About

Dr. Victoria Soell

A little bit about my search for well-being

My interest and search for well-being started in my dad´s library in Colombia when I was 16. I discovered Letters to Lucilius from Seneca, and suddenly my (very young!) life-perspective broadened and my fascination with knowledge and with learning how to live a “happy life“ began.

Later on, while studying Psychology, instead of searching for ways to a “happy life“, I was pursuing the ways to enhance well-being and psychological health. As a researcher in the university for many years, my interest was then to find those reliable tools to promote and mantain this psychological health.

A next chapter began when I made the decision to move from Spain to Germany to start a family, after 10 years of living in Spain. The language barrier shifted my attention to other proyects away from Psychology. During this time, I had the opportunity to look at well-being from a different perspective. I co-founded a nutrition company for women, Clu by Leyana GmBH. This experience has been very enriching. It means not only experience as an entrepeneur, but getting a first-hand grasp of the magnitud of the effect of taking care of your body in your emotional well-being. So again, more knowledge about well-being and different perspectives.

During Covid, I did an intensive training and became a Mindfulness Instructor, as I wanted to offer effective tools to our costumers for achiving body-mind balance. And suddenly, that search for knowledge that was present from the beginning, narrowed to “self- knowledge“- as I started getting the idea that consciousness and awarness of oneself, one´s perspectives, attitudes, patterns, is the begining of a satisfying life. And after finally dominating german language I started a training in Systemic Therapy in Germany. And moreover I trained myself in resilience with the one of the world´s leading experts in resilence and stress managment.

(1)Researching for interventions that objectively help and diminish distress, symptoms or simply enhance well-being, (2) dealing with a company and people within the team, and (3) the neuropsychological and practical understanding of how stress and resilience really work- lead me to where I am today. Wrapping more than 20 years of studies and training in psychology, and of inter-cultural knowledge about people, psychology, research, and let´s not forget parenthood- make me confident that I can accompany my clients and teams into experimenting more succesful and “happier lives.“

Areas of Specialization

Stress, cortisol, relaxation, mindfulness, personality, resilience, Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, neurofeedback, psychology, anxiety, education, parent and family counseling

Education

2000	High School Diploma – Marymount International School (Colombia)
2005	Psychology Bachelor Degree – Universidad del Norte (Colombia)
2007	Official Recognition of the Psychology degree by the Spanish Education Ministry-European Community
2009	Master Degree in Research Designs and Application in Psychology and Health – University of Granada (Granada, Spain) Dissertation Title: The effect of hospital clowns on psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors in children undergoing surgery Supervisors: Dr. Gloria García-Banda
2013	Doctor in Bio-social and Health Sciences (European Doctoral Degree) – University of the Balearic Islands (Spain) Dissertation Title: The efficacy of Neurofeedback as a treatment for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and the influence of oppositional defiant behaviors Supervisors: Dr. Mateu Servera and Dr. Gloria García-Banda Jury: Dr. Ute Strehl (University of Tübingen), Dr. Hartmut Heinrich (U. of Erlangen), Dr. María Ángeles Quiroga (U. Complutense of Madrid), Dra. Inmaculada Moreno ( U. of Seville) and Dr. Jordi Llabrés (U. Of Balearic Islands) Others: European Doctoral Dissertation and Cum Laude Mention
2021	Mindfulness Intructor. Escuela de Atención Plena. Spain
2023	Accredited Trainer in Resilience and Stress Management. The Works Skill Center. United Kingdom
Since 2023	Specialization in Systemic Pedagogy and Counseling. [Ausbildung Systemische Pädagogik und Beratung]. Institut für Systemische Pädagogik und Ausbildung. Germany

Professional Experience

2005-2007	Teacher of School of Parents – Baleares Family Association (AFA) in Palma de Mallorca and Inca (Mallorca, Spain)
2007-2014	Researcher in Development and Psychopathology Research Group at the Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS) and Psychology Department of the University of Balearic Islands (UIB)
2010-2017	Expert revisor of scientific articles in national and international scientific journals such as Psicothema, Ansiedad y Estrés, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Child: Care, Health and Development, and Escritos de Psicología
October 2016- March 2017	Psychologist in Fundemabu School (Barranquilla, Colombia)
Since 2019	Co-founder of Leyana GmBH (Germany) CMO of Clu- Nutrition for women

Publications

2009	The effect of hospital clowns on psychologicl distress and maladaptive behaviours in children undergoing surgery [El efecto de los payasos de hospital en el malestar psicológico y las conductas desadaptativas de los niños y niñas sometidos a cirugía menor] Journal: Psicothema
2009	Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Aspects related to sex differences and informant [Trastorno Negativist Desafiante: Aspectos relacionados con el sexo y el evaluador ] Journal: Revista de Neurologia
2009	What combination of symptoms would be more reliable for the diagnosis of ADHD according to parents and teachers? [¿Cuàl es la combinación de síntomas según padre y maestros más fiable para el diagnóstico del TDAH? ] Journal: Anales de Pediatría
2010	The effect of hospital clowns on psychological distress and maladaptive behaviours in children undergoing surgery Journal: Psychology in Spain Comments: This journal chooses the best articles in Spanish during the year and publishes them in English
2011	Pro-social personality traits and adaptation to stress Journal: Social Behavior and Personality
2013	Prevalence of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in a sample of Spanish schoolchildren Journal: Spanish Journal of Psychology
2014	Neurofeedback and standard pharmacological intervention in ADHD: a randomized controlled trial with six-month follow-up Journal: Biological Psychology

Book Publications

2014

Chapter Title: Neurofeedback as a treatment for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder [Neurofeedback como tratamiento para el deficit de atención e hiperactividad]
Book Title: Applied Manual of therapeutic procedures for children and adolescents [Manual práctico de procedimientos terapéuticos para niños y adolescentes]

Research Stays

1/01/2005- 31/12/205	Practicum. Research on the effect of hospital clowns in children who are undergoing surgery – Psychology Department, University of Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca,Spain) Supervisor: Dr. Gloria García- Banda
Oct. 2012- Jan. 2013	Pre-doctoral research stay. Research in Neurofeedback training for ADHD children – Kinder und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit am Universitätsklinikum Erlangen (Erlangen, Germany). Supervisor: Dr. Hartmut Heinrich

Lectures and Seminars

14.10.2010	Neurofeedback as a treatment for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a comparison with pharmacological intervention. University of Tübingen (Tübingen, Germany)
15.12.2010	The therapeutic value of hospital clowns (“El valor terapéutico de los payasos de hospital”). Son Espases Hospital (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
20.01.2017	Effective pedagogy in school settings (“Pedadogía efectiva en la escuela”). Fundemabu School (Barranquilla, Colombia)
06.10.2018	Preoperative anxiety in children: effective interventions. Second International Symposium Cardiovascular System: Heart problems in adolescence: straddling pediatric and adult age. Artemisia Onlus in collaboration with Cardiac Surgery Unit of Klinikum Nürnberg Paracelsus Medical University. Rome, Italy.
04.04.2023	The effects of Mindfulness beyond stress reduction: a neuroscience based framework. Mount Holyoke College. South Hadley, Massachusetts.

Press Releases

25.11.2006	AFA propone una asignatura específica para que los alumnos aprendan técnicas de studio. En: Educación/Medidas contra el fracas escolar – El Mundo/ El día de Baleares, [AFA proposes a specific subject in order for the students to learn study methods]
12.11.2013	Estudio Pionero en Espanna: El neurofeedback como tratamiento para el TDAH En: Cuestiones de actualidad desde la óptica de expertos. Tribuna- Última Hora [Pioneer Study in Spain: neurofeedback as a treatment for ADHD]
27.08. 2020	What did Social Distancing brought into focus: Top 5 coping strategies that should become a trend. Market People Magazine. London, UK. Issue 4.
05.12.2020	Soziale Isolation ist ein starker Stressfaktor.[Social isolation is a strong stress factor]. Franken Post. Germany.
04. 2021	Self-empowerment Tips. I am a women, foreigner, mother and entrepreneur: How did I empower myself through these challenges. Market People Magazine. London, UK, Issue 5

Languages

	Languages
	Spanish (Native)
	English (Native)
	German (B2 Certificate- C1Fluent)

Participation in Research Projects

2007-2010	Title of the project: The effects of progressive muscular relaxation in the basal cortisol response of high and low neuroticism students Kind of contract/Program: PNCS – Programa Nacional de Ciencias Sociales, Económicas y Jurídicas (SEJ2007-63837) Financing Firm/administration: MECI – Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia Main researcher: Gloria García de la Banda García
2008-2011	Title of the project: Randomized, controlled, and open study to evaluate the efficacy of neurofeedback in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder treatment versus behavioral therapy and standard drug therapy Kind of contract/Program: PNII – Internacionalización de la I+D. Plan Nacional de I+D+I (2008-2011) Financing Firm/administration: MECI – Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia Main researcher: Inmaculada García Moreno
2010-2011	Title of the project: Propuesta de creación de una red de excelencia multidisciplinar para reducir el malestar psicológico infantil ante procedimientos dolorosos realizados en el contexto hospitalario [Proposal for the creation of a multidisciplinary network to reduce children´s distress during painful procedures in hospital context] Kind of contract/Program: AERD – Accions Especials de Recerca, Desenvolupament Tecnològic i Innovació del Govern de les Illes Balears Financing Firm/administration: DGRB – Direcció General de Recerca, Desenvolupament Tecnològic i Innovació Conselleria d’Economia, Hisenda i Innovació del Govern Balear Main researcher: Esperanza Ponsell
2011-2014	Title of the project: Using Slugish Tempo Symptoms and a Longitudinal Design to improve our understanding of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Kind of contract/Program: PNII – Internacionalización de la I+D. Plan Nacional de I+D+I (2008-2011) Financing Firm/administration: MECI – Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia Main researcher: Mateu Servera Barceló

Conference Contributions

2007	Authors: Meisel, V.; Chellew, K.; Vila, I.; Riesco, M.; Pérez, G.; Belmonte, M.; Fornés, J.; García-Banda, G. Title: Diferencias individuales en la secreción de cortisol en condición basal, estresante y relajante [Individual differences on cortisol secretion in baseline, stressful condition, and relaxed condition] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: IX Jornada de la Sociedad Española para la Investigación de las Diferencias Individuales (SEIDI) City: Tenerife Country: Spain
2008	Authors: Meisel, V.; Chellew, K.; Riesco, M.; Pérez, G.; Fornés, J.; García-Banda, G. Title: Cortisol reactivity and personality Kind of participation: poster Conference: XXIX International Congress of Psychology City: Berlin Country: Germany
2008	Authors: Chellew, K.; Meisel, V.; Pérez, T.; Riesco, M.; Pérez, G.; Fornés, J.; García-Banda, G. Title: El papel del neuroticismo y la relajación muscular progresiva en la secreción de cortisol [The role of neuroticism and muscular progressive relaxation in cortisol secretion] Kind of participation: oral communication City: Salamanca Country: Spain
2008	Authors: Cardo, E.; Riutort, L.; Meisel, V.; Bennasar, C.; García-Banda, G.; Servera, M. Title: Prevalencia del trastorno negativista desafiante según el sexo en una muestra escolar de 6-12 años [Prevalence of Oppositional Defiant Disorder according to sex in children from 6 to 12 years old] Kind of participation: poster Conference: XXXIII Reunión de la Sociedad Española de Neurología Pediátrica City: Zaragosa Country: Spain
2008	Authors: Cardo, E.; Bennasar, C.; Meisel, V.; Riutort, L.; García-Banda, G.; Servera, M. Title: Estimación de la prevalencia de trastorno negativista desafiante en población infantil [ Estimation of the prevalence of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in children] Kind of participation: poster Conference: XXXIII Reunión de la Sociedad Española de Neurología Pediátrica Publication: Rev Neurol, 2008, 47 (Supl 1): S149 City: Zaragosa Country: Spain
2008	Authors: Meisel, V.; Chellew, K.; Ponsell, E.; Ferreira, A.; Bordás, L.; Verdera, P.; Crespo, M.; Pérez, T.; García-Banda, G. Title: La influencia de los payasos de hospital en el estrés quirúrgico [The influence of hospital clowns in preoperative stress] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: I Jornades D´Escola y Comunitat City: Palma de Mallorca Country: Spain
2009	Authors: Meisel,V.; Chellew, K.; Fornés, J.; Pérez, T.; García-Banda, G. Title: Percepción de estrés y neuroticisimo [ Stress perception and neuroticism] Kind of participation: poster Conference: XI Jornada de la SEIDI City: Palma de Mallorca Country: Spain
2009	Authors: Meisel, V.; Chellew, K.; Ponsell, E.; Ferreira, A.; Bordás, L.; García-Banda, G. Title: Eficacia diferencial según la edad de los payasos de hospital en el malestar psicológico de niños y niñas sometidos a cirugía menor [Differential efficacy according to age of hospital clowns in the distress of children undergoing minor surgery] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: IV Congrés Associació Catalana d´Infermeria Pediátrica City: Andorra Country: Andorra
2010	Authors: Moreno, I.; Lora, J.; Servera, M.; Meisel, V.; García-Banda, G; Cardo, E. Title: Evaluación electroencefalográfica de niños con sintomatología hiperactiva [EEG evaluation of ADHD children] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: Congreso Iberoamericano de Psicología City: Oviedo Country: Spain
2010	Authors: Moreno, I.; Lora, J.; Meisel, V.; Cardo, E.;Servera, M. Title: Perfil electroencefalográfico del trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad mediante evaluación monopolar previa al tratamiento de neurofeedback [EEG profile of ADHD through monopolar evaluation (previous to Neurofeedback training)] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: Congreso Internacional sobre avances en tratamientos psicológicos City: Granada Country: Spain
2010	Authors: Chellew, K.; Meisel, V.; Fornés, J.; Cardo, E.; Servera, M.; Pérez, G.; Riesco, M.; Doctor, R.; García-Banda, G. Title: Personality and cortisol reactivity Kind of participation: poster Conference: VII Congreso Internacional de la SEAS City: Valencia Country: Spain
2010	Authors: Chellew, K.; Pérez, G.; Riesco, M.; Fornés, J.; Meisel, V.; García-Banda, G. Title: Entrenamiento en relajación muscular progresiva abreviada (RMPA) y estrés psicológico y fisiológico en estudiantes con puntuaciones extremas en neuroticismo [Training in brief muscular progressive relaxation (RMPA) and stress in students with extreme scores on Neuroticism] Kind of participation: poster Conference: XII Jornada de la SEIDI City: Málaga Country: Spain
2010	Authors: Meisel, V.; Chellew, K.; Ponsell, E.; Ferreira, A.; Bordás, L.; García-Banda, G. Title: Los payasos de hospital: una intervención para reducir la ansiedad prequirúrgica infantil [Hospital Clowns: an intervention to reduce preoperative anxiety in children] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: I Jornada sobre el valor terapéutico de los payasos de hospital City: Palma de Mallorca Country: Spain
2011	Authors: Meisel, V.; García-Banda, G.; Servera, M.; Cardo, E.; Amengual, L.; Arroyo, A.; Crespo, M.; Moreno, I. Title: Is neurofeedback able to improve behaviour and academic performance in children with Attention deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? A comparison with pharmacological intervention Kind of participation: poster Conference: Society of Applied Neuroscience Meeting 2011 City: Thessaloniki Country: Greece
2011	Authors: Meisel, V.; García-Banda, G.; Servera, M.; Cardo, E.; Aggensteiner, P.; Pérez, T.; Picardo, J.;, Moreno, I. Title: Neurofeedback and standard pharmacological intervention in the improvement of attention deficit /hyperactivity disorder symptomatology: preliminary findings Kind of participation: poster Conference: Third International Congress on ADHD City: Berlin Country: Germany
2011	Authors: Chellew, K.; Ponsell, E.; Pol, J. Picardo, J., Meisel, V.; Crespo, M.; Julbre, L.; García-Banda, G. Title: Facial Affective Scale (FAS): ¿5,7 ó 9 caras? [Facial Affective Scale (FAS): 5, 7, or 9 faces?] Kind of participation: poster Conference: I Jornada de la AIDI City: Castellón Country: Spain
2011	Authors: Pol, J.; Crespo, M.; Ponsell, E.; Chellew, K.; Meisel, V.; García-Banda, G. Title: ¿Cómo medir la ansiedad pediátrica? Auto-informes vs escalas observacionales [How to asess pediatric anxiety? Self- assessment vs observational scales] Kind of participation: poster Conference: XVII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Española para el estudio de la ansiedad y el estrés (SEAS) City: Madrid Country: Spain
2011	Authors: Cardo, E.; Meisel, V.; Servera, M.; García-Banda, G.; de Azua, B.; Vidal, C.; Larraz, G. Title: Estimation of the prevalence of ODD among school-age sample: differences according to source and sex Kind of participation: poster Conference: AACAP/CACAP Joint Annual Meeting City: Toronto Country: Canada
2011	Authors: Crespo, M.; Meisel, V.; García-banda, G.; Servera, M.; Moreno, I.; Cardo, E. Title: Estudio de la mejora comportamental de niños con TDAH tratados con neurofeedback frente al tratamiento farmacológico estándar [Analysis of the behavioral improvement of ADHD children that received neurofeedback versus standard pharmacological intervention] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: I Symposium Nacional de Psicología Clínica y de la Salud con niños y adolescentes City: Elche Country: Spain
2011	Authors: Servera, M.; Cardo, E.; Meisel, V.; García-Banda, G.; Moreno, I. Title: Un estudio aleatorizado y controlado para determinar la eficacia del neurofeedback en el tratamiento del TDAH frente al tratamiento farmacológico [A randomized and controlled study to determine the efficacy of neurofeedback versus pharmacological intervention in the treatment of ADHD] Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: IX Congreso Nacional de Psicología Clínica City: San Sebastián Country: Spain
2011	Authors: Servera, M.; Bermúdez, C., García-Banda, G.; Cardo, E.; Meisel, V. Title: Análisis de la relación de la Children Sustained Attention Task Online (C-SAT online) con medidas comportamentales de padres y maestros en una muestra normal [Analysis of the relationship between the Children Sustained Attention Task Online (C-SAT) and behavioral scales of parents and teachers in a normal sample] Kind of participation: poster Conference: IX Congreso Nacional de psicología Clínica de la Asociación Española de Psicología Conductural (AEPC) City: Donostia Country: Spain
2011	Authors: Frías-Navarro, D.; Meisel, V.; Pomsell, E.; García-Banda, G. Title: The effect size of clown intervention on children anxiety Kind of participation: oral communication Conference: Second Scientific Meeting of the Hospital-Clown Research International Network (H-CRIN) City: Florencia Country: Italy
2011	Authors: Servera, M.; Meisel; V.; García-Banda, G.; Cardo, E. Title: Análisis de las modificaciones de los criterios para el diagnóstico del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad en el DSM-5 [Analysis of the modifications of the DSM-5 criteria for the diagnosis of ADHD] Kind of participation: Symposium Conference: V Congreso Internacional y X Nacional de Psicología Clínica City: Santander Country: Spain
2012	Authors: Meisel, V.; Aggensteiner, P.; García-Banda, G.; Servera, M. Title: El neurofeedback como procedimiento de intervención en caso de TDAH: Fundamentos y posibilidades [Neurofeedback as a treatment for ADHD: Fundamentals and possibilities] Kind of participation: Symposium Conference: V Congreso Internacional y X Nacional de Psicología Clínica City: Santander Country: Spain
2012	Authors: Aggensteiner, P.; Meisel, V.; García-Banda, G.; Servera, M.; Camps, M.; González, M.; Pérez, J. Title: El patrón theta/beta en la evaluación del TDAH: ¿Puede ser útil en la evaluación del trastorno? [Theta/Beta pattern in the assessment of ADHD: Can it be useful for evaluation?] Kind of participation: Symposium Conference: V Congreso Internacional y X Nacional de Psicología Clínica City: Santander Country: Spain

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01.

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Our scientific background gives us a whole new different perspective and approach to emotional and psychological well-being. We want to deliver interventions that will really help you and your team achieve your goals.

02.

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