Maria Brodzikowska

She holds a PhD in Social Sciences and is a systemic and EMDR psychotherapist, as well as a resocialization pedagogue and certified HIV/AIDS pre- and post-test counselor. She serves as Head of the Department of Pedagogy at the Institute of Social Sciences, WWFiS University of Physical Culture in Kraków.

Her research and clinical practice focus on chemsex. She co-authored one of the first national studies on chemsex in Poland, conducted by the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene and funded by the National Bureau for Drug Prevention in 2019. She subsequently co-led research examining key therapeutic factors in the treatment of men problematically engaged in chemsex, as well as the applicability of EMDR in individual psychotherapy within this population.

She is currently the principal investigator of a research project funded by the Polish EMDR Association, investigating the use of group EMDR therapy for men involved in problematic chemsex.

In addition to her private practice, she provides psychotherapy and consultations for this population in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and at the Addiction Treatment Clinic of the Parasol Therapy Center in Kraków. She also serves as an HIV pre- and post-test counselor at a Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center in Kraków and is actively engaged in HIV/STI prevention and support for people living with HIV, for which she has received the “Red Ribbon” award.

She is Chair of the Council of the “One World” Health Prevention Association and a member of professional scientific and therapeutic associations.