Health professionals for Depression near Exarcheia

Η Δανάη Νταφούλη είναι κλινική ψυχολόγος (MSc) - ψυχοθεραπεύτρια και διατηρεί το ιδιωτικό της γραφείο στην περιοχή των Αμπελοκήπων στην Αθήνα από το 2022. Σπούδασε και αποφοίτησε με άριστα από το τμήμα ψυχολογίας του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών και έλαβε την άδεια ασκήσεως επαγγέλματος από την Περιφέρεια Αττικής με αριθμό πρωτοκόλλου 16792. Συνέχισε με μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές στην Κλινική Ψυχολογία στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Leiden στην Ολλανδία.

Έχει ολοκληρώσει την εκπαίδευση της στην Γνωσιακή Συμπεριφοριστική Ψυχοθεραπεία παρακολουθώντας τετραετές πρόγραμμα εξειδίκευσης στην Εταιρεία Γνωσιακών Συμπεριφοριστικών Σπουδών, λαμβάνοντας πλήρη θεωρητική και κλινική κατάρτιση για τη θεραπεία ενηλίκων και παιδιών. Επιπλέον έχει εκπαιδευτεί στην Τραυματοθεραπεία μέσω της πρωτοποριακής θεραπείας Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) στο Ινστιτούτο Τραυματοθεραπείας Αθηνών. Έχει επίσης καταρτιστεί στην Κινητοποιητική Συνέντευξη (Motivational Interviewing), μια θεραπευτική πρακτική με στόχο την ενίσχυση κινήτρου και τη επίλυση της αμφιθυμίας, στο Πανεπιστημιακό Νοσοκομείο του Άμστερνταμ. Συμμετέχει ως ομιλήτρια σε συνέδρια παρουσιάζοντας το κλινικό και ερευνητικό της έργο.

Στο παρελθόν, το 2017, σπούδαζε και εργάζονταν στην Ολλανδία στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Leiden και στην κλινική του Πανεπιστημιακού Νοσοκομείου του Άμστερνταμ (AMC). Έως σήμερα διατηρεί αυτή τη συνεργασία συμμετέχοντας ερευνητικά και εποπτικά στο έργο τους, αλλά και διδάσκοντας την Κινητοποιητική Συνέντευξη. Το 2019 επιστρέφοντας στην Ελλάδα εργάστηκε προσφέροντας ψυχολογική υποστήριξη σε ευάλωτες κοινωνικές ομάδες στα προγράμματα του Διεθνή Οργανισμού Μετανάστευσης και του Ελληνικού Ερυθρού Σταυρού (2019-2021). Έπειτα εργάστηκε επί τετραετίας (2021-2025) σε κέντρα θεραπειών παιδιών και εφήβων στην Αθήνα και στην ενδοκρινολογική μονάδα του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών παρέχοντας ατομικές και ομαδικές συνεδρίες σε παιδιά, εφήβους και συμβουλευτική γονέων.

Στη διάρκεια των σπουδών της, έκανε πρακτική άσκηση στην ψυχιατρική κλινική του Αττικού Νοσοκομείου για ένα χρόνο αλλά και στο συμβουλευτικό κέντρο του Πανεπιστημίου του Leiden όπου και ανέλαβε τα πρώτα της περιστατικά. Επιπλέον παρακολούθησε εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα επιμόρφωσης, όπως σεμινάριο για τη διαταραχή ύπνου, εξάμηνη επιμόρφωση στην «ψυχιατρική των εφήβων» στο Αιγινήτειο Νοσοκομείο, ετήσιο πρόγραμμα εκπαίδευσης στις «εξαρτήσεις και ψυχική υγεία» στο ΚΕΘΕΑ, σεμινάριο στη δραματοθεραπεία, εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα για θέματα παιδικής προστασίας και διαχείρισης θυμάτων έμφυλης βίας και βασανιστηρίων από τον Ελληνικό Ερυθρό Σταυρό. Στο παρελθόν έχει προσφέρει εθελοντική εργασία και έχει συμμετάσχει σε σεμινάρια και ημερίδες ως συντονίστρια στην Ελλάδα και στο εξωτερικό.

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.

Elafros Mixalis is a psychiatrist who maintains a private practice in the center of Athens. He holds a Medical Degree from the Psychiatric School of Verona in Italy and has been trained in Descriptive Psychopathology - Phenomenology at Palazzo Borghese in Florence. As a psychiatrist, he has many years of experience in Mental Health Centers, participating, among other things, in group psychoeducation therapy for hospitalized patients as well as their parents and relatives. Until 2023, in addition to his private practice, he was the head of the 2nd Psychiatric Department at the "Galini" Clinic, where he has managed hundreds of cases of patients with major mental disorders. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that in the past he worked at the same clinic as an on-call psychiatrist, as well as at the "Lyrakos Psychotherapeutic Center." Finally, he has attended numerous seminars and conferences in Greece and abroad and is a member of the Athens Medical Association. In recent years, he has specialized in Relational Psychotherapy at ISOPS (Institute of Relational Psychoanalysis and Group Psychotherapy according to Yalom). He is a member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (IARPP) and the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA).

Christina Polyzou is a psychologist and psychotherapist, offering evidence-based psychological support at her private practice in Ampelokipoi, Athens and online. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in scientific research and tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Greenwich, and two Master’s degrees from King’s College London: one in Health Psychology and another in Developmental Psychology & Psychopathology. Her studies in Health Psychology provided her with an in-depth understanding of the intricate connection between mental and physical health, as well as the psychological impact of illness and the process of adapting to life’s challenges. In parallel, her work in Developmental Psychology focused on behavioural genetics, exploring the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental influences in shaping psychological wellbeing. She also received specialised training in perinatal mental health, gaining a deeper understanding of the emotional and psychological transitions that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Her clinical experience includes work at the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s leading mental health institutions. There, she gained hands-on experience in the application and assessment of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). She has also completed training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), a scientifically validated approach for processing traumatic experiences. A key aspect of her ongoing professional development is her advanced training in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) at the Compassionate Mind Foundation, under the direct guidance of Paul Gilbert and other leading experts who have developed adaptations of CFT for specific clinical difficulties.

Each person brings their own story, challenges, and goals to therapy. Some seek relief from anxiety, stress, or low mood; others may be grappling with intense self-criticism, low self-worth, or difficulty connecting in relationships. Many are simply looking to understand themselves better and to live a life that feels more authentic and meaningful. Therapy offers a space to explore these experiences safely and constructively, working together to foster change that lasts.

At the heart of her practice is the belief that therapy is built on trust, empathy, and respect for the individuality of each person. There are no ready-made solutions or fixed pathways—each therapeutic journey is shaped around the person’s unique needs, values, and aspirations.

All sessions are conducted within a framework of confidentiality and professional integrity, following the highest standards of ethical psychological practice.

Pleuri Maria Msc Kai Synergates is a Psychologist - MSc Clinical Neuropsychologist with a professional license and clinical experience since 2014. She has maintained a private practice for several years in Heraklion, Crete, as well as in Athens. Her postgraduate specialization took place at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in collaboration with the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University. The Psychologist holds a certified 4th specialization in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Model, which she acquired at the Society of Cognitive Behavioral Studies, along with two additional years of training for treating children and adolescents. Furthermore, she has attended the annual training "Basic Principles for Counseling and Psychotherapy with LGBTQ+ individuals" from Orlando LGBT+ and has collaborated with the Hellenic Mediterranean University for the educational training program on sexual health. She has completed her training in the Schema Therapy model from the Hellenic Society of Schema Therapy and is currently undergoing certification.

The specialist collaborates with Nektarios Meimets, Psychologist MSc and Trainee Psychotherapist, as well as with Georgia Koltsida, Psychologist with a professional license, who is mainly engaged professionally in the administration and interpretation of psychometric tests, as well as in psychotherapeutic intervention with children, adolescents, and adults.

Antonis Mougias is a Psychiatrist, PhD holder from the University of Ioannina, and maintains a private practice in Kolonaki. He has been trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Therapy of Psychosis. For years, he has been monitoring and treating individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues. Additionally, he is the Scientific Director of the Memory Center of the Psychogeriatric Society "Nestor" and has served as the Scientific Director of the Alzheimer Center of the same society for 7 years. As the Scientific Director of the Psychogeriatric Society "Nestor," he has developed and is responsible for numerous interventions aimed at patients with dementia and their caregivers. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics. He also prescribes medications and issues psychiatric condition certificates. Finally, the doctor has extensive clinical experience, as well as numerous scientific publications.