Our Team
Emilia Kardzhilova
Executive Director
During her time at the Sofia University, Emilia Kardzhilova specialized in the field of psychology, gaining a deep understanding of human behavior, cognitive processes, and emotional well-being. She excelled in her studies and graduated with honors, receiving both a bachelor's and master's degree in psychology. Prior to pursuing her higher education at Sofia University, Emilia completed her undergraduate degree at Library College in Sofia, where she developed a passion for research and a strong foundation in bookpublishing and information management. During her time at Library College in Sofia, Emilia not only gained theoretical knowledge in book publishing and information management, but also had the opportunity to apply her skills through various research projects. She was actively involved in conducting research on different topics, analyzing data, and organizing information effectively. Emilia's dedication and passion for research led her to excel in her studies and receive recognition for her outstanding academic achievements. Her undergraduate experience not only provided her with a solid foundation in the field, but also ignited her desire to continue her education and pursue a higher degree at Sofia University. To further expand her knowledge and skills in the field of human resource management, Emilia pursued a second master's degree from New Bulgarian University and Open University. This program provided her with comprehensive training in recruitment, employee development, and organizational behavior, equipping her with the expertise needed to excel in her future career endeavors.
Emilia has successfully completed her post-graduate specialization in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from "Animus" and Sofia University, with outstanding academic achievement. Subsequently, she pursued a post-graduate specialization in 'Integrative psychotherapy' from the Medical University, which she completed with remarkable academic performance. Finally, Emilia has obtained her master's degree in 'Child-adolescent and school psychology' from Sofia University, marking her academic excellence in the field. Emilia worked for the Open Society Institute (OSI), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and another children's organization in the United States before joining Children's Society Foundation Bulgaria.
Emilia received a grant from the French government to study in Paris ‘Cultural Studies’. She served as a scientific editor for the Larousse Bulgarian edition of the Dictionary of Psychology. Emilia is a member of the Bulgarian Psychological Society (BPS) as well as the Bulgarian Project Management Association (BPMA). She is now working on her doctoral dissertation on the interaction between psychoanalysis and early childhood development.
Emilia is a highly skilled and accomplished consultant in positive psychotherapy with registration number 154 since June 2023. Her extensive training and expertise are unparalleled, enable her to provide exceptional guidance to her clients, making her the ideal expert to help you achieve a more positive outlook on life. With her guidance, you can conquer any obstacles that may be holding you back and experience a newfound sense of empowerment and fulfillment. Don't settle for anything less than the best – choose Emilia as your positive psychotherapy consultant today. Her insights and techniques can help you achieve a more positive outlook on life, leading to an enhanced sense of well-being and satisfaction.
Emilia is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in diagnosing and counseling children and adolescents. Psychological counseling focuses on hyperkinetic disorder, generalized developmental disorders, specific developmental disorders, and language-speech disorders, as well as dyslexia. A psychological office is a practice that offers counseling services in the fields of psychology and organizational development to both children and adults. A wide spectrum of disorders affecting mental and linguistic functioning is diagnosed and treated in practice. Test batteries standardized for Bulgaria are used for diagnostic purposes.
As an emotional-behavioral and neurodevelopmental specialist, Emilia has experience working with a wide variety of children, including those with learning difficulties, attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorders, oppositional behavior, autism spectrum disorders, and others.
Qualifications:
• Certification trainings for working with standardized psychometric tools WISC-IV, HAWIK-R (intelligence), DP-3 (child development), CAT (Children's Apperceptive Test), CAB (Clinical Behavior Assessment), CBCL ASEBA (Achenbach's School-Age Behavior Empirical Assessment System) Rorschach (Rorschach's Projective Test); School readiness test; Scale of Subjective Well-being and Relationships with Parents and Peers; Aggression and Victimization by Peers Scale; Emotional Intelligence Scale by Dr. John Pelitieri, President of the International Society for Emotional Intelligence; and other rating scales and self-assessment questionnaires. Participation in certification trainings for standards for early childhood development, child play therapy, support for parents of children with hyperactivity and/or oppositional behavior, emotional intelligence, work with children with hyperactivity and attention deficit, support for children with special educational needs, differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, etc.
• A Bayley III trainer who is certified to work with babies and children up to 42 months old, as well as a trainer and creator of the Toy Library and the Attachment Collaborators programs.
• Provides motivation, efficiency, and group cohesion consulting and diagnostics to organizations.
• Formed as a psychotherapist in the school of positive psychotherapy. Emilia has studied in a doctoral program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at New Bulgarian University.
'Volunteers are extremely essential to our work, and we could not have anywhere near the impact that we do without their remarkable contributions across the country.' I'd like to express my gratitude to each and every one of you.'
