Zarina Giannone

Zarina Giannone is a Sessional Instructor in the Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She is also a Registered Psychologist (#2613) in British Columbia with specialized training in sport and performance psychology. Dr. Giannone currently works as a psychologist at the Vancouver Psychology Centre and the Canadian Centre for Mental Health in Sport, bringing real-world experience to her academic role.

Her educational background is entirely from UBC, where she earned her B.A. in 2012, M.A. in 2016, and Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology in 2020. She has served on the boards of both the Canadian Psychological Association and the British Columbia Psychological Association, demonstrating leadership in her field.

Dr. Giannone's research focuses on identity development and intervention among athletes and adults throughout the lifespan. Her work specifically examines athletic identity, mental health in sport, sport career transitions, and clinical sport psychology. Her background as a former high-performance soccer player informs her unique perspective on the psychological challenges faced by athletes during career transitions and in high-pressure performance contexts.

Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on identity development, particularly among emerging adults and athletes. The research shows strong connections between athletic identity and mental health outcomes, with interventions designed to support individuals through career transitions. Her work bridges clinical psychology with sport performance contexts across multiple domains including education, healthcare, and professional athletics.

• Sport Participation Research Initiative Grant | Sport Canada & Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
• UBC Public Scholars Initiative Award | Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies
• Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Doctoral and Master's)
• Four-Year Fellowship | Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies
• Best Master's Thesis Award | Section on Counselling Psychology, Canadian Psychological Association

As a Registered Psychologist with the Vancouver Psychology Centre and Canadian Centre for Mental Health in Sport, Dr. Giannone applies her research to practice while serving as an instructor. Her work on mental health in sport has positioned her as a specialist in addressing psychological challenges faced by athletes, with a particular emphasis on identity development during career transitions. She has contributed to policy development through her board service with psychological associations.

Dr. Giannone's unique background as a former high-performance athlete combined with her clinical training creates a specialized approach to understanding the psychological needs of performers in high-pressure contexts across sports, performing arts, and business settings.