Leading the Way in Multicultural Psychological Practice – Exclusive Interview with Viviana Meloni

Viviana Meloni is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society, a registered psychologist practitioner with the Health and Care Professions Council, a member of the EMDR Association UK and a private chartered principal psychologist. She is the founder and clinical director of Inside Out Multilingual Psychological Therapy, a London-based private psychology consultancy with locations in Kensington, Wimbledon, Chiswick, West Hampstead, and Canary Wharf. Viviana Meloni provides psychological consultations, assessments, formulations, and treatments in English, Italian, and Spanish, and her company’s extensive network enables multilingual collaboration and liaison in Arabic, Japanese, Punjabi, Chinese, and Russian. Additionally, she is a Senior Psychologist leading the rehab department at SLAM-NHS, the top mental health trust for research participation in England for 2023/24, and a leader in large-scale research. Furthermore, she is assessing and strengthening institutional collaborations in United Arab Emirates.

Viviana Meloni won an award for excellence in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy from APT (Association for Psychological Therapies), a gold-standard treatment highly effective for managing chronic suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviours. She has led extensive psychology training, primarily in personality disorders, both in private and public settings, highlighting the roots of emotional dysregulation, particularly associated with histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline personality disorders.

Viviana Meloni, Private Chartered Principal Psychologist

What inspired you to become a such insightful and accomplished psychologist? 

From a young age, I was deeply passionate about theatre, initially drawn to the idea of using a mask as a way to hide one’s true self.

However, throughout my studies at renowned drama schools, I came to realise that the more frequently I was required to wear a mask, the stronger my desire became to remove it.

I came to understand the greater power of removing the mask, having the courage to embrace authenticity rather than conforming to societal expectations.

Life is like a theatre, and each of us wears masks on stage. Psychology is the study of what lies beneath the masks, the hidden emotions, fears, and truths that shape who we truly are, even when the world only sees the performance.

I gradually discovered that different authentic parts could coexist in the same mask without necessarily representing a contradiction. Consequently, my passion grew from a curiosity about identity and connection.

This realization became a turning point in my life and inspired me to pursue psychology. Today, especially in trauma therapy, I also integrate elements of the Stanislavski method into my therapeutic practice, supporting individuals in uncovering their true selves and living with greater authenticity.

Please tell us a bit about your background.

My professional journey began in Sardinia, Italy, where I earned my master’s degree in psychology with a thesis on pet therapy, focusing on the role of animals, particularly dogs, as motivational elements fostering excellence in human development. I successfully completed the five-year master’s degree program one year ahead of schedule, a remarkable academic achievement that earned me a prestigious placement in Spain. There, I pursued a Master’s in Psychological Rehabilitation Interventions at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, graduating with the highest academic distinction.

Driven by my passion for the therapeutic role of dogs, I went on to specialize as a Psychology Expert in Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) within Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) through the International Institute of Human and Animal Behaviour, Bocalán, in Barcelona. Collaborating with Labrador Retrievers, I explored the clinical applications of AAT in medical contexts and later led a research project in a paediatric oncology department. My work focused on the motivational factors influencing treatment adherence, applying behavioural analysis methods to assess and modify behaviours through data-driven approaches.

I subsequently worked for several years with the Department of Justice in Barcelona, where I applied my psychology expertise within forensic settings. Motivated by professional curiosity and a desire to work with a more international client base, I later relocated to London. I now practice both with the National Health Service in the United Kingdom at SLAM, which holds an international reputation for excellence in research, and in private settings, offering evidence-based therapies including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), third-wave Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), as well as psychodynamic and integrative approaches. Additionally, I assess partnerships and collaboration with institutions in Dubai. As the founder and director of my enterprise, I oversee its strategic direction and growth initiatives.

What types of clients or issues do you specialize in?

I specialize in the extensive assessment, formulation, and treatment of individuals presenting with trauma, emotional dysregulation, and complex personality disorders, with expertise across all diagnostic clusters. I work with presentations such as paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders, managing entrenched mistrust, perceptual distortions, and social withdrawal.

A significant aspect of my clinical expertise involves working with borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality disorder presentations, characterized by emotional dysregulation, interpersonal instability, impulsivity, and identity disturbance, where suicidal behaviours and self-harm are frequently part of the clinical picture. These complex behaviours serve several psychological functions, including the inability to manage overwhelming internal states. I conduct detailed risk assessments that address both chronic and acute suicide risk while integrating trauma-related factors. Within Cluster C, I treat avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, focusing on pervasive anxiety, fear of rejection, and rigid perfectionism.

I draw on evidence-based interventions recognized by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, to address skills in distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation. I also use Schema Therapy to address deep-rooted maladaptive schemas, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to process trauma that can perpetuate dysfunctional cycles. In forensic settings, I administer the HCR-20 assessment, which serves as a cornerstone tool for formulating individualized violence risk profiles to systematically assess and forecast the risk of future violence in individuals, including those presenting with trauma and complex personality disorders. In line with this pathway, I administer the MCMI-IV and interpret the results in accordance with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, while also cross-referencing the findings with the ICD-11 dimensional framework.

How do you support clients through cultural or identity-related challenges as a Director of Inside Out Multilingual Psychological Therapy?

As a private principal psychologist, I am deeply committed to supporting clients through the cultural and identity-related challenges that shape their emotional well-being. Our practice is built on the belief that language is more than words; it is a bridge to our inner world.

I personally offer therapy in Italian, Spanish, and English, and through our extensive network, we provide sessions in Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, and Punjabi.

Being able to express oneself in one's mother tongue allows for more spontaneous and authentic self-expression, which is vital for deep therapeutic work and free associations.

Cultural sensitivity is at the core of our approach. To deepen my own understanding of different ways of life, I travel extensively as a solo traveller, immersing myself in cultures across the world. This experience allows me to breathe in the nuances of languages, traditions, and differences, bringing openness and awareness into every therapeutic encounter.

We work with clients to explore how heritage, migration, faith, tradition, personality, and identity intersect with their personal experiences, whether that means navigating life between cultures, managing intergenerational expectations, or confronting feelings of displacement.

With offices in some of London’s most well-known neighbourhoods, Kensington, Wimbledon, Chiswick, Canary Wharf, and West Hampstead, clients can choose from comfortable in-person sessions in welcoming spaces or enjoy the convenience of online therapy wherever they are in the world.

Above all, my company provides a safe, non-judgmental space where every part of a client’s identity can be acknowledged, integrated, and supported.

What strategies enable you to fulfil your work as a senior psychologist within the UK National Health Service and lead your own successful business as Director of a psychology service?

I rely on structured time management, clear boundaries, a strong collaborative network, and a values-driven approach. My role at the National Health Service keeps me grounded in the frontline of delivering high-quality clinical work, supported by an efficient system and a multi-disciplinary team environment that shares expertise. Meanwhile, my business allows me to create, innovate, and lead, applying the same principles but with added flexibility, ensuring that strategic planning and service development are prioritised.

Beyond the public and private settings, a critical strategy is maintaining a growth mindset and continuous learning. Hence, I am constantly updating myself with the latest research, therapeutic approaches, and leadership practices to guarantee the best evidence-based approach.

Lastly, the most important element is that I am deeply passionate about my work. I believe that for adults, the right job should feel like play does for a child: stimulating, engaging, and deeply fulfilling. This passion fuels my energy, sustains my motivation, increases my critical thinking, and makes the hard work not only manageable but truly enjoyable.

I treat both roles as mutually reinforcing, as each role sharpens the skills and insights I bring to the other. Uniting public service with private leadership turns two worlds into one mission: making a difference that lasts, while my vision becomes a powerful catalyst for change.

You have led highly challenging and specialised services, including the personality disorders unit, the forensic department, the neurodivergency unit, and worked within psychopathology and prisons under the Department of Justice. How did these experiences shape your therapeutic approach and leadership style when working with complex clients?

My leadership and therapeutic approach emerged from the intersection of different and complex psychological challenges. These experiences compelled me to integrate evidence-based frameworks, cultivate psychological safety, and foster systemic resilience when working with complex client populations. This fusion produced a leadership style that is ethically grounded, psychologically informed, and inclusively adaptive, anchored by therapeutic alliance, reflective practice, strengths-based frameworks, and systemic coordination.

Navigating diverse professional settings demanded an integrative leadership style, functioning as a boundary spanner who builds alliances across psychology, criminology, psychopathology, psychiatry, and MDT. This approach not only provides a framework for diagnosing mental disorders but also addresses a range of specific therapeutic interventions.

I firmly believe that psychology holds the key to unlocking unresolved traumas that often become profound obstacles in life’s journey. Many clients arrive uncertain of where their path to freedom truly lies, only to discover, through therapy, that the key has been tucked away in their own pocket all along. Witnessing that moment of realization, the point at which insight ignites change, never ceases to be cathartic.

This transformation, akin to the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly, encapsulates my therapeutic vision. As the quote poignantly expresses: “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly”, Richard Bach. What may feel like a limit or a final moment is, in fact, the genesis of profound growth. Therapy serves as this chrysalis: a space for dissolution and rebirth.

Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.

My personal journey through a breast cancer diagnosis has been profoundly life-changing, offering me a deeper understanding of resilience and the complexities of the human emotional experience. This chapter of my life reinforced my belief in the remarkable capacity for growth, healing, and meaningful transformation, even when faced with profound adversity.

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