Health professionals for Anxiety and Stress

Panopoulou Xara is a Psychologist, Sexologist, and Psychotherapist.

She completed her studies in Psychology (BSc) at Panteion University and has been trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Additionally, she specializes in the Treatment of Psychosexual Disorders and has presented at conferences related to sexual health. She is continuing her education in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), having completed the basic cycle and proceeding with supervision and further professional development.

The office is located at the Smart CNS Center, in Syntagma, a specialized mental health medical center that offers a modern, safe, and supportive environment.

Previously, she has provided services in private practices and organizations such as the Special Clinic for Sexual Disorders (Aeginiteio Hospital), the Psychogeriatric Society "Nestor," the Counseling Station & Telephone Line for HIV/AIDS, the NGO IASIS, milamou.gr, and PRAKSIS.

She works with a broad range of psychological difficulties, including anxiety, depression, relationship disorders, sexual dysfunctions, and self-esteem issues, tailoring her techniques according to the needs of each patient.

Serra Sofia is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Athens, in the Syntagma area. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Panteion University of Athens. She holds a postgraduate degree in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology from Paris 7–Denis Diderot University in the Doctoral School of Research in Psychoanalysis. In her postgraduate research, she studied emotional disorders, specifically focusing on depression, deepening her understanding of the psychopathology according to psychoanalytic theory. She has worked in various public psychosocial support organizations as well as in private clinical settings. Since 2009, she has been working as a clinical psychologist at the ANASA Day Center (an organization for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders). At the day center, she provides psychotherapy for adults and adolescents as well as parental counseling, having gained extensive therapeutic experience in the psychopathological spectrum of eating disorders. Since 2021, she has been collaborating with the Eating Disorders Unit of the Institute of Mental Health for Children and Adults. She has been trained in the administration and qualitative analysis of the projective tests T.A.T. and Rorschach test at the Society for Psychosocial Health of Children and Adolescents. Since 2003, she has participated in annual seminar cycles on psychoanalysis under the auspices of the International Winnicott Association, the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society, the Hellenic Society of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and the Institute of Mental Health for Children and Adults. She has delivered lectures and presentations at educational seminars as well as at national conferences related to the clinical approach and understanding of the psychopathology of eating disorders.

Georga Elpida is a Psychologist - Psychosexual Therapist and maintains a private practice in Kallithea. She studied Psychology at Aegean College and Body-Oriented Counseling at the Hellenic Institute of Neurophyto Therapy and Character Analysis. Currently, she is training in the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy approach at the Denver Center for Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Colorado. Alongside her private practice, she collaborates with the Psychotherapy Center "Synichisi" and the Center for Special Therapies for Children and Adolescents "Therapaizontas." Additionally, she works with private entities regarding counseling and the administration of vocational guidance tests. During her career, she has collaborated with the ALFA program of K.E.TH.E.A. in Psychoeducational Groups for Adolescents with Parents Dependent on Alcohol or Gambling, with public schools, with the H.I.N.A. in Body and Psychosocial Empowerment Groups for Pre-adolescents and Groups for Pregnant Women, with the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Society, and with the Elderly Care Unit "Aktios." Today, she conducts individual or group sessions and organizes experiential seminars aimed at the psychosocial development of the individual and the improvement of their life. Through discussion and non-verbal communication techniques, counselor and client collaborate to achieve understanding, relief, and elimination of symptoms, recognition and healthy expression of thoughts and emotions, and the attainment of the goals each individual sets for themselves. Finally, her work is supported by necessary supervision, and she continuously enhances her knowledge through targeted seminars and specializations.

Christina Holt is a Greek-American psychologist with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Sheffield and a BA in Psychology from Temple University. She was born in Pennsylvania, USA, and currently resides in Thessaloniki.

For the past ten years, she has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, supporting individuals with diverse needs, including learning and developmental differences, as well as emotional regulation challenges.

She is currently gaining expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to further enhance the practical tools she provides to her clients. Her approach combines scientific knowledge with empathy, offering strategies to cultivate self-awareness, psychological resilience, and emotional balance.

She has participated in numerous conferences and specialized seminars on ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, bullying, inclusive education, and developmental and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Her academic research includes studies on the impact of childhood experiences on adult interpersonal relationships and the use of music and dance therapy in schizophrenia.

Focused on empowering individuals, Christina bridges psychological theory with practical application, providing knowledge and tools that support self-awareness, psychological resilience, and a balanced, meaningful life.

 Languages: English and Greek (native)

Haroula Tsatsani is a Psychologist, graduate of the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and a Relational Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, certified by the Institute of Relational and Group Psychotherapy (ISOPS). She is a member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (IARPP) and the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). She has successfully completed the Master's Program in "Clinical Management of Addictions" at the Athens Medical School and has extensive clinical experience in public and private mental health institutions. She has collaborated with Day Centers (Ariadni–KMOP, Galini–Prometheus), the Psychological Support Hotline 10306, primary and secondary education schools as a school psychologist, as well as hospitals such as "Evangelismos". Additionally, she has experience in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunctions, as well as supporting children and adolescents in shelters for unaccompanied minors. Currently, she maintains a private practice in Mets, providing psychotherapy to adults and adolescents facing difficulties in interpersonal relationships, mental disorders, psychosomatic symptoms, addictions, and other challenges. Simultaneously, she collaborates with the psychotherapeutic center "Psychoplefsi" in Athens and the Konstantakou office in Western Attica. She holds a Professional Practice License as a Psychologist (7894/12.10.2016) and receives consistent supervision and training, continuously advancing her personal and professional development.

Antigoni Xristaki is a Psychologist and Psychotherapist, maintaining a private practice in Thessaloniki. She studied Psychology at City College-University of Sheffield and continued with specialized professional postgraduate training at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling, obtaining a Diploma of Advanced Practice in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy. Additionally, she has been trained in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the Center for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She has experience and has worked as a Psychologist at the YMCA.

Maria Kologgiou is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist - Group Analyst and maintains a private practice in Aigaleo. She studied Psychology at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and is a certified Group Analyst by the Hellenic Organization of Psychotherapy & Education in Group Analysis. Currently, she is training in Positive Psychology at the Lifelong Learning Center of Panteion University. She has experience and specializes in depression, emotional disorders, interpersonal relationships, as well as anxiety and mood disorders.

Valla Faii is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki at 10 Tsimiski Street. She has completed undergraduate studies in Psychology and postgraduate studies in Neuroscience, focusing on the integration of basic research with clinical application at the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her thesis concerns the functional connectivity of the brain in patients with Schizophrenia. Among other qualifications, she has attended the introductory lecture series in Psychoanalysis by the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society and has participated in activities of the Northern Greece Psychoanalytic Society. She has gained valuable experience through her collaboration with an institution for individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as through her work in a mental health facility serving patients with psychiatric disorders. Throughout her career, she has engaged with the pediatric population, collaborating with specialized therapy centers for children and adolescents and providing parental counseling sessions. Additionally, she worked as an evaluating psychologist in the "Personal Assistant" program for people with disabilities, offering supportive services. Concurrently, she is a trainee member at the European Institute of Counseling and Psychotherapy of Chania, specializing in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. She receives continuous supervision and personal analysis.

Merantza Maria is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist with a Person-Centered Approach and maintains a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. She was born and studied in Athens. She holds a degree in Psychology from Panteion University and is a graduate of the Master’s Program in Child Psychology (MSc in the Psychology of Child Development) at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. Additionally, she has completed a three-year training program in Person-Centered Counseling/Psychotherapy, earning a Postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centered Counselling/Psychotherapy from ICPS College in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. She acquired clinical experience at the University Child Psychiatry Clinic at the “Agia Sofia” Children’s Hospital through collaboration with the multidisciplinary team of the Outpatient Unit, participating in the collection of children’s psychosocial histories and administration of diagnostic tests, as well as in the operation of the Special Clinic for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Moreover, she attended an annual training program in Special Education and Training organized by the Developmental Pediatrics Unit of the University Clinic of Athens and received certification for her training in the Children’s Apperception Test (C.A.T.) and Thematic Apperception Test (T.A.T.) projective testing programs for children and adults, respectively. Furthermore, she participated in the pilot adult mental health program within the framework of support and health promotion programs of the Municipality of Athens, in collaboration with the NGO “Aktaia.”

Η Παγώνη Ειρήνη είναι Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχαναλύτρια, τακτικό μέλος του Συλλόγου Ελλήνων Ψυχολόγων και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Παλαιό Φάληρο. Διαθέτει πτυχίο BSc Ψυχολογίας από το University of Wales Swansea και μεταπτυχιακό δίπλωμα MA Ψυχανάλυσης από το Middlesex University of London. Είναι απόφοιτη του Αμερικάνικου Κολλεγίου Ελλάδας, ξεκίνησε την ακαδημαϊκή της εκπαίδευση στο Deree College of Greece και συνέχισε στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο. Διέμεινε στο Λονδίνο για σχεδόν μια δεκαετία, όπου ολοκλήρωσε την πρακτική της και, παράλληλα, εργάστηκε σε συνεργασία με σημαντικές δομές Ειδικής Αγωγής, όπως Child Autism UK, B.I.G (Behavioral Intervention Group) και LEAP (Learning Experiences and Alternate Program for Preschoolers and their Parents), όπου και ασχολήθηκε με το φάσμα αναπτυξιακών διαταραχών και την οικογενειακή συμβουλευτική. Συμμετείχε σε πολυάριθμα επιμορφωτικά σεμινάρια για τις αρχές του Συμπεριφορισμού, ανάμεσά τους και στο Regent’s College of London. Στην πορεία της πρόσφερε εθελοντική εργασία σε οργανωμένες δράσεις από τις τοπικές κοινότητες για ΑΜΕΑ και, όταν επέστρεψε στην Ελλάδα, στο Ίδρυμα Ανάδυση του Κολάτου. Μέσα στην εργασιακή της εμπειρία στην Αθήνα, περιλαμβάνεται και η παροχή εποπτείας στον Πανελλήνιο Σύλλογο Προσαρμοσμένων Δραστηριοτήτων καθώς η βασική της εργασία δεν παύει να είναι η πραγματοποίηση ψυχαναλυτικών και ψυχοθεραπευτικών διαβουλεύσεων. Σήμερα έχει συμπληρώσει 22 χρόνια εμπειρίας στον χώρο της επιστήμης της Ψυχολογίας και αναλαμβάνει ατομικές και ομαδικές συνεδρίες παρέχοντας υπηρεσίες ψυχοθεραπείας ενηλίκων και εφήβων. Έχοντας συνδυάσει την κατάρτιση της Ψυχανάλυσης με την γνώση του Συμπεριφορισμού αλλά και πολυετή μελέτη της Γιουνγκιανής Ανάλυσης, εξασκεί την προσέγγιση της Συνθετικής Ψυχολογίας ενσωματώνοντας τεχνικές από διαφορετικούς προσανατολισμούς ανάλογα με τις θεραπευτικές ανάγκες του θεραπευόμενου. Κατέχοντας τις απαιτούμενες γνώσεις από τις προαναφερθείσες κατευθύνσεις, ως επαγγελματίας χαρακτηρίζεται από μεγάλη ευρύτητα σκέψης και ευελιξία. Έχει εμπειρία σε αντιμετώπιση κατάθλιψης, κρίσεων πανικού, άγχους, παχυσαρκίας, διατροφικών διαταραχών, ιδεοψυχαναγκαστικής διαταραχής, διπολικής διαταραχής, μετατραυματικού στρες, θεραπείας ζεύγους, οικογενειακής συμβουλευτικής προσωπικής ανάπτυξης και αυτοβελτίωσης. Καθώς στην προσέγγισή της συναντώνται στοιχεία από διαφορετικές σχολές Ψυχολογίας, μπορεί να ανταποκριθεί αποτελεσματικά σε μια πληθώρα περιπτώσεων και θεραπευτικών προτιμήσεων, ακολουθώντας ένα διευρυμένο θεραπευτικό μοντέλο προσαρμοσμένο κατάλληλα σε κάθε τύπο προσωπικότητας. Τέλος, οι συνεδρίες μπορούν να διεξαχθούν και στα αγγλικά.

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.

Foskolou Elisavet is a Psychologist with a private practice in Voula. She is a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychiatry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Panteion University. Additionally, she completed her postgraduate specialization in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University in New York and specialized in child and adolescent mental health as well as reproductive-related psychological difficulties in women, including emotional and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and postpartum, premenstrual symptoms, and menopause associated with psychological difficulties. She has extensive clinical training that includes providing services in hospital and community settings, as well as outpatient clinics. Currently, she serves as a Clinical Psychologist and clinical practice supervisor at the UNESCO Chair of Adolescent Health and Medicine of the First Pediatric Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, at the General Children’s Hospital "Agia Sofia." Finally, it is noteworthy that she is a founding member of the Hellenic Society for the Study and Promotion of Interpersonal Therapies.

Η Περσεφόνη Λαφαζάνη σπούδασε Ψυχολογία στο Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης. Είναι κάτοχος άδειας άσκησης επαγγέλματος ψυχολόγου με αριθμό 62699 και κάτοχος μεταπτυχιακού τίτλου στην Κλινική Ψυχολογία από το Πανεπιστήμιο της Ουτρέχτης, με έμφαση στη Γνωσιακή Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία. Επίσης, έχει ολοκληρώσει την τετραετή εκπαίδευση στη Συστημική ψυχοθεραπεία στο Κε.Συ.Θ.Ε.Σ. Στα πλαίσια πρακτικής άσκησης έχει συνεργαστεί με το κέντρο ψυχικής υγείας ΕΣΤΙΑΖΩ και με το Ινστιτούτο Παιδιών και Ενηλίκων Π. Σακελλαρόπουλος. Στα πλαίσια εθελοντισμού, έχει εργαστεί ως ψυχολόγος, στην Εταιρεία Κοινωνικής Ψυχιατρικής και Ψυχικής Υγείας Π. Σακελλαρόπουλος στο τμήμα των Προστατευόμενων Διαμερισμάτων, συμμετέχοντας στην κοινωνική ενσωμάτωση ενηλίκων με ψυχικές διαταραχές και ψυχοκοινωνικά προβλήματα

Επίσης, έχει εργαστεί στη συμβουλευτική γραμμή του Ινστιτούτου Ψυχικής και Σεξουαλικής Υγείας και υπήρξε ψυχοθεραπεύτρια στο Athens Behavior Clinic.

Συμπληρωματικά, ήταν εισηγήτρια στο Ψυχοεκπαιδευτικό Πρόγραμμα για την Ανάπτυξη Επαγγελματικής Ταυτότητας Φοιτητών Ψυχολογίας με βάση τη Θεωρία Διαλογικού Εαυτού που διεξήχθη από το Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων σε συνεργασία με το Εθνικό Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.

Επί του παρόντος, συνεργάζεται με το Ινστιτούτο Παιδιών και Ενηλίκων Π. Σακελλαρόπουλος στη Μονάδα Ψυχιατρικής Περίθαλψης στο Σπίτι του Ασθενούς, ενώ παράλληλα εργάζεται ιδιωτικά με άτομα ζευγάρια και οικογένειες, αξιοποιώντας τη συστημική θεωρία και πρακτική.

Ioannidou Iliana MD, MSc is a Pulmonologist - Phthisiologist - Acupuncturist and maintains a private practice in Ilioupoli. She graduated from the Medical School of the University of Crete and holds a postgraduate degree in "Lung Cancer: Modern Clinical and Laboratory Approach & Research" from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She began her specialty in Pulmonology - Phthisiology at the Lung Cancer Center of the Academic Hospital Clemenshospital in Münster, Germany, and completed it at the General Hospital for Chest Diseases of Athens "Sotiria." She specialized in Intensive Care at the University Intensive Care Unit of the General Hospital for Chest Diseases of Athens "Sotiria," where she served as an Attending Physician for 2 years. Concurrently, the doctor has been trained in Medical Acupuncture at the International Postgraduate Acupuncture Center AcuScience, under the auspices of the Hellenic Medical Acupuncture Society, as well as in Advanced and Immediate Life Support (ALS & ILS provider). She served as an Attending Physician in the Intensive Care Unit of the Athens Medical Center, while to date she remains an Attending Physician of the Pulmonology Team at the same hospital. In her private practice, she offers a wide range of services, personalized to the specific needs of each patient.