Health professionals for Anxiety and Stress near Kalamaria

Dr. Eleni Vazakidou, PhD, MSc, is a Psychologist – Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice (center located near the Church of Agios Dimitrios) in Thessaloniki. She holds a degree in Psychology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a specialization in Systemic Psychotherapy and Counseling from the Center for Systemic Therapy and Counseling (Κε.Σ.Με.Θ). Additionally, she holds a Doctorate (PhD) in Criminology with a full scholarship and a Master's degree in Clinical Criminology from the University of Leicester, as well as a Law degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She possesses extensive academic experience, having lectured at the Department of Criminology at the University of Leicester and at the Department of Psychology at the European Campus of York, City College in Thessaloniki. Finally, in her private practice, the specialist provides support to adults, couples, and families through a systemic, comprehensive, and scientifically substantiated therapeutic approach.

Olympia Xalikiopoulou is a Psychologist licensed to practice, with postgraduate specializations in Clinical Neuropsychology and Neurosciences from Leiden University in the Netherlands and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, respectively. Over the past decade, she has been professionally active in Thessaloniki, where she maintains a private practice. She has worked with adolescents and children with neurodevelopmental difficulties within the framework of psychosocial support, as well as with adults facing issues related to anxiety, phobias, relationship problems, and psychosomatic symptoms. Currently, she practices privately, providing individual sessions for adults. In her clinical practice, she employs an integrative model, incorporating techniques and methodologies from the main psychotherapeutic approaches as well as principles from neuroscience in order to offer personalized support plans tailored to each individual. Additionally, she maintains a long-term collaboration with a private educational institution as a Psychology instructor. In 2017, she obtained certification in Greek Sign Language (GSL) from the Hellenic Federation of the Deaf, ensuring equal access to mental health services.

Samara Anastasia is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains her private practice in the center of Thessaloniki. She is a graduate of the Psychology Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has completed her postgraduate studies with distinction in “Clinical Mental Health” (M.Sc. Clinical Mental Health) at the School of Medicine of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. During her postgraduate studies, she had the opportunity to conduct her thesis research in the field of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders and to participate in research groups. Additionally, she has specialized in Person-Centered and Focusing Experiential Counseling Psychotherapy through the completion of the four-year program at the Hellenic Center for Focusing. During her studies and as part of her internship, she gained experience working in various settings, including the acute ward III of the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, the 2nd University Clinic of the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, the Social Service of the Hellenic Youth Association of Thessaloniki, the Non-Governmental Organization “METAdrasi,” and lifelong learning centers and educational institutions, where she coordinated parent groups. In recent years, she has been working as a Psychologist at the Non-Governmental Organization “ARSIS,” where she supports adults and adolescents from diverse social groups.

Η Βατάλη Βασιλική είναι Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Είναι απόφοιτη του τμήματος Ψυχολογίας του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης, με μεταπτυχιακή ειδίκευση στην ψυχολογία παιδιών και εφήβων από το πανεπιστήμιο του Leiden στην Ολλανδία. Εκπαιδεύτηκε στην Συστημική και Οικογενειακή Ψυχοθεραπεία στο Ινστιτούτο Συστημικής Προσέγγισης και Οικογενειακής Θεραπείας "Νόες" στην Θεσσαλονίκη. Έχει επίσης εκπαιδευτεί στη συμβουλευτική και ψυχοθεραπεία με LGBT+ άτομα από τον επιστημονικό φορέα Orlando LGBT+ ψυχική υγεία χωρίς στίγμα. Από το 2022, συνεργάζεται ως συντονίστρια εφηβικών ομάδων με την Πρωτοβουλία για την Ψυχική Υγεία Παιδιών και Εφήβων, πρόγραμμα που εντάσσεται στο πλαίσιο της Διεθνούς Πρωτοβουλίας για την Υγεία του Ιδρύματος Σταύρος Νιάρχος. Ως συνεργάτης του Ινστιτούτου Συστημικής Προσέγγισης και Οικογενειακής Θεραπεία "Νόες", εκπαιδεύει νέους ψυχοθεραπευτές στη ψυχοθεραπευτική προσέγγιση της Εστιασμένης στη λύση θεραπεία (Solution Focused Based Therapy). Στο παρελθόν, εργάστηκε για δύο χρόνια στην Μονάδα Υποστήριξης Φοιτητών Ευπαθών Ομάδων του Πανεπιστημίου Δυτικής Μακεδονίας, παρέχοντας σε ατομικό και ομαδικό επίπεδο, υποστήριξη σε φοιτητές και φοιτήτριες του πανεπιστημίου. Συνεργαζόμενη με τον Σύλλογο γονέων παιδιών με νεοπλασματικές ασθένειες ΛΑΜΨΗ, προσέφερε υπηρεσίες ψυχολόγου στα παιδοογκολογικά τμήματα των νοσοκομείων της Θεσσαλονίκης, όπου παρείχε ψυχοκοινωνική στήριξη σε παιδιά με νεοπλασματικές ασθένειες και τις οικογένειές τους. Εργάστηκε ως ψυχολόγος σε σχολικές μονάδες ειδικής αγωγής και έπειτα σε δομές ψυχοκοινωνικής στήριξης του ιδιωτικού τομέα, όπου εργάστηκε με προσφυγικό πληθυσμό. Στα πλαίσια εργασίας της στην ΜΚΟ ΑΡΣΙΣ Θεσσαλονίκης ανέλαβε την εκπαίδευση και εποπτεία φοιτητών του τμήματος Ψυχολογίας κατά την διάρκεια της πρακτικής τους άσκησης, και την εκπαίδευση και ευαισθητοποίηση στα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα με παιδιά και εφήβους δημοσίων σχολείων της πόλης. Τέλος, είναι μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Εταιρείας Οικογενειακής Θεραπείας (EFTA).

Andromaxi Sdoukou is a Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist practicing privately in Thessaloniki. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has completed her postgraduate degree in Systemic Psychotherapy at the University of Central Lancashire (UClan), in collaboration with the College of Humanities ICPS. She has completed training programs in Postmodern Systemic Approaches to Psychotherapy (Solution-Focused, Narrative, Collaborative Approach) at the Bienestar center, as well as in Systemic and Family Therapy at the Mental Health Center (KPSY) of the Western Sector of Thessaloniki. Additionally, she has completed training in Grief Support and Counseling at Merimna Thessaloniki and in Cinematherapy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. As part of her training, she has gained clinical experience in public mental health structures and non-governmental organizations in Thessaloniki, specifically in the Alternative Therapy Program for Dependent Individuals "ARGO," at the Mental Health Center of the Western Sector of Thessaloniki, and in the Social Service of ARSIS. From 2020 to 2021, she provided voluntary psychotherapeutic and counseling services in the Short-Term Psychological Support Group in days of Covid-19, a solidarity initiative she co-created with other Solution-Focused psychotherapists. She has volunteered at the Cinematherapy Festival, the world’s first Cinematherapy Festival, and since 2020 she has been writing articles on cinema and psychology. Currently, she provides psychotherapeutic services to adults, families, and couples through face-to-face or online sessions.

Dafni Tzella is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. She holds a degree in Psychology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an MSc in Special Education from the University of Macedonia. She trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Hellenic Society of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy, and her specialization in Anxiety Disorders and Depression is notable. In her practice, she addresses a wide range of cases, utilizing her scientific expertise with the aim of providing the best possible care tailored to the individual needs of each patient.

Despoina Drivakou MSc, PhD(c) is a Life Coach with a private practice in Thessaloniki and provides supervision to early-career psychologists and mental health professionals in the initial stages of clinical practice. She holds a degree from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Master's degree in Basic Medical Research Methodology - Social Medicine - Public Health and Epidemiology from the Medical School of the same university. She is also a doctoral candidate at the same institution. Additionally, she is trained in Systemic Family Psychotherapy and is a certified Life Coach, regularly attending seminars and conferences on the systemic approach. Other psychotherapeutic programs she has trained in include Symbol Drama - basic training, Emotionally Focused Therapy - couples therapy, and the developmental model for couples in crisis due to substance, alcohol, and medication abuse, domestic violence, and narcissistic personality disorder. She has worked both voluntarily and in paid positions at various therapeutic centers in Thessaloniki focusing on addiction treatment for drugs and gambling. She is the scientific director of the Society for the Dissemination and Research of Systemic Thinking and president of the EP7A Association (Prevention, Art, Intervention). She regularly appears on Vergina TV, on radio stations, and contributes articles to various magazines and her personal blog. Concurrently, she coordinates the Family Health forum, which has been held over the past 3 years covering topics related to family and children, involving numerous professionals from the healthcare sector. Finally, she is a member of the Hellenic Psychological Society, the Hellenic Neuropsychological Society, the Systemic Society of Northern Greece, as well as other associations in Thessaloniki.

Vasiliki - Eirini Eleutherakou is a Psychologist with private practices in Thessaloniki at 126 Ioannou Tsimiski Street and in Serres at 15 Erythrou Stavrou Street, offering adult psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychotherapy, and parental counseling. She holds a Master's degree in Developmental and Adolescent Mental Health and is a certified Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist. She specializes in anxiety and mood disorders, difficulties related to childhood and adolescence, parental support, and personal development enhancement. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment based on acceptance, understanding, and non-judgment, allowing each individual the opportunity to express themselves freely.

Dimitra Mpotsoglou BSc, MSc is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and holds a professional license to practice. She has been trained in Counseling Psychology at the University of Thessaly and in Adolescent Medicine with a focus on the Psychosocial Care of Adolescents at the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Additionally, she has received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is currently completing her second specialization in the four-year program in Integrative Psychotherapy at the University of Thessaly. She has completed over 1,500 hours of practical training in various institutions, such as the Volos Mental Health Center, the Patras Mental Health Association, the Athens First Boarding House, the Hellenic Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Society, among others. She has also volunteered with the Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos Society of Social Psychiatry and the NGO Arsis. Moreover, she has academic research activities focusing on topics related to the impact of the parent-child relationship on the child's psychoemotional development, interpersonal relationships, as well as adolescents’ self-esteem and self-perception.

Loizos Nikos is a Clinical Psychologist who maintains a private practice in the center of Thessaloniki. He is a graduate of the Psychology Department of Panteion University. He completed his postgraduate studies in medicine at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a specialization in "Clinical Mental Health," through which he has acquired extensive knowledge and understanding of the complexity of the human mind and mental functions. Additionally, he is in the process of completing his training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), aiming to obtain official certification as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. His knowledge of psychopathology and mental disorders qualifies him as a competent therapist capable of providing reliable and valid diagnoses. This is exceptionally important for the implementation of effective treatment. As a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, he possesses all necessary knowledge, research-backed techniques, and management strategies for comprehensive and effective intervention across a wide range of mental disorders. Research has shown that CBT is the most effective therapeutic method compared to other therapeutic approaches. It is a short-term therapy, typically lasting 3 to 4 months on average, depending on the nature of the difficulties and the needs of the client. His goal is to help those who trust him find functional ways to manage their difficulties. A key concern of his is to develop a strong therapeutic relationship with his clients, based on understanding, empathy, and compassion. He strives to create a safe and non-judgmental environment where individuals can openly express their concerns and collaborate towards improving their mental health and overall quality of life.

Nikolaos Gkoumas BSc, MA is a Counseling Psychologist with a private practice in Thessaloniki. He holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Sheffield, UK, and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from York University. He completed a two-year internship at the City Counseling Center, accumulating 230 hours of supervised clinical sessions. In his private practice, he provides therapy for issues related to depression, anxiety, anger, family relationships, personal relationships, eating disorders, loneliness, substance abuse, interpersonal relationships, and self-esteem. He offers assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological problems, and conducts seminars for agencies, organizations, and companies.

Avramidis Pantelis-Aris MD, MSc is a Specialist Neurologist who maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. He graduated from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. After completing his studies, he specialized in academic hospitals in Germany, where he worked with the full spectrum of neurological disorders. In 2019, he obtained the specialty title in Neurology. Subsequently, he worked as a Senior Registrar (Oberarzt) in the Vascular Diseases Unit (überregionales Stroke Unit) and the Neurosonography Laboratory. In 2022, he received certification for performing ultrasounds of extracranial and intracranial vessels from the German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) and for performing ultrasounds of peripheral nerves and muscles from the German Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (DGKN). Since 2024, he has maintained a private practice in Thessaloniki, where Neurosonography examinations (Triplex of carotid and cerebral vessels, ultrasound of peripheral nerves and muscles) and Neurophysiological assessments (Electromyography, Nerve Conduction Studies) are conducted. Since 2024, he has maintained a private practice in Thessaloniki, where Neurosonography (Triplex of carotids and cerebral vessels, ultrasound of peripheral nerves and muscles) and Neurophysiological assessments (Electromyography, Nerve Conduction Studies) are performed.

Milovianou Afroditi is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness trainer, maintaining a private practice in Thessaloniki. She is a graduate of the Psychology Department at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with postgraduate studies in Clinical and Community Psychology at the University of East London. She has specialized training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy from the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, Solution Focused Therapy from the Center for Solution-Focused Psychotherapy, parent counseling from the Center of Academic Research and Studies, and coaching and health promotion from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

She works as a private psychologist and mindfulness trainer. She has served as a psychologist at the Organization for Social Protection, Solidarity & Education of the Municipality of Volvi, Thessaloniki, and has worked in institutions such as treatment centers, schools, and social services with children and adolescents. She has provided voluntary services to organizations supporting children with neoplastic diseases, special needs, and children from vulnerable social groups in Greece and abroad. She continuously undertakes training across a broad range of topics in her field, participates in European mental health promotion programs, summer schools, and international conferences. Finally, she writes articles on issues concerning everyday life and challenges faced by individuals today.

Skoufa Lida is a Psychologist with a private practice in Thessaloniki. She holds a PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and completed postgraduate studies in Pain Management at the University of Ioannina. Additionally, she specialized in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy at the Hellenic Society of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy. She has significant experience and is currently a Research Associate at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as well as a Trainer in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy at the Medical Psychotherapeutic Center.

Mpaniotis Ioannis is an Internist and Acupuncturist who maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. He holds a degree from the Medical School of Bucharest and completed his specialization in Internal Medicine at the General Hospital of Giannitsa and the General Hospital of Thessaloniki "Agios Dimitrios." Additionally, after two years of training, he obtained certification in Medical Acupuncture and has completed further training at the Hospital of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Beijing and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. From 2007 to 2013, he provided his services as a Specialist Internist at the IKA Pylea Axiou of Thessaloniki, as a Medical Inspector at the Naval Veterans Fund, the hotel employees' fund (TAXY), as well as in private clinics in Thessaloniki. Currently, he voluntarily covers the KAPI centers of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, examining and providing services to the vulnerable elderly population. Finally, he has participated in numerous national and international conferences and is a member of the Medical Society of Pathology and other medical associations.

Ο Κουτσομήτρος Θεόδωρος είναι ειδικός Ψυχίατρος- πιστοποιημένος Ψυχοθεραπευτής. Έχει ειδικευθεί στην Ψυχιατρική ενηλίκων σε πανεπιστημιακές κλινικές του Λονδίνου (UCL) και της Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ) και έχει εξειδικευθεί στο Διακρανιακό Μαγνητικό Ερεθισμό (rTMS) στην Ολλανδία και στις Η.Π.Α. στα πανεπιστήμια του Μaastricht και του Harvard.

Παράλληλα με την εξειδίκευση του στην πρωτοπόρα θεραπεία του rTMS έχει εξειδικευθεί σε 9 διαφορετικές ψυχοθεραπευτικές προσεγγίσεις (ΒΕΔΨ, ΓΑΨ, CBT, GPM, Ομαδική, Συστημική- Οικογενειακή, Υπαρξιακή και Ψυχοδυναμική- Ψυχαναλυτική).

Από τα φοιτητικά του κιόλας χρόνια ως φοιτητής ιατρικής είχε ξεχωρίσει με τις επιδόσεις του καθώς ήταν ο μόνος τελειόφοιτος που αποφοίτησε με άριστα σε όλες τις τελικές εξετάσεις. Από τότε έχει λάβει ποικίλες πανευρωπαϊκές και παγκόσμιες διακρίσεις, είτε με την μορφή βραβείων, είτε με την εκλογή του σε θέσεις ευθύνης σε επιστημονικές κοινότητες.

Το 2019 ήταν μάλιστα ο μόνος Ψυχίατρος παγκοσμίως που τιμήθηκε για δεύτερη συνεχόμενη φόρα με το παγκόσμιο βραβείο WPA ECP Fellowship των Νέων Ψυχιάτρων της Παγκόσμιας Ψυχιατρικής Εταιρείας.

Έχει επιτελέσει Πρόεδρος της Ένωσης Ελλήνων Ειδικευόμενων Ψυχιάτρων με σημαντικό έργο για την αναβάθμιση της συνεχιζόμενης εκπαίδευσης στην Ψυχιατρική στη χώρα μας. Το 2019 εκλέχτηκε Πρόεδρος του τομέα των Νέων Ψυχιάτρων της Ελληνικής Ψυχιατρικής Εταιρείας (ΕΨΕ).

Παρουσιάζει έντονη επιστημονική δραστηριότητα μέσω διεθνών οργανισμών και πανεπιστημίων (αρθογραφία, δημοσιεύσεις, έρευνες, συνέδρια, βιβλία).

Διατηρεί ιδιωτικό ιατρείο στη Θεσσαλονίκη μαζί με μία ομάδα εξειδικευμένων ψυχιάτρων και ψυχολόγων στο Ευρωπαϊκό Ιατρικό Ινστιτούτο Ψυχοθεραπείας & Brain Stimulation SynaΨe . Είναι διευθυντής και ιδρυτής του ελληνικού ιατρείου rTMS (Greek rTMS) το μεγαλύτερο ιατρείο rTMS στην Ελλάδα.