I’m deeply passionate about delivering and developing simple, effective interventions for people whose lives have been affected by cancer. My work is guided by a belief that wellbeing support should be compassionate, practical, and empowering — helping people regain a sense of hope, confidence and control.
At Equal Breath Clinic, I focus on translating evidence-based science into tools that fit real life. It’s a privilege to support people at such a meaningful stage of their journey and to help bridge the gap between medical treatment and long-term wellbeing.
Dr Karina Dolgilevica
Lead Coach & Founder
Equal Breath Clinic
| Academic Background & Research
My academic journey began at Birkbeck, University of London, where I developed a strong foundation in the biological basis of behaviour. I completed my BSc in Psychology in 2015, followed by an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology, awarded with Distinction. After several years in clinical support roles, I returned to academia with the support of an ESRC grant and completed my PhD in Psychology in 2025. During this time, I contributed to research projects at Birkbeck, UCL, and the University of Reading, shaping my commitment to translating science into meaningful wellbeing support.
| Clinical Expertise
Alongside my academic work, I spent several years working within the NHS across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. My clinical experience includes neuro‑rehabilitation, oncology, palliative and hospice care, and the delivery of evidence‑based talking therapies within substance misuse services. Working across both low‑ and high‑intensity support roles gave me a deep, frontline understanding of living with chronic and complex health conditions. This experience inspired my doctoral research and the founding of Equal Breath, with the aim of supporting sustainable, long‑term wellbeing beyond medical treatment.
Professional interests
| Chronic stress and stress-management
| Anxiety disorders
| Psycho-oncology
| Breast cancer
| Cancer survivorship
| HRV biofeedback protocol development
| Acute and long-term effects of HRV biofeedback
| Scientific study of breathing techniques
| Coaching psychology
| Cognitive Behavioural approaches and techniques
Link for professional consultation & collaboration
Publications
Dolgilevica, K., Chapman, B., & Derakshan, N. (2026). ‘Patients are left not knowing’: Trastuzumab (Herceptin) cardiac risk information and management in HER2-positive breast cancer-a qualitative study of patient experience. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 34(3), 167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10357-y
Dolgilevica, K., Grunfeld, E., & Derakshan, N. (2025). Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training Can Improve Menopausal Symptoms and Psychological Well-Being in Women with a Diagnosis of Primary Breast Cancer: A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial. Current Oncology, 32(3), 150. https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32030150
Dolgilevica, K., Longo, M. R., & Tamè, L. (2020). Structural representations of fingers rely on both anatomical and spatial reference frames. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 46(2), 125–130. https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000715
Mancini, F., Dolgilevica, K., Steckelmacher, J. et al. Correction: Corrigendum: Perceptual learning to discriminate the intensity and spatial location of nociceptive stimuli. Sci Rep 7, 42986 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep42986
