Djordje Volarevic

Djordje is a psychologist, PhD student, and harm reduction practitioner born on 5 May 1997 in Belgrade, Serbia. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Psychology from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, where he is currently pursuing doctoral research. Djordje’s dissertation aims to investigate the psychological mechanisms underlying various forms of unsafe consumption behaviour, with the goal of identifying findings that could inform the development of harm reduction elements within preventive programmes, addressing the shortcomings of abstinence-only approaches by promoting informed decision-making, psychological resilience, and evidence-based risk assessment.

Since 2022, Djordje has continuously been involved with NGO ReGeneration, where his work has evolved from volunteering to paid professional engagement. Over the years, his role has encompassed direct harm reduction support at festivals and nightlife events, online peer counselling, assistance with research activities, and the organisation of workshops and educational sessions for both young people and professionals and partner organisations. Alongside this, he has built a broad research background spanning several fields of psychology. Djordje’s experience includes work in cognitive and experimental psychology, neuroscience, forensic and criminal psychology, and educational research. He had the opportunity to engage with diverse methodological approaches, i.e. from laboratory-based and neuroscientific methods to survey-based and applied research, as well as to contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.

In addition to his research and public health work, Djordje is a Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) psychotherapist under supervision, engaged in private clinical practice since 2024. His clinical work continuously informs his understanding of motivation, behavioural change, and the practical application of harm reduction principles. He speaks Serbian as his mother tongue and English at a proficient (C2) level.

More broadly, the long-term goal of Djordje’s academic work is to contribute to the further development of harm reduction theory — moving it beyond its predominantly biomedical and behavioural roots toward a broader socio-cultural and historical perspective within psychology.