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About Svetoslav Savov, PhD

I am a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst (PhD) in clinical practice since 2009. I am based in the Valencia region of Spain (where I am accredited as a Psicólogo General Sanitario), offering in-person consultations in Gandía and online therapy internationally. Sessions are conducted in English and Bulgarian.
Svetoslav Savov, PhD
Svetoslav Savov

Svetoslav Savov, PhD
Clinical Psychologist · Psychoanalyst

Academic Education

  • 2016 — PhD in Psychology, Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University (NBU), Dissertation: “Mentalization and Personality Organization in Heroin-Dependent Patients”
  • 2009 — MA in Clinical Psychology (Psychoanalytic Perspective), New Bulgarian University (NBU)
  • 2005 — BA in Psychology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Professional Qualification

  • 2017 — Psychoanalyst, Psychoanalytic Institute for Eastern Europe “Han-Groen Prakken” / Bulgarian Psychoanalytic Society
  • 2009–2015 — Participant in clinical seminars, Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute “Karl Abraham”
  • 2011 — Research training program, International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) and University College London (UCL)

Professional Experience

  • 2009–present — Clinical practice
  • 2024–2025 — Clinical Specialist, Cronos Clinical Consulting Services, Inc.
  • 2022–2025 — Psychotherapist, Modern Health
  • 2022–2025 — Clinical Psychologist, Plumm Health
  • 2012–2015 — Clinical Psychologist and Coordinator, Center for Professional Training, Animus Association Foundation
  • 2008–2012 — Clinical Psychologist, Horizon Medical Center
  • 2006–2010 — Clinical Psychologist, Trust for Health Medical Center

Teaching

  • 2025–present — Course: “Ego Psychology, Self Psychology and Intersubjective Psychoanalysis”, Bulgarian Psychoanalytic Society
  • 2022–present — Course: “Basic Concepts and Theories in Psychoanalysis”, Bulgarian Psychoanalytic Society
  • 2021–present — Course: “Psychoanalytic Research”, Bulgarian Psychoanalytic Society
  • 2017–2022 — Senior Assistant, Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University (NBU)
  • 2015–2017 — Assistant, Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University (NBU)
  • 2014–2015 — Training Facilitator, Animus Association Foundation

Administrative Roles

  • 2022–present — Member of the Advisory Board, Department of Psychology, Başkent University, Ankara
  • 2020–2022 — Member of the Program Council, Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University (NBU)
  • 2018–2020 — Director of the Program Council, Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University (NBU)
  • 2018–2020 — Secretary, Bulgarian Psychoanalytic Society
  • 2017–2019 — Member of the Research Ethics Committee, New Bulgarian University (NBU)
  • 2012–2013 — Member of the Academic Council and the Master’s Faculty Council, New Bulgarian University (NBU)

Project Participation

  • 2015–2022 — “Trauma, Trust and Memory” — Research project, Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute and New Bulgarian University (NBU)
  • 2014–2015 — “MenCare” — National campaign “To Be a Father”
  • 2012–2013 — Principal Investigator: “Mentalization and Personality Organization in Heroin-Dependent Patients” — International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA)
  • 2010–2011 — “AMMIE” — Project on alcohol marketing and its impact on children and adolescents

Expert Activity

  • 2025 — Author of a clinical psychological report submitted in legal proceedings in New York (USA).
  • 2023–present — Reviewer of research grants, International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA)
  • 2021–2022— Expert witness, Supreme Court, Queen’s Bench, England

Publications

  1. Naseva, E., Dancheva, V., Savov, S., Vodenicharov, V., & Ramshev, N. (2022). Emotional regulation in patients with essential hypertension. Journal of the Bulgarian Hypertension League, Vol. VI, No. 14, 21–31.
  2. Naseva, E., Dancheva, V., Savov, S., Vodenicharov, V., & Ramshev, N. (2022). Application of the questionnaires for alexithymia, empathy, emotional intelligence and mentalization among a Bulgarian population of patients with essential hypertension and healthy controls. Journal of the Bulgarian Hypertension League, Vol. VI, No. 14, 32–40.
  3. Savov, S. (2022). Psychoanalysis in the Era of Evidence-Based Therapies: Clinical and Research Perspectives. Sofia: New Bulgarian University Press.
  4. Ignatova, M., & Savov, S. (2021). Alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and mentalization in individuals diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes. Psychological Research, Vol. 24, Issue 1, 84–111.
  5. Savov, S. (2021). Some notes on psychoanalytic work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bulgarian Journal of Psychology (Proceedings of the IX International Congress of Psychology 2020), Section 3: Clinical, Health and Counseling Psychology, 180–188.
  6. Krasteva, T., Psederska, E., & Savov, S. (2020). Body image investment, alexithymia and mentalization in women with breast cancer. Bulgarian Journal of Psychology, 1–4, 139–168.
  7. Savov, S. (2020). Is empirical testing of psychoanalytic theory, process and technique possible: conceptual and methodological issues. In Applied Psychology and Social Practice (Proceedings of the XIX International Scientific Conference), 582–595. Varna: VSU “Chernorizets Hrabar” University Press.
  8. Savov, S. (2020). Mentalization and affective processing: results from empirical research using quantitative and qualitative methods. In Mentalization and Clinical Practice (Proceedings of the Third National Congress of Clinical Psychology with international participation, Sofia, 2020), 414–425. Sofia: Steno.
  9. Savov, S. (2019). The place of psychoanalysis in the era of evidence-based therapy. In Psychoanalysis in Bulgaria: Here and Now (O. Todorov, Ed.), 97–108. Sofia: Colibri.
  10. Pasareva, G., Atanasov, N., & Savov, S. (2019). Personality characteristics of mothers of children on the autism spectrum. Bulgarian Journal of Psychology, 1–4, 5–16.
  11. Psederska, E., Savov, S., Atanassov, N., & Vassileva, J. (2019). Relationships Between Alexithymia and Psychopathy in Heroin Dependent Individuals. Frontiers in Psychology, 10:2269. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02269
  12. Savov, S., & Hristova, I. (2018). Mentalization, alexithymia and levels of anxiety–depressive symptomatology in people who regularly practice yoga. Clinical and Counseling Psychology, 3(37), 23–36.
  13. Atanassov, N., & Savov, S. (2018). Psychic trauma and addiction. In A. Hamburger (Ed.), Trauma, Trust and Memory: Social Trauma and Reconciliation in Psychoanalysis, Psychotherapy and Cultural Memory (pp. 161–170). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
  14. Savov, S. (2017). Is psychoanalysis an evidence-based therapy: science and ideologies. In Clinical Psychology Proceedings, Vol. 2, 37–45.
  15. Atanassov, N., & Savov, S. (2016). Mentalization and personality organization in heroin addicted patients: A Narrative Analysis. Language and Psychoanalysis, 5(1), 14–30.
  16. Savov, S. (2014). “Zippy’s Friends”: a program for supporting mental health and improving coping skills in children aged 5–7. In Proceedings of the VII National Congress of Psychology, 423–428.
  17. Savov, S., & Atanassov, N. (2013). Deficits of affect mentalization in patients with drug addiction: theoretical and clinical aspects. ISRN Addiction, Article ID 250751, 6 pages. doi:10.1155/2013/250751
  18. Atanasov, N., & Savov, S. (2012). Research on narratives in psychoanalysis. Bulgarian Journal of Psychology, 3–4, 33–62.
  19. Savov, S. (2012). Contemporary psychodynamic approaches to therapeutic work with heroin-dependent patients. In Proceedings — First National Congress of Clinical and Counseling Psychology, 18–25.
  20. Savov, S. (2010). Presentation of the psychoanalytic approach to addictions. Clinical and Counseling Psychology, 4(6), 19–28.

Published Translations

  1. Casement, P. (2023). Learning Along the Way. New Reflections on Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Varna: Steno.
  2. Hinshelwood, R. (2021). “Countertransference: For Better or for Worse”, chapter in Contemporary Kleinian Psychoanalysis, ed. Svetlozar Vassilev. Sofia: Colibri. (Co-translation with Dr. Daniela Alexieva.)

Membership in Professional Organizations

Areas of Professional Interest

  • Contemporary approaches in psychoanalysis
  • Empirical research in psychoanalysis
  • Personality organizations
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