Meet Salome Dumbadze, GZAAT’s New School Psychologist

Salome Dumbadze’s story comes full circle at GZAAT, where she graduated in 2007. After high school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Social and Cognitive Psychology at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany. Initially, however, Salome was unsure whether psychology was the right career path for her. As she explored the field, she discovered that psychology was quite different from what she had expected.

Salome first gained practical experience at a state care agency, where she was responsible for preventing violence in orphanages. She later worked at a state agency focused on preventing human trafficking, once again specializing in violence prevention. She then spent four years working as a psychologist at Saint Nicholas’s British School. Later, she became a positive parenting trainer, conducting sessions for various non-governmental organizations. She also worked as a lecturer and researcher at several universities. Throughout her career, her work has consistently centered on children and their well-being.

As Salome explains, “When you see that your work has an impact, you want to share your knowledge more. 

Her return to GZAAT was somewhat unexpected. One day, she visited the school out of curiosity and learned that the position of school psychologist was available. Seeing an opportunity to return to her beloved school in a new capacity, she decided to take it.

Currently, Salome is completing her doctorate in Positive Psychology. Through her work, she hopes to help people cope with stress, set goals, and manage their time more effectively.

At GZAAT, Salome plans to introduce clubs and psychology-based electives to the school curriculum. These may include classes on procrastination and time management, as well as a course focused on preparing students for independent living.

For students planning to attend university abroad, the transition to university life can bring new responsibilities and challenges. This is particularly relevant to the GZAAT community, where many students plan to continue their education overseas. Salome believes that developing practical life skills can make this transition easier, helping students adapt to unfamiliar environments and become more independent.

Edited By: Ninia Chaduneli