Viaggio Italia: Research and Training

Viaggio Italia: Research and Training is a special journey and project aimed at research and progress for the benefit of the community and inner health, created by the B-Free Association and ThemA with the support of the Crt Foundation.

This initiative was sparked by the meeting between Luca and Danilo and Dr. Giulia Mariano and Dr. Greta Gschwentner during a handbike journey in 2020, which provided the opportunity to discover and reach some of the most beautiful and significant locations in Italy and beyond. Following this experience, ThemA and B-Free decided to join forces to develop a research and progress project benefiting the territory.

The video course project consists of a free online training program led by qualified professionals, aimed at offering individuals with disabilities a psychological pathway focused on inner growth through videos that can be viewed as individual stages or as a complete journey guiding them towards discovering their potential.

ThemA is a company dedicated to promoting sports, educational projects, and sustainability, particularly providing psychological assistance to the most vulnerable individuals, victims of accidents and trauma. Its goal is to dismantle the mental barriers not only of those living with a disability but also of their families.

B-Free is an amateur sports association and social promotion entity founded by Danilo Ragona and Luca Paiardi, who are also the creators of the Viaggio Italia project. They have been committed for years to promoting a positive vision of disability through projects aimed at eliminating architectural, physical, and mental barriers.

Dr. Giulia Mariano

Dr. Giulia Mariano is a clinical psychologist graduated from the Salesian Institute in Turin with a score of 110/110 and is officially licensed to practice (Order of Psychologists of Piedmont No. 9118). She has been practicing clinical work for several years at:

• The public structure ASL TO1, in the Child Neuropsychiatry Department.
• Privately in her office located at Via Fratelli Carle 61, Turin.

Her main activity involves psychological support for minors, adolescents, and adults.

Dr. Greta Gschwentner

Dr. Greta Gschwentner holds a Master's degree in Clinical and Community Psychology from IUSTO - SSF Rebaudengo - Pontifical Salesian University of Turin. She has also completed a Master's specialization in Sports Psychology at Psicosport - Skilldynamics s.r.l. in Milan. She graduated with honors with a thesis based on an experimental study titled, “Sport Behind the Scenes: Managing Competitive Anxiety, Observing the Athlete-Coach Relationship.” This multidisciplinary thesis combines Psychosomatics and Sports Psychology.

Since 2013, she has served as a federal base technician for the Italian Canoe Kayak Federation. Dr. Gschwentner works as a sports psychology professional at Psicosport - Skilldynamics s.r.l., specializing in conducting interviews with athletes. She also produces academic training content, conducting interviews with sports testimonials from the national and international context, while simultaneously teaching on anxiety and anxiety management techniques.