Mrs Leah Athanassopoulos

Research Overview

My research focuses on the psychological and relational development of counselling and psychotherapy trainees, with particular emphasis on empathy, emotional regulation, and attachment across the course of professional training. I am interested in how these core relational capacities evolve over time, how they interact with one another, and how they shape therapeutic presence, effectiveness, and professional identity formation.

A central strand of my work examines longitudinal change during training, exploring how trainees develop empathic responsiveness, manage emotional demands, and negotiate attachment patterns within both therapeutic and educational relationships. This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of therapist development and informs evidence-based approaches to training, supervision, and assessment.

A second, complementary strand of my research explores the ethical and pedagogical use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a training tool in psychology and psychotherapy. This includes investigating how AI-supported tools may enhance reflective practice, feedback, skills development, and self-awareness in trainees, while remaining grounded in person-centred, relational, and ethically robust frameworks. I am particularly interested in how emerging technologies can be integrated responsibly into therapist education without undermining relational depth, professional judgement, or human presence.

Collectively, my research aims to strengthen psychologically informed training practices and contribute to the development of compassionate, reflective, and ethically grounded practitioners within the context of contemporary mental health education at University of Aberdeen.