Health professionals for Anxiety and Stress near Pefka

Danai Papadopoulou MSc, MA is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist who maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. She graduated with honors from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete and holds postgraduate degrees in Counselling Psychology (MSc in Counselling Psychology) from the University of Sheffield and in Gender Studies (MA in Gender, Society, and Culture) from the Department of Social Anthropology and History at the University of the Aegean. As a psychotherapist, she specializes in Psychodynamic Therapy. In this context, she completed a two-year training program in the Art of Psychotherapy, offered by the Institute of Psychology and Health (IPSY), and additionally, under the auspices of the Scientific Association Merimna for Children and Adolescents (SY.ME.PE), she attended a two-year educational program on Psychopathology and Therapeutic Approaches for Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence, as well as a two-year introductory training cycle in psychoanalytic thought at the Hellenic Center for Mental Health and Research (EKEPSYE). Furthermore, she received basic training in projective tests from the Istituto Gradiva per la Ricerca in Psicoanalisi. She has worked as a psychologist in public mental health facilities, early psychological intervention programs, and non-governmental organizations in Greece and Italy. Psychotherapeutically, she works with adults and adolescents in face-to-face sessions or remotely via Skype.

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.

Xristou Xaris is a Counseling Psychologist with a private practice in Thessaloniki. He studied Psychology (BSc) at the University of Sheffield. He continued his studies at the University of York, where he completed a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology (Master of Arts). He has worked at the Hellenic Myasthenia Gravis Association, providing psychological support to patients with Myasthenia Gravis. His experience includes internships at the Child and Adolescent Center and the General Hospital of Thessaloniki "G. Papanikolaou", in the Child and Adolescent Department, as well as volunteer work at the KETHEA ITHAKI Counseling Center and ARSIS (Social Organization for Youth Support), offering counseling support. Additionally, he has taught Psychology courses at a Private Vocational Training Institute in Thessaloniki. He continues his professional development through ongoing supervision and personal therapy, which helps him maintain a high level of knowledge and skills. Finally, he provides individual psychotherapy sessions for Adults and Adolescents, addressing a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, anger management, eating disorders, interpersonal relationship management, and others.

Patenidis Fotis is a Psychologist who maintains a private practice in the center of Thessaloniki, where he conducts individual sessions. Online sessions are also available; however, in-person attendance is encouraged as it facilitates a more meaningful connection between the client and therapist and contributes more effectively to the therapeutic process. A limited number of reduced-fee slots are available for individuals facing financial difficulties (students, unemployed).

For the past 5 years, he has been training in Character Analysis, an approach based on the principles of psychodynamic theory and the connection between emotion and bodily sensations. He is a graduate of the Applied Psychology (BSc Hons) program at the University of Derby and the Mathematics Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, holding a Master's degree with a specialization in Philosophy and Didactics of Mathematics, as well as additional training in Special Education.

He emphasizes the creation of a relationship built on safety and trust, where the client can establish meaningful contact with their emotions, reconnect with their body, and explore deeper aspects of the self. The goal is to understand internal conflicts and ultimately resolve them through the experiential processing of traumatic experiences, leading to gradual personal change, always respecting the pace and needs of each individual.

Oikonomou Xrysoula is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Neapoli. She studied Psychology and subsequently completed postgraduate training in Clinical Psychology focusing on addiction at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She also holds basic training in clinical hypnotherapy (2025) and has been trained in Postmodern Psychotherapy Approaches and the administration of psychometric tools. Recently, she completed further training in Special Education at the University of the Aegean. Additionally, she is pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Sciences at the Hellenic Open University. She has considerable experience as a Psychologist, having worked at a Dyslexia and Learning Difficulties Center, at KETHEA, at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the Pediatric Oncology Department of the University General Hospital of Thessaloniki AHEPA, and has provided parallel support to a student with autism. Finally, she specializes in non-directive intervention and systemic approaches.

Logdanidou Maria is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. She is also active at Aristotle University, serving as a staff member in the Internship Office. She is a graduate of the Psychology Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from the same University. Additionally, she is undergoing training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at the European Institute of Counseling and Psychotherapy (E.I.C.P.). She has attended seminars and postgraduate training programs from accredited institutions (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, K.E.DI.VI.M). She participated in the research program titled "Study of Compulsory Hospitalizations in Greece," and in 2018, her research regarding stigma related to psychiatric disorders in contemporary Greece was published in the Hellenic Journal of Psychology. Throughout her academic and professional career, she has provided counseling and therapeutic services to adolescents, adults, and families. The organizations she has collaborated with as a psychologist include the Hellenic Center for Mental Health and Research (E.KE.PSY.E.), the Adult Psychiatric Department of the General Hospital of Thessaloniki "Georgios Papanikolaou," the Psychiatric Outpatient Department 424, and the 1st Special Primary School of Thessaloniki. In her work, she follows the psychodynamic approach. In her private practice, she provides individual psychotherapy services to adults and adolescents who need support for various issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and grief management. She conducts sessions both face-to-face and online.

Aivazidou Kalliopi is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist specializing in Systemic Family Therapy. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of East London and a master's diploma in Clinical and Community Psychology from the same university. Previously, she has also worked as a Kindergarten Teacher, as her first cycle of studies was in the Department of Early Childhood Education at the University of Thessaly. Both of her professional focuses center on children. Having attended relevant postgraduate programs and conferences, as well as having worked with children, she undertakes the conduct of counseling sessions for children and adolescents, as well as parent counseling and Family Psychotherapy.

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.

Η Ιωαννίδου Λίνα είναι Κλινική Ψυχολόγος - Συστημική Οικογενειακή Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια. Η εκπαίδευσή της ξεκίνησε το 2009, στο Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης και συνεχίστηκε στο Τμήμα Ιατρικής με το μεταπτυχιακό πρόγραμμα “Κλινική Ψυχική Υγεία”. Έχει ολοκληρώσει την τετραετή εκπαίδευσή της στη Συστημική Οικογενειακή Ψυχοθεραπεία στο Κέντρο Συστημικής Μελέτης και Θεραπείας Θεσσαλονίκης, πιστοποιημένο από την Ευρωπαϊκή Εταιρεία Οικογενειακής Θεραπείας (EFTA). Η κλινική της εκπαίδευση ξεκίνησε σε προπτυχιακό επίπεδο μέσω της πρακτικής της άσκησης στο Τμήμα Οικογενειακής Θεραπείας του Ψυχιατρικού Νοσοκομείου Θεσσαλονίκης, καθώς και με εθελοντική εργασία στο Συμβουλευτικό Κέντρο του ΚΕΘΕΑ “Ιθάκη” και στο Πρόγραμμα Προαγωγής Αυτοβοήθειας. Τα τελευταία δέκα χρόνια, έχει εργαστεί με ευάλωτες προσφυγικές ομάδες στην Ελλάδα και στο εξωτερικό, συνεργαζόμενη με την ΑΡΣΙΣ και τον Διεθνή Οργανισμό Μετανάστευσης, παρέχοντας υπηρεσίες ψυχοκοινωνικής υποστήριξης και συμβουλευτικής σε ασυνόδευτα ανήλικα και οικογένειες, καθώς και συντονίζοντας ομάδες γονέων και ενδυνάμωσης γυναικών. Από το 2023 έως το 2025, υπήρξε μέλος επείγουσας ανθρωπιστικής αποστολής, προσφέροντας ψυχολογική υποστήριξη σε ομάδες υψηλού κινδύνου, καθώς και εποπτεία και εκπαίδευση ομάδας επαγγελματιών ψυχικής υγείας στον σχεδιασμό πλάνου άμεσης παρέμβασης σε κρίση. Στο παρόν, παρέχει ψυχολογική υποστήριξη σε επιζώσες έμφυλης βίας. Από το 2017, εργάζεται ιδιωτικά ως ψυχοθεραπεύτρια και είναι μέλος της Συστημικής Εταιρείας Βόρειας Ελλάδας (Σ.Ε.Β.Ε.). Προσεγγίζει την ψυχοθεραπεία ως έναν ασφαλή χώρο συνάντησης και αυθεντικής σύνδεσης. Πιστεύει ότι κάθε άνθρωπος είναι πολύ περισσότερα από τις δυσκολίες που φέρει και διαθέτει τη φυσική ικανότητα να αλλάξει, να αναπτυχθεί και να επαναπροσδιορίσει τον εαυτό του. Στο επίκεντρο της δουλειάς της βρίσκεται η κατανόηση της εμπειρίας του ατόμου μέσα στο δίκτυο των σχέσεών του, η μελέτη των κοινωνικών ταυτοτήτων και του πώς αυτές διαμορφώνουν το βίωμα, καθώς και η ενσωμάτωση του σώματος στην ψυχοθεραπευτική διαδικασία, ως φορέα νοητικών και συναισθηματικών εμπειριών.

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.

Giazitzi Vasiliki is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist, a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is recommended as the treatment of choice for a variety of mental disorders and is particularly effective.

She maintains private practices in Thessaloniki and Serres, providing psychotherapeutic services both in person and online to adults, adolescents, couples, and families.

She completed her postgraduate studies at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a degree in "Global Medicine and Health Crisis Management".

Since 2021, she has specialized in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy at the Hellenic Society of Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy.

From May 2019 to June 2024, she worked with NGOs on various UNICEF programs such as Child Protection (Child and Family Support Hubs) and subsequently the support of all children in education (All Children in Education).

Within the framework of this work, she participated in the design and support of cases involving domestic violence, as well as cases of severe anxiety, depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and various mental disorders requiring support. In 2021, she held a coordinating role in the Child Protection program in the Serres field.

Theodora Karyati is a licensed Psychologist - Psychotherapist specializing in Systemic Psychotherapy. She supports adults dealing with anxiety, difficulties in relationships, and everyday life challenges, offering a space where they can speak openly and safely. The Systemic approach focuses on how relationships and life experiences influence one’s mental reality. Through the therapeutic process, thoughts, emotions, and patterns are explored with the aim of finding more functional ways of understanding and managing them. The collaboration is based on respect, confidentiality, and adaptation to the needs and pace of each individual. If someone is going through a period where something is challenging them, such as anxiety, stress, or relationship difficulties, it may be worthwhile to give it space and explore it.

Xatzopoulou Ksenia is a Psychiatrist - Psychotherapist based in Thessaloniki. She holds a degree from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has specialized in Psychiatry at the 2nd University Clinic. She has over 20 years of experience in clinical psychiatry and psychotherapy. Furthermore, she is trained in psychoanalytic-type psychotherapy and cognitive analytic psychotherapy, as well as in child and adolescent psychiatry. Her work includes counseling on interpersonal relationship issues, psychoanalytic-type psychotherapy, counseling with behavioral and cognitive techniques, and the treatment of obsessive-compulsive and psychosomatic disorders. Additionally, she has extensive experience in the management of eating disorders, anxiety, depression, psychoses, phobias, and panic attacks.

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.

Paxou Eleni is a Psychologist and Psychotherapist who provides individual psychotherapy sessions while also conducting empowerment and psychotherapy groups in collaboration with colleagues in the center of Thessaloniki. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a master's degree in "Clinical Interventions in Addictions" from the Department of Psychology and the Medical School of the University of Crete. In the past, she provided individual psychotherapy sessions at the Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Unit of OKANA. Additionally, she continues her training in the empowerment and psychotherapy of individuals and groups using the approach of Non-Directive Intervention (NDI). She has attended numerous training programs and seminars on Clinical Psychology and the Therapeutic Treatment of Addictions. Currently, she is also training in the approach of Narrative Therapy.