Special Teaching Staff in Psychology

Qualifications

Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Psychology – Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2022–present), in collaboration with Universitat Ramon Llull and Nottingham Trent University.

M.A. in Counseling Psychology – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2017–2019)

B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology – University of Kent (2013–2016)

Accredited CBT Courses – IPSEPA, Nicosia (2016–2017)

Specialization

Counseling Psychology

Applied Psychology (Trauma, Identity, Reconciliation)

Psycho-oncology and multicultural clinical practice

Employment Track

Special Teaching Staff in Psychology – UCLan Cyprus (2025-present)

Counseling Psychologist – Europa Donna Cyprus (2025–present)

Teacher & Research Assistant – Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2022–2025)

Counseling Psychologist (2020–present)

Program Manager / Researcher – CARDET (2020–2023)

Memberships (Academic/Professional)

Registered Counselling Psychologist, Cyprus (Reg. #642, since 2020)

Research Interests

My research focuses on intergenerational trauma, reconciliation, and positive identity formation, particularly among communities with histories of cultural conflict. I am also interested in psycho-oncology, multicultural counseling, and the role of psychology in supporting inclusion and resilience in diverse societies.

Roles and Responsibilities (including past roles and responsibilities)

Teaching and Course Leadership

• PS1010: Methods and Practice of Psychological Inquiry (Semester 1)
• PS1720: Understanding Behavior (Semester 1)
• PS2010: Psychological Research 1: Design and Quantitative Analysis (Semester 1)
• PS4001: Research Methods in Psychology (Semester 1)
• PS4003: Practical Experience
• PS4004: Forensic Psychology Research Project

Administrative Roles

• Project Manager at CARDET (EU-funded projects in education, migration, inclusion)
• Congress Youth Delegate, Council of Europe (2023)

Selected Publications 

Xenophontos, I. et al. (2024). Εθνική ταυτότητα νέων Ελληνοκυπρίων μετά το 1974. ΠΑΠΑΖΗΣΗΣ.

Nogueira, Barbosa, M. R., Ribeiro, L. M., Xenophontos, I., & Zimbardo, P. (2023). Creating mindful heroes: A case study with ninth-grade students. Frontiers in Psychology, 14.

Xenophontos, I., Kosmas, P., & Xeni, E. (2022). A Mentoring Program for the Integration of Newly Arrived Migrants into the School Environment. ICERI2022 Proceedings.

Selected Conference and Seminar Presentations 

Xenophontos, I. (2025). Dreaming beyond institutional borders: The future of psychology. Lisbon, Portugal.

Xenophontos, I. (2024). Cultural trauma transmission among young Greek and Turkish Cypriots. ENMP, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Xenophontos, I. et al. (2024). Defining the ethnic identity of young Greek Cypriots after 1974. Universitas Foundation, University of Cyprus.

Xenophontos, I. (2023). Building bridges: Psychology in an interconnected, unequal, and changing world. Lisbon, Portugal.

Xenophontos, I., Kosmas, P., & Xeni, E. (2022). Mentoring program for migrant children’s integration. ICERI, Seville.

 Selected Research Funding/ Grant Capture

• Disseminating and scaling up good practices to Foster Educational Inclusion of Newly Arrived Migrant Children (also known as FEINAMC)
  • Erasmus+ (Key Action 3: Support for policy reform – Social inclusion through education, training and youth)
  • January 15, 2021 – January 14, 2023
  • Project Manager at CARDET (Cyprus, among consortium partners)
• Women in Film Industry (WIFI)
  • Erasmus+ KA2 (Strategic Partnerships in VET/Youth)
  • 2020-2022
  • Project Manager (CARDET – Cyprus partner)
• Cycling Trends in Education, Training & Diagnosis (C-TREND)
  • Erasmus+ KA2 (Sport and Training Innovations)
  • 2020-2022
  • Project Manager (CARDET – national implementation in Cyprus)
• Adults Education against Abuses of Power
  • Erasmus+ KA2
  • 2020-2022
  • Project Manager (CARDET)
• Glocal Move: Local Action, Global Impact
  • Erasmus+ KA2
  • 2020-2022
  • Project Manager (CARDET)

Supervision of Projects/PhDs

MA Thesis Supervision in Psychology (Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 2023–2025)

Consultancy and CPD Training

Psychoeducational workshops for teachers, parents, and caregivers (Cyprus, Portugal)

Workshops for athletes and coaches (Cyprus National Hockey Team)

Public mental health education campaigns (Europa Donna Cyprus, Pyxida Zois)

Scholarships/Awards

Merit Scholarship, International Ph.D. in Applied Psychology (2022–2023)

International Impact Scholarship, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2017–2018)

Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence, University of Kent (2013–2016)

Other Scholarly and Outreach Activities

Congress Youth Delegate, Council of Europe (2023)

Volunteering: Let’s Talk Period Cyprus (2022–2024), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago (2018)

Committee roles in academic and community initiatives