PlastiKids

Leader: Dr. Pavlina Psychouli
Clinical Educators: Aggeliki Togkalidou & Maria Chrisodoulou 
Supervisors: Stavros Orologas & Sofia Margaritidou

+357 22559486

plasticityot@euc.ac.cy

About this Lab

PlastiKids is a university-based occupational therapy clinic dedicated to supporting children and their families through evidence-based, play-focused, participatory  approaches. Our mission is to provide free, high-quality occupational therapy services while advancing student learning and clinical research in occupational therapy with children.

At the heart of our approach is neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and grow through experience. Our interventions are child-centered and play-based, using engaging activities that promote the participation of children in every occupation meaningful to them. Through occupational engagement and meaningful play, children build the adaptive skills needed for success in daily life.

As a university-affiliated clinic, we integrate the latest research and innovative therapy techniques to ensure the highest standard of care. Services are provided by occupational therapy students under the supervision of experienced teaching personnel, supervisors and clinical educators, fostering a dynamic learning environment while delivering personalized, high-quality support to each child.

We emphasize family-centered care, recognizing that parents and caregivers play a crucial role in a child’s progress. Our therapists work collaboratively with families, offering guidance, education, and tailored strategies to extend therapeutic benefits into everyday routines.

By combining cutting-edge research, hands-on learning, and a strong commitment to accessibility, PlastiKids empowers children to reach their full potential—one step, one play, and one breakthrough at a time.

Free Service

Group or Individual sessions

Online or In Person

Educating EUC Students

What to expect from PlastiKids

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University-Affiliated, Evidence-Based & Internationally Connected

As a university-based clinic, our services are grounded in the most up-to-date research and clinical best practices. Interventions are co-designed and delivered through a dynamic model of student-led learning, guided by experienced occupational therapy faculty. The lab actively collaborates with universities and professional bodies across Europe, promoting joint research, staff development, and student exchange for clinical practice placements. These international partnerships give EUC students and staff opportunities to gain diverse perspectives, while also welcoming visiting students into our clinical programs.

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Family-Centered Care & Collaboration

Families are at the heart of our work. We work closely with caregivers to co-create goals, share strategies, and support daily routines across environments. Parents’ and caregiver’s voices and insights are essential in shaping every step of the care plan.

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Child-Centered & Play-Focused

We believe that children learn and grow best through meaningful play. Therapy sessions are engaging, fun, and tailored to each child’s needs. We use movement, creativity, imagination, and occupations as central tools for learning and participation.

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Free Occupational Therapy Services

All services provided through our lab are offered free of charge, making high-quality pediatric occupational therapy accessible to families.

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Individual & Group Sessions – Educating the Next Generation

Services are offered in both individual and small group formats, depending on the child’s needs. EUC students participate actively in the planning and delivery of sessions, gaining hands-on clinical experience in a safe, supervised, and inclusive environment.

The PlastiKids Team

Dr. Pavlina Psychouli

PlastiKids Leader

Dr. Pavlina Psychouli is an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurorehabilitation and the Coordinator of the B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy and the M.Sc. in Neurorehabilitation programs at European University Cyprus (EUC). She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southampton, UK, focusing on modified versions of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) for children with cerebral palsy.

Her research interests lie in neuroplasticity, recovery following brain injury, and movement rehabilitation. With extensive clinical experience, she has worked primarily with pediatric populations and adults with neurological disorders.

Dr. Psychouli is also a certified CI therapist, having completed her training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.

Angeliki Togkalidou

PlastiKids Clinical Educator

Angeliki Togkalidou, BSc, OT, is a pediatric occupational therapist and works at the European University of Cyprus as a clinical educator in the pediatric internship program. She graduated from the DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY at the SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND WELFARE at TEI of Athens in 2015.

She is a member of the Pancyprian Association of Occupational Therapists and holds a professional occupational therapy license in the Republic of Cyprus. She is trained and certified in ”Theory, Assessment, and Intervention in Sensory Integration” under the guidance of Dimitrios Mytildianakis, MScOT, as well as in the Pivotal Response Training (PRT) method, instructed by Lynn Koegel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Additionally, she has attended workshops and seminars on Practical Training in the Structured TEACCH Methodology, PECS programming, Functional ABA approaches, and the Educational Pyramid Model.

With 10 years of experience in pediatric clinics and school settings, she conducts individual and group therapy sessions for children with developmental disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning difficulties. 

Maria Christodoulou

PlastiKids Clinical Educator

Maria Christodoulou, BSc, OT, is an Occupational Therapist and works as a Clinical Educator in the pediatric fieldwork program at European University Cyprus (EUC). She completed her degree in the Department of Occupational Therapy at EUC in 2020. She then attended numerous seminars and worked in a private pediatric center.

Since 2022, she has been working as a Clinical Educator in the EUC Occupational Therapy Program, where she implemented individual and group interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, syndromes, learning difficulties, etc. These interventions aim to develop children’s skills so that they can effectively participate in all environments involved in their daily lives, through approaches based on evidence-based therapeutic programs that meet the needs of each child.

Sofia Margaritidou

PlastiKids Supervisor

Sofia Margaritidou is an Occupational Therapist and academic, currently serving as Special Teaching Personnel in the BSc program in Occupational Therapy at European University Cyprus. She supervises the university’s Occupational Therapy Lab, where students gain hands-on experience working with children with developmental challenges. Sofia holds a BSc in Occupational Therapy from the Technical University of Athens and an MSc in Occupational Therapy from Jönköping University, Sweden. She has a strong clinical background in early intervention and occupational therapy for neurodivergent children, with special expertise in autism and parent coaching.

Her teaching focuses on pediatric occupational therapy, client-centered practice, and the creation of inclusive learning spaces where every student feels safe, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Research is a vital part of Sofia’s professional identity. She has contributed to the international standardization of the EASI (Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration) tool and led a phenomenological study exploring how European occupational therapists use creativity as an intervention for autistic children. She has co-authored research selected for presentation at the 1st European Occupational Therapy Congress in Krakow, including work on neurodivergent-affirming practices and theater pedagogical approaches in OT education. Her own scoping review on queer occupational experiences of everyday life was accepted for oral presentation at the same congress. She remains actively involved in multiple research initiatives across Europe.

Stavros Orologas

Special Teaching Personnel in Occupational Therapy | Coordinator & Clinical Educator, Lifestyle Shaping for Health and Well-being Clinic | Department of Health Sciences

Stavros Orologas is an occupational therapist with a BSc from the Technological and Educational Institute of Athens and an MSc in Occupational Therapy from Jönköping University in Sweden. He has a strong background in family, child, and adolescent health, with extensive experience delivering client-centred care in outpatient settings. He holds several certifications in client-centred and cognitive-behavioral approaches and has been trained in community engagement methods that foster innovation through collaboration with citizens, stakeholders, and service providers.

Stavros currently serves as Special Teaching Personnel and Clinical Educator at European University Cyprus. He is certified in “New in Teaching” by Advance HE (Higher Education) and teaches courses such as Introduction to Occupational Therapy, Interprofessional Education, and Client-Centred Practice. He has developed a role-emerging placement focused on healthy weight and lifestyle modification, aiming to enhance quality of life and prevent chronic diseases, while also providing clinical education and supervision to undergraduate students.

His research interests include health-supportive patterns of occupational performance, social , occupational therapy education, and co-production in health and social care.

Our Impact

“I am very satisfied with our collaboration because E. is excited to come to occupational therapy. It is evident as she arrives and leaves happy, eagerly looking forward to her sessions. Additionally, her school teacher mentioned noticing an improvement, and we have also observed progress in her cognitive skills, drawing, and concentration.”

(Grandmother of E.)

“I like the activities you do in the sessions because they help my child become familiar with engaging in games and activities. Also, now my children have learned to play on their own and follow instructions without difficulty.”

(Father of A.)

“We have a very good collaboration, and my child enjoys coming to occupational therapy. We have seen great progress, and with the techniques you suggest for home, we can see that they are effective and bring results. We are very pleased.”

(Father of Tz.)

“As a final-year Occupational Therapy student, I must say that I was very fortunate to complete my Fieldwork V in the pediatric setting at Plasticity. I was in a highly positive environment, with a great team and a clinical educator who always strived to provide me with new knowledge. Through this experience, I was able to develop into a professional who can meet the future challenges of the field through continuous learning and research.”

(Student A.)

“My internship at Plasticity with children with neurodevelopmental disorders has been an experience that allows me to acquire new knowledge and skills. Every day, I apply in practice what I have learned, improving my abilities in assessment and intervention. Through real-life situations, I learn to face challenges, adapt to each child’s needs, and enhance my critical thinking. At the same time, I develop my communication and teamwork skills, which helps me feel more confident. This experience is shaping my professional identity as a future occupational therapist.”  

(Student ΝN.)

“My internship experience at Plasticity with children with neurodevelopmental difficulties has been exceptional, as it has given me the opportunity to learn new things across different areas. Through my daily practice, I discover new skills and expand my knowledge in clinical aspects, which help me evolve as a future therapist. Specifically, my practical experience allows me to connect theory with practice, while also developing my critical thinking. I am in a position to recognize my ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, and manage situations in a real-world therapeutic setting. This experience strengthens my identity and my professional path as an occupational therapist.” 

(Student ΝP.)

“I am absolutely satisfied with the collaboration we had because my child was looking forward to coming every time. We saw very quick results both at home and at school. All of you were very helpful and listened to our needs. We thank you for everything you have offered to our child.” 

(Mother M.) 

“This is the second year that I am bringing my children to occupational therapy with you, and I am very pleased because I have seen improvement. You have helped us in many ways, such as in their collaboration with others when participating in group programs, as well as in their smooth integration into other social settings through outdoor programs (park, supermarket, café).” 

(Mother Th. and A.) 

Essential Resources

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process Fourth Edition

AOTA (2020).
Occupational therapy practice Framework: Domain & Process, 4th edition.

EBook: Case-Smith’s Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents

O’Brien, J.C., & Kuhaneck, H.M. (2019).
Case-Smith’s Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents. 8th edn. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Effectiveness of paediatric occupational therapy for children with disabilities: A systematic review

Iona Novak PhD, MSc (Hons), BAppSc
Ingrid Honan PhD, BPysch(Hons)

Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy

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Join the PlastiKids Lab

Pediatric occupational therapy recognizes the uniqueness of each child and supports their ability to participate in the occupations that matter to them. It focuses on removing barriers and adapting environments, so that children can engage in their occupations with joy and autonomy.

If you’re interested in being part of this journey and making a difference, we’d love to hear from you!