Education
She graduated in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Techniques in 2011 from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and subsequently earned a Master's Degree in Psychology-Neuroscience in 2015 from the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Trento.
In 2020, she earned a PhD in Psychology and Educational Sciences from the same department, with research focused on the relationships between genetic characteristics, psychological traits, and social behavior, both online and offline. Her doctoral thesis, "The relationships among genes, psychological traits, and social behavior," was awarded excellent.
In 2023, she obtained a Specialization Diploma in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents from the Italian Center for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents (C.i.Ps.Ps.I.A.) in Bologna, with a grade of 70/70 cum laude. Her training integrated psychoanalytic theory, object relations theory, developmental observation, and clinical training with children, adolescents, and families.
She is registered within the Emilia-Romagna Register of Psychologists, Section A, No. 9725, and is registered in the Register of Psychotherapists pursuant to Law 56/1989.
Teaching Activities
She has been teaching at the University of Trento, the University of Parma, and the University of Bologna since 2017.
At the University of Trento, she taught courses in the Bachelor's Degree in Cognitive Psychology and the Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology. Since 2017/2018, she has taught courses in Clinical Psychology, addressing the main classification systems for mental disorders, neuroscientific, psychodynamic, and genetic etiopathogenetic models, attachment theory, the role of early relationships and the psychosocial environment, as well as the fundamental elements of the clinical interview and psychodiagnostic process.
In the 2018/2019 academic year, she taught the course "Depression: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment in Children and Adults," with a focus on theoretical models, assessment tools, and guidelines for psychological intervention. Since 2020/2021, she has also taught the course "Laboratory for the Application of Psychological Tests," which focuses on assessing cognitive and adaptive functioning, problem-solving strategies, cognitive flexibility, and emotional dynamics. During the same period, she collaborated in teaching the course "Typical and Atypical Psychological Development."
In the 2023/2024 academic year, she was a contract professor at the University of Parma, Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Cultural Enterprises, for the course "Foundations and Methods of Psychological Intervention."
Since 2025, she has been a tutor at the Italian Center for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents (C.i.Ps.Ps.I.A.) in Bologna, a specialized school recognized by the Ministry of University and Research and focused on psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy specifically for developmental age and parenting.
Since 2026, she has been a lecturer at the School of Specialization in Brief Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (PPB-Modena), a specialized school recognized by the Ministry of University and Research and focused on psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, she is a lecturer at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, teaching Developmental Psychopathology and Care Relationships as part of the Master's Degree in Psychology of Wellbeing and Social Inclusivity.
Scientific Activity
Her research has focused primarily on developmental and clinical psychology, social neuroscience, and psychopathology, with a particular focus on parent-child relationships, attachment, the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in the development of social behavior, and the psychological consequences of social media use.
During her doctoral program at the University of Trento, she studied the interactions between genetic predispositions, psychological characteristics, early relational experiences, and social behavior, integrating methodologies from psychology, neuroscience, and genetics. Subsequently, her scientific activity also focused on the psychopathological implications of social media use and digital behavior, including problematic internet use, social media use, fitspiration, and sharenting, with a particular focus on childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.
She conducted postdoctoral research at the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Trento and at the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences at the University of Bologna.
In 2025-2026, she collaborated with the IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of the Bologna on the project "Analysis of emerging mental health needs among young people and psychotherapy provision: a local study," promoted and funded by the Ministry of Health. The project aimed to map public and private psychotherapy provision for people aged 11-25.
She is the author and co-author of numerous international scientific publications. Recent topics include interventions for problematic internet use, the relationship between sleep, psychological distress, and problematic social media use in older adults, the use of substances to enhance image and performance, psychopathology associated with social media, and the biopsychosocial mechanisms implicated in addictive behaviors.
Clinical and Professional Activities
She works as a psychologist and psychotherapist, with particular expertise in childhood and adolescent psychopathology, parenting, and interpersonal relationships.
She has gained clinical and rehabilitation experience in various settings, including child neuropsychiatry services, therapeutic-rehabilitative communities, hospital psychiatric services, schools, and universities. Her specialized training has included psychodiagnostic assessments, individual and parent interviews, parenting support, developmental observation, group interventions, and social skills training.
Since 2024, she has been working as a psychotherapist at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, providing counseling and psychological support services to university students. This includes individual consultations and group sessions aimed at promoting psychological well-being, managing anxiety and stress, improving social skills, and addressing university-related difficulties.
She continues to work at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and the University currently appoints her as the psychologist-psychotherapist responsible for the Modena office.
She has also gained significant experience in the school setting, through counseling services, classroom interventions, projects on affectivity and sexuality, academic guidance, promoting relational skills, and interventions for students, parents, and teachers.
Institutional Activities and Professional Roles
Since November 2025, she has been a member of the "Childhood and Adolescence" Working Group of the Order of Psychologists of Emilia-Romagna.
Since 2024, she has also been working as a volunteer with CISV – Children's International Summer Villages, Bologna chapter.
Outreach Activities and Third Mission
She has conducted numerous scientific outreach activities aimed at the general public, students, professionals, and schools, primarily addressing the issues of mental health, psychological development, parenting, and the impact of digital technologies on psychological well-being.
In July 2026, she participated in the roundtable "Young People's Mental Health in the Age of Algorithms," dedicated to the relationship between social media, artificial intelligence, digital addiction, and well-being planning, at the Center for American Studies in Rome.
In 2024, she was the scientific director of the "Logos & Virtual" series of meetings, organized in collaboration with AGeSC Trento, and has participated in outreach initiatives on the risks of minors' overexposure online and psychoanalytic interpretations of childhood and trauma.
She has also participated in numerous scientific outreach and communication initiatives through interviews and contributions to newspapers and university and local media outlets.
Awards and Recognitions
In 2024, she received the Seal of Excellence under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program, with a score of 92.6/100.
In 2022, she has been awarded for the Best PhD of the XXXII cycle from the University of Trento.
In 2021, she received a Starting Grant from the University of Trento for the launch of a research project in collaboration with international organizations and, in the same year, funding under the COST Action program for a Short-Term Scientific Mission.
In 2021, she also received a Certificate of Excellence from the Bruno Kessler Foundation for his doctoral achievements.
