Who we are
Dr. Valeria Giannuzzi
Hello, and welcome!
I am Dr. Valeria Giannuzzi, the Founder of The Magic Stork.
I am a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow at the British Psychological Society, and I hold a Ph.D. in Social Sciences with Specialisation in Migration Studies.
I was born in Rome, Italy. I am based in the U.K., and I also lived and worked in Spain, the Netherlands and Mexico. I have over 15 years of experience working with migrants in different contexts, from refugee camps and research, to community engagement and specialised mental health support. I have worked with migrants of all sorts, including unaccompanied minors, international students, expats, asylum seekers, women and spouses reuniting with their families.
As a mental health professional, parent and immigrant, I created this space to help you with all the challenges that come with holding different roles, cultures and identities together.
Prefer chatting in Spanish or Italian? No problem, just drop me a message!
My Story
Migration is something that accompanied my whole life, on a personal and professional level.
My heritage is rich with migration stories. Both sides of my family experienced internal migrations from rural areas to the big city and capital of Italy, Rome. One of my grandmas (nonna) was born in Argentina, and returned with the family to Italy after WWII.
I grew up with a fascination for "far away", and I just loved travelling and discovering the world.
For several years I supported asylum seekers, refugees and migrants of all sorts, until I became a migrant myself. Being an "academic nomad" enabled me to live in Madrid, Spain, Utrecht, The Netherlands, Tijuana, Mexico and finally settled in London, U.K., which is what I call home now. I had so many different experiences living in such different countries, and I know what it means struggling to belong, the journey of cultural adaptation, coming to terms with the guilt of leaving some parts of you behind, seeing your identity and "core" change, learning to "switch" languages, cultures and behaviours according to the context, dealing with the joys and troubles of a multicultural family.
Migration is often seen as a political issue, but I think there is so much more to it. Being a migrant opens doors to worlds that were unthinkable before becoming one. The Magic Stork is a safe space to access culturally sensitive mental health support on the very unique challenges that growing far from your roots bring. Whether you are thinking of leaving your home country, you are a seasoned migrant or considering return, I would love to hear your story.
Dr. Hannah Morgan
I work as a Child, Community, and Educational Psychologist in London. With training as both a Primary Teacher and a Psychologist, I have over 15 years of experience in schools and within the NHS. I recently completed further training in Parent-Child Therapy, which has deepened my interest in parent-child relationships and promoting emotional wellbeing within families and communities. For example, I have led the development and delivery of community services such as postnatal courses for parents and Early Years drop-in clinics.
In my work and research, I have always been intrigued by the linguistic and cultural factors that influence our psychological experiences. As a Trainee Educational Psychologist, I jointly founded and chaired TEPICC, a national network of Trainee Psychologists dedicated to promoting anti-racist and culturally responsive practices.
On a personal note, I grew up in a different country and have learned and traveled using various languages. I’m also raising my child in a multicultural and multilingual family, which enriches my perspective both personally and professionally.