Simona Karbouniaris

Dr. Simona Karbouniaris serves as a Lecturer in Mental Health Care at Leiden University of Applied Sciences, bringing extensive practice-based research experience from Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. Her institutional collaborations span major Dutch mental health entities including Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Trimbos Institute, Curium LUMC, Leiden University, UMC Utrecht, and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences.

Her research centers on trauma-informed care, experiential expertise in mental healthcare systems, and the therapeutic application of dance/movement within social work contexts. This expertise stems from her dual background as both a social scientist and practicing social worker specializing in movement-based therapies.

Dr. Karbouniaris completed her PhD in 2023 with groundbreaking research on experiential expertise within mental healthcare delivery systems. Her work bridges academic research and frontline practice through active supervision roles in the mental healthcare sector.

She maintains a robust collaborative network across Dutch mental health institutions, facilitating knowledge exchange between academic research, clinical practice, and policy development. Her supervision activities extend beyond academia into operational mental healthcare settings.