Get to know the team behind Psiconexia
Discover who we are and how we came to consider that such a tool was possible
Our story
Every story has a beginning, and ours begins the summer of 2018, on a winding road off the Galician coast (which was magnificent, by the way). Patri, my partner and I (Bruno), animatedly commented on the need to offer solutions to improve the connection between psychologists and patients. And, as is often the case on car trips in the summer… EUREKA! Why not develop a digital platform where anyone could find the most suitable mental health professional, according to their issues?
We quickly saw the need to develop a very comprehensive assessment instrument, to try to cover as many of the problems that exist in mental health as possible. Usually these ideas stay in the closet at home, along with the towel and sun cream, but this time it was different. And I began to dedicate the few free hours that my PhD allowed me to create this assessment instrument… which started growing. Until I needed the help of two great psychologists, who had collaborated in our research group: Oscar and Erik. Together, the three of us have worked tirelessly (well, sometimes we were exhausted after work, but still kept working with coffee or hamburger on hand) to shape this idea and research.
Since then, we have had the best advice, help and invaluable support from friends, family and acquaintances who have contributed their bit with all kinds of ideas and tips to improve the development, design, and feasibility plan of the digital platform and other aspects of the platform. We have also been advised by the best mental health professionals to improve the mental health assessment instrument, Psiconexia Predict, to whom we are deeply grateful. In addition to having the professional knowledge, support and infinite patience (literally it is infinite), of this first person, who initially believed in this idea, which is today PSICONEXIA.
Get to know us
Bruno Porras Garcia
General health psychologist and predoctoral researcher at the University of Barcelona (UB)
He is currently working in the research group on applications of new technologies and virtual reality in clinical psychology – VR-PSY LAB, specifically in the national and European research project (Project PSI2015-70389-R: Development of virtual reality-based exposure techniques for improving anorexia nervosa treatment). During this period, he has published as first author or as co-author, a total of 14 articles in international journals. He has also presented several scientific posters, oral presentations, and workshops in various national or international congresses in the field of new technologies and clinical psychology. He has been granted with two international awards, the New Investigator Award from the Canada Research Chair in Clinical Cyberpsychology, CYPSY23 (Gatineau, Canada), and the best scientific poster award presented at the 2019 annual conference organized by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (London, United Kingdom).
Now, he intends to start a new adventure, in the development and creation of the digital platform Psiconexia. A project that combines his three main passions, Clinical Psychology, research and new technologies.
Oscar Castillero Mimenza
General Health Psychologist
General Health Psychologist and Educational Psychologist with a specialization in Educational Psychology in Secondary Education, by the University of Barcelona. Passionate about psychology and medicine, as well as zoology, history, literature, and mythology (among others). He has worked in the field of divulgation in well-known psychology and medicine web portals, as well as in the field of psychogeriatrics.
He currently works as a psychologist in different psychology and neuropsychology units.
Erik Expósito Sanz
General Health Psychologist
T He currently works as a psychologist at the Medical Center of Sagrada Familia. He collaborated closely with the research unit on applications of new technologies and virtual reality in Clinical Psychology – VR-PSY LAB during his Master’s Thesis, specifically with the research project PSI2015-70389-R (Development of virtual reality-based exposure techniques for improving anorexia nervosa treatment) where he carried out his research, from which he was able to publish his first article as co-author. He is currently combining his work with the development of the shared personal project that is Psiconexia.
In addition, we have the invaluable support and supervision for the research of Psiconexia Predict, from the Research Group on Applications of new technologies in Clinical Psychology (VR-PSY-Lab) of the University of Barcelona. And specifically from researchers José Gutiérrez Maldonado and Marta Ferrer Garcia.