Skills and achievements

Curriculum Vitae

May 2016 to present

Postdoctoral Fellow,

School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh

Click here to download my detailed CV

developing research proposals and securing research grants
data management and data collection in schools
dissemination of research findings through knowledge exchange events (festivals, seminars, workshops)
students supervision
teaching and assessment within post-graduate courses in Clinical Psychology

September 2015 - January 2016

Postdoctoral Fellow,

University of Cagliari

Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy

directed family-centered, strengths-based, culturally competent and individualized intakes, assessment and psychological testing
collected and analyzed data on individual clients using records, tests, interviews and professional sources
consulted with and trained highly skilled mental health and medical staff, presenting case history material to discuss, including creating treatment plans
observed and monitored parent-infant attachment relationship via Home Visiting intervention
identified early warning signs of emotional and developmental problems in infants and notified supervisor
supported quantitative work with data coding and analyses
assisted within control design, implementation, and integration
conducted an extensive literature review to target variables of interests
prepared reports, manuscripts, and proposals
lecturing within post-graduate courses in Dynamic Psychology
supervised and evaluated students' lab work and dissertation
member of the examination panel

November 2011- June 2014

Research Assistant

Lund University

efficiently worked with all associated technology and software applications
supported quantitative data analyses
developed and write research reports and papers
conducted an extensive review of the literature to target variables of interest
prepared reports, manuscripts, proposals to submit for conferences

November 2011- June 2014

Ph.D. candidate in Dynamic, Clinical, and Developmental Psychology, Sapienza,

University of Rome

data collection in the school setting, engaging with children individually for psychological assessment
participated in-home visits, parents' meetings and developmental screenings of emotional and behavioral development
worked with interdisciplinary team members to evaluate children's progress and recommend appropriate learning plans
lecturing within BSc and postgraduate courses in Dynamic Psychology
supported, supervised, and evaluated students' lab work and dissertations
analyzed and coding data for publications and presentation at national and international conferences
attended professional national and international conferences and workshops within the field of child and adolescent mental health

Eduation

Education

My study path

January 2017 to January 2021

Diploma in Child and Adolescent Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

In January 2017 I decided to undertake this training to gain the skills needed for clinical work with children, adolescents and their families. The training provided me with remarkable tools for psychotherapy work in a Jungian psychodynamic and psychoanalytic key, a theoretical model that relies on the use of expressive techniques (e.g. drawing, play, dance-movement-therapy, and psychodrama) to access the deepest core of human experience. In parallel to the theoretical lessons, I carried out an internship at the Center for the Vulnerable Child in Kirckaldy, Fife, Scotland, subsequently renamed Sea View Project, where I dealt with individual psychotherapy with children and adolescents under supervision.

February 2007 - July 2009

February 2004 - February2007

Master of Science Degree in Dynamic and Clinical Psychology for Infancy, Adolescence and Family

Sapienza, University of Rome

Bachelor of Science Degree in Science and Psychological Techniques for clinical assessment and counselling

Sapienza, University of Rome

Within this degree course I learnt the administration of widely known and used tools for the evaluation of infant, child, and adult attachment.

I also learnt about child and adolescent psychopathology, the tools for assessment and treatment.

During the three-year degree course I had the opportunity to build a solid theoretical background in basic psychology and psychological tools of assessment, suitable for childhood and adulthood.

Acknwledgments

Acknowledgments

Best Tutor of the Year Nomination Online course in

"Trauma and Resilience in Young People"

University of Edinburgh Students Association (EUSA) Teaching Awards- Aprile 2017

First ex aequo prize Trust Saulo Sirigatti for studies and research in psychology

"Continuity vs. discontinuity of attachment in transition to middle childhood: a longitudinal study"

for the best contribution presented at the XVI National Congress of the Italian Association of Psychology (AIP), Division of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Pisa, taly, 19th -21st September, 2014.

Sante de Sanctis Award

7th edition of the scientific award in Psychology and Psychiatry 2010

for the division: dissertation, Opera Sante de Sanctis Onlus,

2nd of October 2010, Parrano, Italy

Aricles

Publications

Taylor, E., Di Folco, S., Mithen, H., Dupin, M., Wen, L., & Nisbet, K. (2020). Socioeconomic Deprivation and Social Capital in Kinship Carers Using a Helpline Service. Child & Family Social Work. Doi: 10.1111/cfs.12763

Obsuth, I., Murray, A. L., Di Folco, S., Ribeaud, D., & Eisner, M. (2020). Patterns of homotypic and heterotypic continuity between ADHD Symptoms, externalising and internalising problems from age 7 to 15. Journal of abnormal child psychology, 48(2), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-019-00592-9

Di Folco, S., San Martini, P., Piermattei, C., Zavattini, G. C., & Psouni, E. (2020). A comparison of attachment representations to father and mother using the MCAST. Scandinavian journal of psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12611

Pace, C. S., Di Folco, S., Guerriero, V. & Muzi, S. (2019). Late-adopted children grown up: A long-term longitudinal study on attachment patterns of adolescent adoptees and their adoptive mothers. Attachment and Human Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2019.1571519

Roffo, G., Vo, D.B, Sorrentino, A., Rooksby, M., Tayarani, M., Di Folco, S., Minnis, H., Brewster, S., Vinciarelli, A. (2019). Automating the Administration and Analysis of Psychiatric Tests: The Case of Attachment in School Age Children. In CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Proceedings (CHI 2019), May 4--9, 2019, Glasgow, Scotland UK. ACM, NY, NY, USA. Paper 595, 12 pages

Lou, Y., Taylor, E. P., & Di Folco, S. (2018). Resilience and resilience factors in residential care: a systematic review. Children & Youth Services Review, 89, 83-92. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.010

Clapp, L. A., Taylor, E. P., Di Folco, S., & Mackinnon, V. L. (2018). Effectiveness of Art Therapy with Pediatric Populations affected by medical health conditions: a Systematic Review. Arts & Health, Doi: 10.1080/17533015.2018.1443952

Pace, C. S., Di Folco, S., Guerriero, V., & Terrone, G. (2017). Late-adoptions in adolescence: Can attachment and emotion regulation influence behaviour problems? A controlled study using a moderation approach. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 1-13. Doi: 10.1002/cpp.2158

Piermattei, C., Pace, C. S., Tambelli, R., D'Onofrio, E., & Di Folco, S. (2017). Late adoptions: Attachment security and emotional availability in mother-child and father-child dyads. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 26, 8, 2114–2125. Doi: 10.1007/s10826-017-0732-6

Di Folco, S., Messina, S., Zavattini, G. C., & Psouni, E. (2017). Convergence of attachment to mother and father during transition to middle childhood. Journal of Child & Family Studies,26, 3, 721–733. Doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0602-7

Terrone, G., Musetti, A., Di Folco, S. & Pegola, R. F. (2017). Depressione materna e paterna: Fattori di rischio e di protezione nella genitorialità. Maltrattamento e Abuso all’Infanzia, 1, 105-132. Doi: 10.3280/MAL2017-001007

Guerriero, V., & Di Folco, S. (2017). La reazione materna alla diagnosi di epilessia del bambino. Due esperienze a confronto. Psicologia Clinica dello Sviluppo, 1, 183-191. Doi: 10.1449/86193

Di Folco, S., de Campora, G., Zavattini, G. C. (2016). Sintonie e dissintonie nei legami precoci. Maltrattamento e Abuso all'Infanzia,18, 2, 71-93. Doi: 10.3280/MAL2016-002005

Pace, C. S., Di Folco, S., Guerriero, V., Santona, A., & Terrone, G. (2015). Adoptive parenting and attachment: association of the Internal Working Models between adoptive mothers and their adopted children during adolescence. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1433, Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01433

Gnazzo, A., Guerriero, V., Di Folco, S., Zavattini, G. C., & de Campora, G. (2015). Skin to skin interactions. Does the infant massage improve the couple functioning? Frontiers inPsychology, 6, 1468. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01468

Pace, C. S., Santona, A., Zavattini, G. C., & Di Folco, S. (2015). Attachment states of mind and couple relationships in couples seeking to adopt. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, 11, 3318–3330. Doi: 10.1007/s10826-015-0134-6

Psouni, E., Di Folco, S., & Zavattini, G. C. (2015). Scripted secure base knowledge and its relation to perceived social acceptance and competence in early middle childhood.Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 56, 3, 341-348. Doi: 10.1111/sjop.12208

Di Folco, S., & Zavattini, G. C. (2015). La depressione post-partum nelle madri immigrate: una review della letteratura. Maltrattamento e abuso all'infanzia, 17, 2, 55-85. Doi: 10.3280/MAL2015-002004

Di Folco, S., & Zavattini G. C. (2014). La relazione d'attaccamento padre-bambino: una rassegna della letteratura. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 1, 159-190, Doi: 10.1421/77211

Pace, C. S., Santona, A., Zavattini, G. C., & Di Folco, S. (2014). Gli stati della mente rispetto all’attaccamento al caregiver e al partner di coppie nell’assessment preadottivo. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 347-364, Doi: 10.1421/77908

Velotti, P., Di Folco, S., Zavattini, G. C. (2013). What we know about “attachment disorders” in childhood: a review. Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation, 14 (3-4), 61-77. Doi: JSER-2013-001110.2478

Monographs:

Cardi, M., Iafrate, C., & Di Folco, S. (2019). Il Coffy Test. Test proiettivo per l’età scolare. Roma: Edizioni Magi.

Di Verniere, V., Di Folco, S. (2014). Attaccamento e competenza emotiva nella seconda infanzia. La relazione madre-bambino e i suoi effetti sullo sviluppo. Roma: Fefé Editore. ISBN: 978-88-95988-57-3.

Projects

Portfolio

In addition to "more traditional" research projects, which you can read about in my detailed CV and publications, I have recently become interested in studying how art, in its various forms, could be used to promote psychological well-being in developmental age and in adulthood, becoming itself both a valid research tool and a mean of disseminating psychological research through festivals and events open to the public.

For more information about the projects and events I participated in, please, see my detailed CV.

Projects

Collaborations

Over the years, I worked with the following organisations within projects aimed at:

fighting stigma around mental health issues by singing in a community choir;

HarmonyChoir: http://harmonychoir.com

promoting intergenerational transmission of dancehall music heritage between elderly with dementia and children attending primary school

Oak Note Theatre: https://www.oaknote.co.uk

exploring young people's perception of terrorism and violence arising from secondary exposure to news reporting, social media, and wider media.

Youth Arts View: https://youthartsview.wixsite.com/youthartsview

I was also part of the work around the Coffy Test, a semi-projective tool aimed at assessing risk of psychopathology in young children through narratives where the main character the child has to identify with is a puppy. The Coffy Test aims at exploring the child's inner world and the way he/she represents the relationships with parents and peers.

Coffy Test: http://coffytest.net