Marina Yiangou studied psychology at Nottingham University in England and in 2001 she received her master’s degree from King’s College London in Clinical and Public Health Aspects of Addictions. She has volunteered in London at crisis intervention centres for substance users and a drug advice helpline. Returning to Cyprus, she has worked at THEMEA (alcohol detoxification / rehabilitation unit) and at the Perseas Prevention Center of the Mental Health Services of the Ministry of Health where she worked in a therapeutic context with adolescent substance users. At the same time, she trained and coordinated groups of adolescents and parents in the context of substance use prevention and psychoeducation. In 2004 she was certified by the international organization IC&RC/AODA and holds the professional title of Drug Addiction Prevention and Treatment Counselor. She was an external professional of KENTHEA where she was involved in the training of mental health professionals, teachers, and coaches of children on issues of prevention and handling of children. She also coordinated groups of children and parents in schools. At the same time, she worked as an officer of the Drug Emergency Helpline -1410 at ONEK. In addition, she worked as a Social Inclusion Employment Consultant at the Social Welfare Services within the framework of a co-funded program by the European Social Fund and then as an Employment Consultant at the Public Employment Services. She also worked as a psychologist and group coordinator at PNOE where she was co-owner. In 2011 she received her Specialization Diploma in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy from the Academy of Psychotherapy and Counseling in Greece. She is a registered Counselling Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (full member of C.A.C.B.P. and PAP) and holds the European Certification from EABCT (European Association for Cognitive & Behaviour Therapies) and the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) from EAP (European Association of Psychotherapists). She is also a certified adult educator of HRDA (ANAD). In January 2011 she founded the Institute of Psychotherapy, Professional & Personal Development (IPSEPA) where she had the scientific and administrative responsibility of its educational programs and other projects related to vulnerable groups such as people with mental and intellectual disabilities and children under the care of the state. At IPSEPA she mainly taught the application of cognitive behavioral therapy and other specialized topics to mental health professionals, provided supervision to trainee psychotherapists and at the same time worked as a psychotherapist. In 2019 she attended and obtained the Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders at KEADD and dealt more with cases of emotional overeating and bulimia. Since January 2023 she has been working exclusively as a psychologist / psychotherapist providing psychotherapy and counseling services to individuals and groups at her centre – Sawubona – Psychotherapy and Mental Wellness Centre. In clinical practice she works based on the model of cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and acceptance commitment therapy. In addition, she provides supervision to professional psychologists / psychotherapists and collaborates with organizations where she offers seminars and workshops to health professionals focusing on personal development and mental resilience.
