Wieser Michael

Michael Wieser is an Assistant Professor (tenured) in the Department of Psychology at Alpen-Adria-University Klagenfurt. His research focuses on psychodrama, palliative care, death education, and gender-based violence. He co-founded the ASPIS Psychosocial Centre for Refugees and Victims of Violence, earning the Dr. Alexander Friedmann and Dr. Bruno Kreisky Awards for this work.

Education:

• Mag.phil. in Psychology (1991), Paris Lodron University Salzburg
• Psychotherapist Certification in Psychodrama (1995), Austrian Association of Group Psychotherapy
• Dr. phil. in Psychology (1997), Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
• Mediation Certificate (1999), Austrian Association for Psychotherapy

Research Interests: Dr. Wieser explores psychodrama’s therapeutic applications in mental health crises, including palliative care, trauma recovery, and gender-based violence. He designs death education programs for students and healthcare professionals, emphasizing existential awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration. His work bridges clinical practice, community outreach, and policy advocacy.

Recent Trends in Publications: His 2020–2025 articles highlight psychodrama’s efficacy in addressing pandemic mental health, prison staff well-being, and adolescent resilience. He emphasizes cross-cultural studies and qualitative methodologies to evaluate interventions’ societal impact.

Awards:

• Dr. Alexander Friedmann Award (2018)
• Dr. Bruno Kreisky Award (2018)

Advising & Grants: While specific grants are not detailed, his leadership in the EMPoWER Daphne project (2013–2015) demonstrates sustained funding for gender violence research. His advising focuses on trauma-informed psychodrama practices and palliative care education.

Labs/Teams: Leads the ASPIS centre and collaborates with European institutions on projects like EMPoWER and the European Daphne initiative.