Health professionals for Psycotherapy LGBTQ

Anna Xanioti is a Mental Health Counselor and Psychotherapist specializing in the Person-Centered Approach. She trained in the 4-year experiential program "Person-Centered Roots" at the College of Humanistic Studies ICPS in Athens. She is a certified Psychotherapist accredited by the European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP) and holds the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP). She ensures her professional development through continuous supervision, therapy, and participation in seminars and conferences. Her areas of interest include the integration of contemporary neuroscience with psychotherapy, developmental trauma and its impact on personal relationships, psychoemotional care of women during menopause, and encounter and personal development groups.

Maria Tsirakidou is a Psychologist with a private practice in Thessaloniki. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at the University of Portsmouth and holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Child Clinical Psychology from Anglia Ruskin University in England. Subsequently, she trained and was certified in Systemic Therapy and Counseling through a four-year program at the Center for Systemic Therapy and Counseling (Ke.S.Me.Th.). She has clinical experience in healthcare institutions. Her professional expertise covers a broad range of adult mental health issues including anxiety, panic attacks, mood disorders, eating disorders, unwanted behaviors including addictions, trauma, phobias, obsessive thoughts and compulsions, grief, chronic pain, and psychosomatic problems. Additionally, she provides psychological support for chronic and non-chronic conditions, aiming at managing the challenges arising from an illness and promoting overall health. Within a framework of safety, trust, and respect for the uniqueness of each individual, the goal is the well-being of clients and the management of their individualized needs. She has participated in educational programs for refugee children in schools in England.

Skylitsi Ioanna Mag.Phil., MEd is a Psychologist – Psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience supporting adults and couples, maintaining a private practice in Marousi. In her work, she creates a safe and meaningful space aimed at an in-depth understanding of the challenges affecting daily life, relationships, and internal balance. She has worked in Greece and Austria, both privately and within organized institutions, and for over ten years provided psychological support to women survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. She practices based on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and the Systemic approach for couples. She offers in-person and online sessions in Greek and German.

Η Παξινού Χριστίνα είναι Κλινική Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Κολωνάκι. Διαθέτει πτυχίο Ψυχολογίας από το Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών και παρακολούθησε μεταπτυχιακό πρόγραμμα στην Ψυχιατροδικαστική του τμήματος Ιατρικής του ίδιου εκπαιδευτικού ιδρύματος. Μετεκπαιδεύτηκε στην Κλινική Ψυχοπαθολογία, στην Α’ Ψυχιατρική Κλινική του Αιγινήτειου Νοσοκομείου. Επιπλέον, εκπαιδεύτηκε στην Αναλυτική και Δικαστική Γραφολογία, στη Συστημική Συμβουλευτική, στη Διαχείριση Χωρισμού - Διαζυγίου Γονέων, στη Διαχείριση Πένθους, στις Διατροφικές Διαταραχές και στην Κοινωνική Κλινική Ψυχοπαθολογία των Εξαρτήσεων. Τέλος, είναι εξωτερικός συνεργάτης του φροντιστηριακού οργανισμού ΣΠΟΥΔΗ ενώ έχει συνεργαστεί με φορείς της Ελλάδας και του εξωτερικού, όπως τον Οργανισμό Κατά των Ναρκωτικών, το Ειδικό Κατάστημα Κράτησης Νέων Αυλώνα, το Κέντρο Διάγνωσης, Διαφοροδιάγνωσης και Υποστήριξης Β' Αθηνών και την Association de Santé Mentale στο Παρίσι (ASM13).

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).

Elisavet Diakatou BSc, MSc is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist with a private practice in Ilisia, Athens. She holds a degree in Psychology from the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Greenwich, UK, and a master's degree in Developmental Psychology from Lancaster University, UK. The therapeutic approach adopted by the specialist is Systemic Psychotherapy, with particular expertise in individual psychotherapy, family therapy, group therapy, empowerment of LGBTQI+ individuals, parent and child counseling, and child and adolescent mental health. Finally, Ms. Diakatou is a member of the Hellenic Society of Systemic Family, Individual, and Group Therapy (ELESYTH).

Dr Xristos Zenios is a Mental Health Counselor - Psychotherapist and co-founder of InterTherapy in Limassol. He is a PhD candidate in Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, holding a master's degree in Counseling & Psychotherapy from the University of Derby, UK. He has gained experience working in various institutions in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, and Greece. Currently, he also serves as a lecturer at the University of Nicosia and as a Mentor at Randstad UK.

Anastopoulou Filippa is a Psychologist (MSc) offering online sessions. She holds a degree from the Department of Applied Psychology at the University of Derby and a postgraduate qualification in Clinical Psychology and Counseling. She continually enhances her knowledge through specialized seminars on mental health and psychotherapy topics, while also undergoing training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She is a member of the Cyprus Association of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapists (S.G.S.P.K.) and the EABCT. She possesses significant clinical experience, having worked in mental health facilities, including a Psychiatry department, providing support to individuals with various psychological difficulties. Her work focuses on the management of anxiety, somatoform and depressive disorders, grief, addictions, and other mental health issues. With scientific training and a person-centered approach, she delivers high-quality psychological support and therapy services.

Keramitzi Nelli is a Psychologist who conducts online sessions. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of East London and a postgraduate degree in Clinical and Community Psychology from the same university. She is currently receiving training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling, as well as in LGBTQ+ Counseling from the Certified Educational Institute "Peri Psychis". Additionally, she is attending the educational program "Intervention in Psychosis" at "Pnoes" EPAPSY – Society for Regional Development and Mental Health. She has gained significant professional experience, having worked as a research assistant at the Panhellenic Association of Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD Hellas). Furthermore, she has provided creative activities for refugee children at "MetaDrasi" and offered counseling on the 1145 helpline of KETHEA. Currently, alongside her private practice, she is a Psychologist at "Mila Mou".

Kontogiannis Lampros is an Integrative Psychotherapist - Clinical Hypnotherapist and maintains a private practice in Sepolia, near the Attiki metro station. In 1997, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he attended specialized seminars in the Department of Clinical Psychology on "Eating Disorders," with a project titled “Anorexia Nervosa” at the private British College. Concurrently, he participated in a postgraduate program specializing in Counseling and Integrative Psychotherapy, earning an MSc in "Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy" from the University of Derby. He has since completed his specialization in systemic family therapy and couples therapy. He was distinguished among 250 scholars at the University of Derby, being one of only four Greeks to graduate as integrative psychotherapists. He excelled in his thesis on the personality traits and eating habits, examining how an individual’s personality influences both their nutritional and physical condition, and the role of gender as a factor. Integrative psychotherapy involves the synthesis of three different methods and approaches applied conjointly to each patient: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), person-centered therapy, and the psychodynamic approach (attachment theory). Finally, he has also undergone further training at the Piraeus Institute of Integrative Counseling and Psychotherapy (EPSYTHE - Society for Psychological Support and Therapy) in clinical hypnosis, earning a specialty as a clinical hypnotherapist. He is among the founding members of the Greek Clinical Hypnotherapists Association and the International Hypnosis Association.

Dr Mariza Xatzistamatiou is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist who has maintained a private practice in Volos since 2005. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a PhD from the Department of Special Education at the University of Thessaly. Additionally, she completed postgraduate studies in Occupational and Organizational Psychology at the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. She possesses extensive experience in the monitoring and psychological support of individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, personality disorders, addictions, anorexia nervosa - bulimia, chronic illnesses, interpersonal relationship issues, and emotional problems. Alongside her private practice, she occasionally teaches psychology courses at the Department of Special Education at the University of Thessaly and at a Public Vocational Training Institute (IEK). Finally, she is a member of the Hellenic, British, and American Psychological Associations and has contributed to the authorship of scientific articles for local newspapers and magazines.

Ο Χώρος Ψυχικής Υγείας MindΒloom γεννήθηκε από το όραμα της κλινικής ψυχολόγου και ψυχοθεραπεύτριας Φωτεινής Καναλουπίτη για την δημιουργία ενός ασφαλούς χώρου, ο οποίος να διακρίνεται από τις αξίες της συμπεριληπτικότητας, της συνεργατικότητας, της απο-παθολογικοποίησης, της άνευ όρων αποδοχής, της ειλικρινούς ενσυναίσθησης και του σεβασμού στη διαφορετικότητα. Σήμερα η ομάδα του χώρου MindBloom απαρτίζεται από τέσσερις επαγγελματίες ψυχικής υγείας, τη Φωτεινή Καναλουπίτη, τη Δανάη Γιαννακοπούλου, τη Δήμητρα Ζαφειροπούλου και τη Μαρίνα Μιχαλάτου, που τις ενώνει η κοινή αξία για την παροχή εξειδικευμένων επιστημονικών υπηρεσιών χωρίς διακρίσεις, σε ένα πλαίσιο που η θεραπεία και η κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη είναι αλληλένδετες. Τα μέλη της ομάδας του Mindbloom είναι ξεχωριστά διαπιστευμένες σε τέσσερις διαφορετικές ψυχοθεραπευτικές προσεγγίσεις: Θεραπεία Σχημάτων, Προσωποκεντρική προσέγγιση, Γνωσιακή-Συμπεριφοριστική Θεραπεία και Αφηγηματική Θεραπεία. Αυτό, σε συνδυασμό με την ποικιλία στην εκπαιδευτική εξειδίκευση και την εργασιακή εμπειρία του κάθε μέλους της ομάδας, επιτρέπει την κάλυψη εύρους θεραπευτικών αιτημάτων (δυσκολίες στις διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις, διαχείριση ψυχιατρικών διαγνώσεων και συμπτωμάτων, παροχή υποστήριξης στην εξάρτηση και διασύνδεση με σχετικούς φορείς, υποστήριξη στην εξερεύνηση της ταυτότητας φύλου και της σεξουαλικότητας, υποστήριξη γονεϊκού ρόλου, κ.α.). Η διαδικασία για την έναρξη συνεδριών στον χώρο MindBloom βασίζεται στην λήψη βασικών πληροφοριών για το ενδιαφερόμενο άτομο και το θεραπευτικό του αίτημα ώστε να του προταθεί η επαγγελματίας που κρίνεται πιο κατάλληλη και έμπειρη για την υποστήριξή του με βάση τις εξατομικευμένες ανάγκες του.

Λίγα λόγια για τη συντονίστρια της ομάδας του MindBloom:

Η Φωτεινή Καναλουπίτη είναι Kλινική Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια MSC. Σπούδασε και εργάστηκε στην Ολλανδία (BA,University of Groningen- MSC Clinical Psychology, University of Leiden) ενώ εκπαιδεύτηκε στην Θεραπεία Σχημάτων (Λονδίνο, British Psychological Society,Part 1) και στις Διατροφικές Διαταραχές (Αθήνα, Κέντρο Εκπαίδευσης Διατροφικών Διαταραχών και British Psychological Society). Η πρώτη της εμπειρία σαν θεραπεύτρια έλαβε χώρα στην εταιρία Antiloneliness (Χάγη και Λάιντεν, 2018) όπου εργάστηκε υποστηρίζοντας άτομα από όλο τον κόσμο τα οποία αντιμετώπιζαν δυσκολίες προσαρμογής, σχέσεων, ψυχιατρικές διαταραχές κ.α. ενώ παράλληλα έλαβε και την πρώτη της εκπαίδευση ως Ψυχοθεραπέυτρια. Η κλινική της εκπαίδευση συνεχίστηκε στον φορέα ΚΛΙΜΑΚΑ (Αθήνα, 2020), όπου εργάστηκε για περίπου δύο χρόνια αποκτώντας εμπειρία στην ψυχοπαθολογία και κυρίως στον αυτοκτονικό ιδεασμό, στηρίζοντας άτομα με ψυχιατρικές διαταραχές και τελώντας εικοσιτετράωρες εφημερίες στην Εθνική Γραμμή για την Πρόληψη της Αυτοκτονίας (1018). Οι σπουδές της αλλά και η εμπειρία της με ανθρώπους από όλο τον κόσμο, της έδωσαν την ευκαιρία να χρησιμοποιεί ένα ολιστικό μοντέλο θεραπείας τόσο διαφορετικό και δυναμικό, όσο και η ανθρώπινη φύση. Στο μοντέλο αυτό υπάρχουν στοιχεία από την Θεωρία Σχημάτων, η οποία έχει αποτελέσει την βασική της ψυχοθεραπευτική προσέγγιση, την Γνωσιακή Συμπεριφοριστική Θεραπεία, την Gestalt, και πολλά άλλα. Στόχος της, είναι η συνεχής ενημέρωση και γνώση νέων εργαλείων προσανατολισμένων στην ανακούφιση και υποστήριξη. Ο άνθρωπος είναι κατεξοχήν δυναμικό όν, αλλάζει, προσαρμόζεται και εξελίσσεται. Έτσι ακριβώς αντιλαμβάνεται το θεραπευτικό ταξίδι και αποτελεί έναν από τους σημαντικότερους λόγους που την γοήτευσε και συνεχίζει να την γοητεύει.

Katerina Fragkou is a psychologist with a private practice in Ampelokipoi. She holds a degree from the Department of Psychology at Panteion University, with a Master's in Clinical Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neurosciences from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. As part of her clinical training, she has gained experience in various hospital and research settings. She has worked at the 414 Military Hospital and in the Neurology and Psychiatry Clinics of Aiginiteio Hospital, where she specialized in the diagnosis and support of individuals with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, she has collaborated with ELEPAP, acquiring valuable experience in the rehabilitation of individuals with neurodevelopmental difficulties. Concurrently, she has completed one year of training in Forensic Psychology and Psychiatric Forensics at the "Peri Psychis" Institute, as well as in counseling LGBTQIA2+ individuals. She has also received training in mood disorder management through the Bipolar Lab program, focusing on support for individuals with depression and bipolar disorder. She continuously enriches her knowledge and clinical practice, pursuing further specialization in Psychopathology at the Research University Mental Health Institute (E.P.I.PSY.) and has completed an advanced seminar at Panteion University on the prevention of gender-based violence and the enhancement of women's mental health. She is currently in the final year of training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling. In parallel, she is training in EMDR Therapy through the certified TACT Hellas program, as well as in the diagnosis and treatment of psychosexual disorders at E.P.I.PSY. Through her multifaceted training, she applies scientifically validated psychotherapeutic methods, tailoring her approach to the unique needs of each individual.

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.

Pararas Polyvios has 26 years of experience as a Psychologist. He studied psychology at the University of Athens and subsequently received further training in Cognitive Therapy at I.E.TH.S. He has also been trained in early intervention for autism and in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of learning disabilities at DIKEPSY, as well as in Clinical Psychopathology at EPIPSY. He served as a scientific collaborator at the Medical School of Athens and worked at Aeginiteio Hospital in the specialized Crisis Intervention Clinic. He then worked in home care for severe mental disorders at the non-profit organization Anodos. He has also worked at the Naval Hospital of Salamis, in the Preventive Mental Health Office of the Navy, in the Municipality of Naxos, in the Child Psychiatry Clinics Galinos, in the daycare centers of D.E.H., and at the speech therapy center KADMOS. During the 2023-2024 period, he collaborated with ICPA in the internship of students from the University of Athens and New York College. In the academic year 2024-2025, he was certified in Sports Psychology by the University of Athens. He is a volunteer Sports Psychologist for the Euroleague, participating in the Olympiacos Piraeus basketball team ONE TEAM. Concurrently, he specialized in Adolescent Crisis at IPSYPE from 2024 to 2025. He maintains a private practice in Ampelokipoi.

Mastromanoli Paraskeui is a Psychologist with a private practice in Stavroupoli. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2019. The same year, she began her training in cognitive-behavioral therapy at the Hellenic Society for Behavioral Research (HSBR) - Macedonia Branch, where she continues to train to this day. She has completed her postgraduate studies at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, titled "Mental Health and Psychiatry of Children and Adolescents." Since 2023, she has maintained her private office in Western Thessaloniki, providing counseling and psychotherapy services to adults, children, and adolescents. Her therapeutic scope encompasses a range of disorders (anxiety, panic attacks, depression, difficulties in socialization, eating disorders, etc.), as well as requests such as parental counseling and deeper self-understanding. She is also involved in research programs.