeutic theatre intervention, supporting clients with personality and psychotic disorders.
Languages
- Greek
- English
- Spanish
- Hebrew