Health professionals for Psycotherapy LGBTQ in Athens

Vasileiadou Despoina is a Psychologist - Trained Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Omonia. She studied at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She completed her thesis on issues of occupational burnout under the supervision of distinguished professors. She specializes in Gestalt psychotherapy, a holistic and human-centered approach to psychotherapy. As part of her lifelong learning, she attends educational seminars and lectures on topics concerning society and the role of psychotherapy within it. She participates as a group coordinator in caregiver support groups for cancer patients and provides voluntary work in the online program "E-therapy," which aims at crisis intervention. For personal development, she considers it essential to regularly engage in supervision (both individual and group) and personal therapy (individual and group).

Dr. Katsamas Dionysis is a Psychologist with a private practice located in the Ampelokipoi area. He graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and holds a postgraduate MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of East London. Concurrently, he practiced professionally at the Petroupoli Counseling Center and with Médecins Sans Frontières. He has been actively working in the field for the past 10 years, with a particular focus on the challenging period of lockdown through online and home-based sessions. Additionally, he is an active volunteer in the Municipality of Athens. His further training in an integrative theoretical model—covering 1) person-centered, 2) cognitive-behavioral, and 3) psychodynamic therapy—and his professional development since 2013 through workshops and clinical sessions have enabled him to adapt to the individual needs of each client, establishing a therapeutic environment of trust and intimacy. He is also continuing his postgraduate studies, further expanding his expertise into new areas. The office is conveniently located within a short distance from the Panormou Metro station, where in this welcoming space, you will have the opportunity to receive his services characterized by unconditional acceptance, hope, empathy, the establishment of dialogue, and scientific rigor.

Karagianni Pinelopi is a Psychotherapist - Group Analyst and maintains her private practice in Exarchia. She successfully completed the training program of the Athens Institute of Group Analysis, which includes clinical practice in a Psychotherapeutic Community, coordination of analytic groups, participation in the Child and Family Therapy department, and supervision of therapeutic activities as required by the Hellenic Association of Psychotherapy. She has attended numerous trainings, including those on life coaching, eating disorders, adolescent psychopathology, parental counseling, LGBTQ+ counseling, and career orientation. It would be a significant omission not to mention that she holds a postgraduate degree in health unit management from the Hellenic Open University. In her private practice, she addresses a wide range of cases and specializes in Psychosomatic Symptoms, Individual, and Group Psychotherapy.

Sideri Xristina is a Psychologist with a psychoanalytic orientation based on Lacanian theory.

She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Philosophy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and of the Postgraduate Program “Psychotherapy: Theoretical Frameworks, Clinical Applications, and Comparative Approaches” (MSc in Psychotherapy) at the Medical School of the same University. She has received additional training in Clinical Psychopathology, completing the one-year seminar “Panagiotis Oulis” organized by EPIPSY, the First University Psychiatric Clinic of Aeginiteio Hospital, and the company “Promotion of Knowledge in Mental Disorders.” Since 2020, she has been attending the educational program of the Athens Academy of Clinical Studies of the Freud Field Institute and actively participates in working groups, seminars, and conferences of the Hellenic Society of the New Lacanian School of Psychoanalysis. Concurrently, she is a member of the “Addiction and Alcoholism” network of the Freud Field. She completed her practical training and subsequently worked voluntarily in the field of addictions. From 2020 to 2025, she was employed as therapeutic staff at the Center for the Treatment of Dependent Individuals. She is a collaborator of the Galinos Institute of Mental Health and Personal Development.

In her independent clinical practice, she aims to prioritize the uniqueness of each individual and accompany them in the search for their distinctive way to cope with their subjective difficulties.

Christina Koulourioti is a Psychologist – Psychotherapist providing both in-person and online sessions. She holds a professional practice license.

She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a master's degree in Clinical Psychology and Counseling from the University of Derby.

She has extensive experience in adult and adolescent psychotherapy, as well as parental counseling. She collaborates with the Institute of Behavioral Research and Therapy and participates in online psychotherapy platforms.

Previously, she has worked as a school psychologist at Geitona Private Schools and has provided services at the psychiatric clinic "Agios Georgios".

She has been trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) by the Society of Cognitive Behavioral Studies and continues her specialization in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents offered by the same society.

Additionally, she has studied Cognitive Behavioral Clinical Hypnotherapy at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy, enhancing her therapeutic work with modern, specialized techniques.

She is distinguished by deep empathy, respect, and genuine presence, creating a space where every individual can express themselves freely and feel heard and understood.

Dr Kanellakis Spyridon is a Psychologist with private practices in Ilioupoli and Kolonos. He graduated in Psychology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, holds a postgraduate diploma in School of Medicine & Therapeutics from the University of Aberdeen, and a PhD from Harokopio University. His practice handles cases across the full spectrum of psychology.

Sakaloglou Nikos is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains private practices in Keratsini and Ilisia. He studied Psychology (BA in Psychology) at the European University Cyprus and completed the four-year clinical training program in Psychotherapy at the Institute of Training and Research in Systemic Psychotherapy "Logos Psychis". He holds a professional license to practice as a Psychologist and is a regular member of the Hellenic Psychological Society. He has collaborated with various mental health structures, both private and public. In recent years, he has been working privately as a psychologist – psychotherapist, providing services to adults, couples, families, and therapeutic groups.

Konstantina Skourla is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice at the Megaron Concert Hall. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and has completed postgraduate training in Clinical Psychopathology and Clinical Skills in Psychopathology "Panagiotis Oulis" at the First Psychiatric Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Research University Institute of Mental Health & Promotion of Knowledge in Mental Disorders), as well as postgraduate training in "Early Intervention in Psychosis" at the Research University Institute of Mental Health (EPI Psy). Furthermore, she is completing her clinical specialization in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (C.B.T.) at the Institute for Research and Therapy of Behavior (I.E.TH.S.) and in Dialectical Behavior Therapy at the Hellenic Society for Behavioral Research (EEES). She works as a Psychologist - Psychotherapist in the Adult Therapy Department of the Institute for Research and Therapy of Behavior and in her private practice. Previously, she has collaborated with the Animus Corpus Psychotherapeutic Center and has worked as a Psychologist at the Mental Health Center of Peristeri and at the Special Child Care Center of the Naval Hospital of Piraeus. Lastly, sessions are conducted both in-person and remotely.

Ο Λεωνίδας Αρμάος (BSc, MSc) είναι Ψυχολόγος-Ψυχοθεραπευτής, με Άδεια Ασκήσεως Επαγγέλματος Ψυχολόγου και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στην Αθήνα, όπισθεν του Χίλτον. Είναι πτυχιούχος (BSc) του Τμήματος Ψυχολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης και αριστούχος διπλωματούχος (MSc) του διετούς Προγράμματος Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών «Σχολική Ψυχολογία» του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (Ε.Κ.Π.Α.).

Εξειδίκευση:

Ειδικεύεται στην Ψυχαναλυτική Ψυχοθεραπεία μέσω του πενταετούς εκπαιδευτικού προγράμματος της Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Ψυχαναλυτικής Ψυχοθεραπείας Ομάδας (Ε.Ε.Ψ.Ψ.Ο.) και παρέχει υπηρεσίες ατομικής και ομαδικής ψυχοθεραπείας ενηλίκων.

Επαγγελματική εμπειρία:

Ως προς την επαγγελματική του εμπειρία, έχει εργαστεί επί μακρόν με παιδιά, εφήβους και ενήλικες, είτε σε επίπεδο ψυχοθεραπείας είτε σε επίπεδο συμβουλευτικής γονέων, τόσο σε ατομικό όσο και σε ομαδικό πλαίσιο.

Κατά τη διάρκεια της στρατιωτικής του θητείας παρείχε τις υπηρεσίες του στο 80^ο Τάγμα Υγειονομικού Εθνοφυλακής Κω και στη Γραμμή Ψυχολογικής Υποστήριξης SOS του Διακλαδικού Κέντρου Ψυχικής Υγείας Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων.

Πρακτική άσκηση & ερευνητικές εργασίες:

Κατά τη διάρκεια της ακαδημαϊκής του πορείας έχει πραγματοποιήσει εκτενή πρακτική άσκηση (άνω των 1.400 ωρών) σε ποικίλα πλαίσια και ειδικότερα στην Ψυχιατρική Κλινική του Στρατιωτικού Νοσοκομείου Ειδικών Νοσημάτων (Σ.Ν.Ε.Ν.) 414, στο 1^ο Ειδικό Δημοτικό Σχολείο Κορυδαλλού και στο 1^ο ΚΕ.Δ.Α.Σ.Υ. Γ’ Αθήνας. Επιπλέον, έχει εκπονήσει πτυχιακή ερευνητική εργασία με τίτλο «Κακοποίηση στην παιδική ηλικία: Διερευνώντας τις πολλαπλές επιπτώσεις του τραύματος στην ενήλικη ζωή» και διπλωματική ερευνητική εργασία με τίτλο «Γονική αποδοχή/απόρριψη και κυβερνοεκφοβισμός (cyberbullying/cybervictimization) στην εφηβεία: Ο ρόλος του δεσμού με συνομηλίκους».

Επιμόρφωση/κατάρτιση:

Στο πλαίσιο της συνεχούς επιμόρφωσης και κατάρτισης ειδικεύεται στην Κλινική Ψυχοπαθολογία από την Α' Ψυχιατρική Κλινική του Ε.Κ.Π.Α., το Ερευνητικό Πανεπιστημιακό Ινστιτούτο Ψυχικής Υγείας, Νευροεπιστημών και Ιατρικής Ακριβείας (Ε.Π.Ι.Ψ.Υ.) «ΚΩΣΤΑΣ ΣΤΕΦΑΝΗΣ» και την ΑμΚΕ «Προαγωγή της Γνώσης στις Ψυχικές Διαταραχές». Εκτός των άλλων, έχει ειδικευθεί σε διάφορους τομείς, όπως στη Διαταραχή Αυτιστικού Φάσματος από το ΔΙ.ΚΕ.Ψ.Υ. και στη Διαταραχή Ελλειμματικής Προσοχής-Υπερκινητικότητα (ΔΕΠ-Υ) από την Ελληνική Εταιρεία Μελέτης ΔΕΠ-Υ και την Ιατρική Σχολή του Ε.Κ.Π.Α. Παράλληλα, παρίσταται ενεργά σε επιστημονικά συνέδρια και ημερίδες, με στόχο τη διαρκή διάνοιξη των ψυχοθεραπευτικών και πνευματικών του οριζόντων και την εμβάθυνση στην ψυχαναλυτική κατανόηση του ανθρώπινου ψυχισμού.

Κύριος άξονας ψυχοθεραπείας:

Κύριος άξονας της ψυχοθεραπευτικής του εργασίας είναι η εδραίωση ενός πλαισίου ασφάλειας και ειλικρινούς αποδοχής, ώστε θεραπευόμενη/ος και θεραπευτής να θεμελιώσουν σταδιακά τη θεραπευτική σχέση. Mέσω αυτής και ακολουθώντας τον ρυθμό του κάθε ατόμου, εξερευνώνται προοδευτικά οι υπόλοιπες σχέσεις του, αλλά και οι συνειδητές και ασυνείδητες σκέψεις, φαντασιώσεις και προβληματισμοί του, καλλιεργώντας συνεργατικά μία ανθεκτική ψυχική ισορροπία.

Elina Tsiouli MSc is a Psychologist with a private practice in Kolonaki. She holds a degree in Psychology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Following her graduation, she pursued postgraduate studies in "Stress Management and Health Promotion" at the Medical School of Athens. She has received two years of training in systemic Family Therapy at the Family Therapy Unit of the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica and continued her education for two additional years in "Psychoanalytic Theory and Technique" at the same hospital. She has worked in the Social Policy Department of the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi and has experience in counseling and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families. She has conducted lectures and seminars for parents of preschool and school-aged children as well as for primary education teachers, in collaboration with the Center for Addiction Prevention and Mental Health Promotion "Argo," covering a wide range of topics. Finally, Ms. Tsiouli is a member of the Hellenic Psychological Society.

Pantelis Vranas is a Mental Health Counselor with a integrative approach, holder of a diploma in integrative counselling from COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland), and maintains a private practice in Ano Patisia. He provides individual and group support using a comprehensive therapeutic method that integrates various approaches, emphasizing counseling for individuals facing difficulties, as well as supporting couples wishing to strengthen their relationship or resolve conflicts. He focuses particularly on counseling individuals from the LGBTQ+ community and addressing issues of loneliness and interpersonal relationships. He is a graduate of the Athens Synthesis Center and has attended educational programs at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) on "Psychology of Religion" and "Interpersonal Relationships: The Phenomenon of Loneliness in the Modern Era," as well as workshops on LGBTQ+ counseling (Psychopedia). He is a regular member of the Hellenic Society of Integrative Counseling and Psychotherapy (EESTP).

Elena Vrettakou MSc is a Clinical Psychologist, graduate of Panteion University of Athens, and maintains a private practice in Ampelokipoi. Concurrently, she works in programs focused on the development and empowerment of interdisciplinary and supportive structures. She has undergone postgraduate training in Educational Psychology and subsequently specialized in Psychotherapy (MSc) at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Since 2010, she has worked in various mental health and educational settings, providing support to adults, adolescents, children, as well as LGBTQ+ individuals. Furthermore, she actively participates in numerous advanced trainings related to clinical psychopathology, psychoanalytic theory, and practice. In her private practice, she applies a psychodynamic approach, focusing on the unconscious processes governing the psyche and aiming not only at symptom elimination but also at in-depth understanding and care of the self.

Xemery Aleksandros is a second-generation Clinical Psychologist – Psychotherapist, born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1977. He is a member of the British Psychological Society, licensed to practice psychology within the Greek territory, holding a bachelor's degree in psychology and a postgraduate degree in Clinical and Community Psychology. He is a trainee member in the four-year postgraduate training program in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for children and adults at DI.KE.PSY and maintains a private practice in central Athens. Concurrently, he collaborates with the specialized intervention unit for young individuals with delinquent behavior "OSELOTOS" and with the NGO PRAKSIS within the framework of supporting unaccompanied minors aged 16 and above. He offers individual psychotherapy services in person or remotely via video call in Greek, English, or Swedish.

Sotiropoulou Amantela is a Clinical Psychologist with a psychoanalytic orientation and maintains a private practice in Exarchia. She studied Psychology at Panteion University and pursued postgraduate studies in Clinical Psychology and Psychoanalytic Psychopathology with a specialization in the medical field in Paris (Paris Diderot VII). Concurrently, she trained at the School of Psychoanalysis of the Lacanian Field in Paris and Athens. She is a member of the School of Psychoanalysis of the Lacanian Field in Athens and participates in Lacanian-oriented psychoanalytic working groups, seminars, and conferences concerning the psychopathology of the contemporary era for children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked as a clinical psychologist in various mental health settings in Greece and France, as well as a psychologist in public primary and secondary education. Currently, she provides psychotherapeutic work with adults, adolescents, children, and parents wishing to address psychological difficulties. Psychological difficulties manifest in diverse ways for each individual (interpersonal, emotional, professional, learning difficulties, anxiety, sleep disorders, etc.) and differently impact daily life. The clinical training of the mental health professional enables them to receive and alleviate these difficulties through therapy based on dialogue. Individual sessions are also conducted in French.

Ο κύριος Απότσος Παναγιώτης είναι Ψυχολόγος από το ΕΚΠΑ και έχει εκπαιδευτεί στην Προσωποκεντρική Συμβουλευτική και Ψυχοθεραπεία στο (πρώην) Κέντρο Εκπαίδευσης στην Προσωποκεντρική Προσέγγιση - νυν ICPS, και έχει επίσης ασχοληθεί και με άλλες ψυχοθεραπευτικές προσεγγίσεις κατά τη διάρκεια διαφόρων εκπαιδεύσεων. Ασχολείται επαγγελματικά με την Συμβουλευτική / Ψυχοθεραπεία από το 2003. Η Προσωποκεντρική Προσέγγιση, με την οποία κυρίως εργάζεται, θεωρεί ότι οι άνθρωποι διαθέτουν τα εφόδια να επιλύσουν τα ποικίλα ψυχολογικά προβλήματά τους, εφόσον τους παρασχεθεί το κατάλληλο θεραπευτικό περιβάλλον. Κατέχει το Ευρωπαϊκό Πιστοποιητικό Ψυχοθεραπείας (ECP) και την πιστοποίηση ΕuroPsy. Είναι κάτοχος άδειας ασκήσεως επαγγέλματος Ψυχολόγου, και έχει Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα Εξειδίκευσης στην Ψυχική Υγεία (ΜSc) από την Ανώτατη Νοσηλευτική – ΕΚΠΑ. Εξειδικεύτηκε στη Διάγνωση και Θεραπεία των Ψυχο Σεξουαλικών διαταραχών στο ΕΠΙΨΥ και κατέχει την διεθνή πιστοποίηση του Κλινικού Ψυχο Σεξολόγου (ECPS) μετά από εξετάσεις στην Λισαβόνα. Είναι μέλος της Θεραπευτικής Ομάδας στο Ειδικό Ιατρείο Σεξουαλικής Υγείας στο Αιγινήτειο και επίσης είναι Εκπαιδευτής και Επόπτης στα προγράμματα εκπαίδευσης Προσωποκεντρικής Συμβουλευτικής και Ψυχοθεραπείας στο ICPS. Από την περίοδο 2021-22 είναι Επιστημονικός Υπεύθυνος του Μεταπτυχιακού Προγράμματος, MSc In Psychosexual Therapy (ICPS-UKLAN). Διετέλεσε Πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Συμβουλευτικής και Αντιπρόεδρος της Εθνικής Εταιρείας Ψυχοθεραπείας Ελλάδος, όπως επίσης Ταμίας της Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Σεξολογίας και Διαφυλικών Σχέσεων, Γραμματέας της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης Επαγγελματιών Προσωποκεντρικής Προσέγγισης. Τον Νοέμβριο του '21 εκλέχτηκε στο ΔΣ του Συλλόγου Ελλήνων Ψυχολόγων. Είναι Επόπτης Συμβουλευτικής / Ψυχοθεραπείας και εισηγητής εκπαιδευτικών σεμιναρίων στην ψυχοθεραπεία και στην Ψυχο-Σεξολογία, επίσης ασκεί ιδιωτική πρακτική ως Ψυχοθεραπευτής, Επόπτης, και ως Ψυχο Σεξολόγος. Έχει δημοσιεύσει άρθρα σε επιστημονικά έντυπα στην Ελλάδα και διεθνώς και συμμετέχει ως Εισηγητής σε Συνέδρια ημερίδες και συμπόσια.