Health professionals for Anxiety and Stress in Thessaloniki

Vagia Panagiotou is a licensed Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist (CBT). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Lincoln University (UK) and is licensed to practice by the Health Directorate of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki.

She obtained her Master’s degree in Communication from Sheffield University (UK) and completed a four-year specialized training program in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through the Hellenic Association for Behavioral Research (EABCT-accredited), Macedonia Branch.

Her clinical experience includes working at the Day Care Center for People with Disabilities "Kivotos," and at the Psychological Center “Stirixis,” where she provided CBT-based support to individuals facing various psychological difficulties, under supervision.

She has completed further training in Couples and Family Counseling (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), in School Psychology (University of the Aegean), and in Special Education (University of Patras). She remains actively involved in continuing professional development and clinical supervision.

Vagia also worked for eight years at Make-A-Wish Greece, contributing significantly to psychosocial support services.

She currently runs her private practice in the heart of Thessaloniki, offering counseling and psychotherapy to adults and adolescents, both in-person and online. Her work focuses on the assessment, prevention, and treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions using evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Fiamou Konstantina is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist with a degree in Psychology from the University of Wales. She holds a license to practice as a Psychologist (No. 830580). She has attended specialized programs and seminars in the field of psychology and psychotherapy, such as "Counseling and Personal Development Techniques" (Scottish Qualifications Authority) and "Management of Emotional and Psychological Trauma" (Center for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens).

She has completed the Specialization Program in the Synthetic Model of Systemic and Family Therapy at the Laboratory for the Investigation of Human Relations. In this context, she has worked therapeutically and has also participated in voluntary actions, providing online counseling support for the free mental health initiatives of the University of the Aegean.

She provides psychotherapeutic sessions online, aiming to bring out personal desires, enhance the understanding of relationships, and help the individual shape the role they desire in life.

At the same time, she has extensive experience in her personal development through individual and group psychotherapy as a patient, while regularly participating in seminars and conferences in the field, maintaining continuous professional development.

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.

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.

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.

Ioannou Xristina is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains her private practice in Thessaloniki. She holds a degree in Psychology from Aristotle University. She has completed an Annual Seminar in Clinical Psychopathology, a Theoretical Experiential Seminar on Understanding and Managing Self-Destructive Behavior, and has participated in a Self-Awareness Group and Seminars related to the First Interview Technique, Relaxation Methods, Daydream Technique, Breathing Exercises, and Addiction.

Kondylis Antonis is a Psychologist who provides individual adult sessions with experience in anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and phobias. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and has undergone further training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

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.

Η Κουκουρίκη Χριστίνα είναι Ψυχολόγος και Συστημική Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο κέντρο της Θεσσαλονίκης, προσφέροντας υπηρεσίες ατομικής, ζεύγους και οικογενειακής ψυχοθεραπείας και συμβουλευτικής. Είναι πτυχιούχος Ψυχολογίας από το Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης με μεταπτυχιακό στο Πανεπιστήμιο Αιγαίου με θέμα Κοινωνική Πολιτική και Πολιτισμικές Διαστάσεις και εξειδίκευση στη Συμβουλευτική και τον Προσανατολισμό (ΑΣΠΑΙΤΕ). Διαθέτει πρόσθετη επιμόρφωση στην Συμβουλευτική Σταδιοδρομίας και στην Εκπαίδευση Ενηλίκων και είναι πιστοποιημένη Εκπαιδεύτρια Ενηλίκων. Έχει ολοκληρωμένη εκπαίδευση και επιμορφώσεις στη Συστημική Οικογενειακή Ψυχοθεραπεία και Συμβουλευτική και ως Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια είναι μέλος της Συστημικής Εταιρείας Βορείου Ελλάδος και Ευρωπαϊκής Εταιρείας Οικογενειακής Θεραπείας (EFTA-CIM). Για 12 χρόνια έχει υπάρξει ενεργό μέλος και για ένα διάστημα πρόεδρος του Παρατηρητηρίου για τα Δικαιώματα στο χώρο της Ψυχικής Υγείας. Διαθέτει εικοσαετή εργασιακή εμπειρία σε διάφορα πλαίσια. Εργάζεται ως Ψυχολόγος σε Δήμο, όπου παρέχει υπηρεσίες ψυχο-κοινωνικής στήριξης, συμβουλευτικής και ψυχοθεραπείας σε άτομα και οικογένειες. Κύρια έμφαση της δουλειάς της είναι οι δυσκολίες σε θέματα ψυχικής υγείας, όπως κατάθλιψη, στρες, ψυχοσωματικά συμπτώματα, απώλειες, ψυχώσεις κλπ αλλά και τα γενικότερα προβλήματα που προκύπτουν από αναπηρίες, ασθένειες και άλλα δύσκολα γεγονότα ζωής. Επί σειρά ετών εργάστηκε ως Σύμβουλος Σταδιοδρομίας σε Σχολεία Δεύτερης Ευκαιρίας και σε προγράμματα Συμβουλευτικής Ανέργων, ως υπεύθυνη και εκπαιδεύτρια των Σχολών Γονέων. Από το 2007 έχει διεξάγει σεμινάρια ως Εκπαιδεύτρια Ενηλίκων κυρίως σε ομάδες γονέων, εργαζομένων, επαγγελματιών και σε άλλες ομάδες ενηλίκων. Ακόμη, υπήρξε συντονίστρια ομάδας για την κατάθλιψη για δέκα χρόνια. Τέλος, απέκτησε πολύτιμη κλινική εμπειρία ασκούμενη σε δημόσιες και μη δομές ψυχικής υγείας και σε μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις, όπως το Παιδοψυχιατρικό του Ιπποκράτειου νοσοκομείου, το Ιατροπαιδαγωγικό Ψυχιατρικό Νοσοκομείο Θεσσαλονίκης, τα Κέντρα Ψυχικής Υγείας κεντρικού και δυτικού (Αμπελοκήπων) τομέα, το Ψυχιατρικό Νοσοκομείο Θεσσαλονίκης, το Κρατικό Θεραπευτήριο Λέρου, το Πολυϊατρείο PRAKSIS, το Πολύκεντρο Δήμου Μυτιλήνης, την Εταιρεία Σπαστικών Βορείου Ελλάδος, την ΑΡΣΙΣ, την Εθελοντική Εργασία κλπ.

Deni Christina Xrysoula is a Clinical Psychologist - Psychotherapist who provides support to adults and adolescents as well as parental counseling. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from the same university. Her clinical experience has been acquired through collaboration with the day center "Estia," the Child-Adolescent Unit of the Hellenic Center for Mental Health and Research (E.KE.PSY.E.), and the Psychiatric Outpatient Department 424. She has served as a scientific collaborator at the Laboratory of Applied Psychology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Additionally, she has worked with specialized therapy centers, providing both group and individual parental counseling. Simultaneously, she volunteers in psychoeducation and public training on mental health issues. She continues her education by participating in supervision and training workshops of the Northern Greece Psychoanalytic Society. Currently, she is further specializing by attending the postgraduate program titled "Applied Developmental Psychology" offered by the Hellenic Open University.

She specializes in mental health difficulties such as anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, depression, eating disorders, personality disorders, relationship problems, and grief. In her psychotherapeutic practice, she follows the psychodynamic approach and works with ongoing supervision and personal therapy. She places particular emphasis on creating a space of safety, confidentiality, and acceptance. Her goal is to accompany individuals through a process of in-depth exploration and understanding of themselves to become freer and more creative.

Kyratsa Anneta is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. She holds a degree from the Department of Psychology at the University of East London. She initially trained in the Psychoanalytic - Lacanian Approach at the Freudian Society of Northern Greece and in "Care for Individuals with Dementia and Alzheimer's" at the Metropolitan College. Simultaneously, she trained in Child-Adolescent Psychopathology at the Medical Psychotherapeutic Center and in "Development of Soft Skills & Life Coaching" at the Center for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She completed her internship at the Mental Health Center of the Municipality of Evosmos, as well as at the Child Psychiatry Clinic of the General Hospital of Thessaloniki "Hippocrates." She possesses valuable experience and continues to offer her services voluntarily on online platforms and telephone helplines. Additionally, she works as a Psychologist - Psychotherapist on the online psychotherapy platform "TherapyToday.gr" and at the KDAP for Individuals with Disabilities "Foul kids - Athletic Education," while also serving as an external collaborator at the Dietetics - Nutrition Center "MindFood" and at the Nursing Home "Archontiko Geronton," Saint Basil. Her goal is to empower and improve the quality of life of her clients and their families.

Antoniadou Katerina is a Clinical Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in the center of Thessaloniki. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a postgraduate diploma in Liaison Psychiatry from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She has been trained in a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches by certified institutions [Brief Intensive Dynamic Psychotherapy (iedta), Behavioral - Cognitive, Systemic - Family Therapy (efta)]. Additionally, she has participated in advanced training programs at clinical and university institutions on topics including clinical psychopathology, neuropsychology, clinical psychometrics, and special education. She has extensive experience in a broad spectrum of adult mental disorders.

Pinelopi Kitsou is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains her private practice in Thessaloniki. She holds a degree in Psychology from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy and has completed the Postgraduate Program in Adolescent Medicine and Adolescent Health Care at the School of Medicine of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In her private practice, she handles a wide range of cases, always focusing on providing the best possible service tailored to the individualized needs of each person she undertakes.

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.

Koutroullis Ioannis is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist with a private practice in Thessaloniki since 2022. He holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Derby in England and a postgraduate degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy from the same university. Additionally, he is completing his training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Hellenic Society for Behavioral Research. During his internship at the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the private office "Epilysi," as part of his postgraduate studies, he gained valuable experience. He has attended seminars and trainings on psychopathology topics such as trauma management, anxiety and panic attacks, mood disorders, addictions, grief, and eating disorders. Furthermore, he has delivered seminars on various topics during his training, as well as a lecture on somatic disorders. Mr. Koutroullis, with his experience and scientific specialization, is capable of managing a wide range of cases by tailoring therapy to the needs of each individual.

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.