Health professionals for Διαχείριση πένθους in the Southern suburbs of Athens

Pappa - Katsiafa Aleksandra is a Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in Kallithea (Mindful Path) and also collaborates with the Psychotherapy & Alternative Therapy Center Roots Wellness Center. She is a graduate of Psychology from the University of Crete and holds a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the Hellenic American University. She has worked as a Psychologist in a Chronic Disease Treatment Center in Trikala and completed her clinical internship as a Clinical Psychologist at the Municipality of Ilioupoli. Additionally, she has attended two seminars on Social Clinical Psychology of Addiction and on Education in childhood and adolescence from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Concurrently, she has been trained at the Center for Training & Treatment of Eating Disorders (KEADD). Currently, she is attending the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program at the Institute for Research & Behavioral Therapy. Finally, in private practice, she manages cases across the full spectrum of psychology, with a specialization in eating disorders, panic attacks - phobias, as well as anxiety and mood disorders.

Georgouli Ioanna is a Mental Health Counselor and Career Guidance Counselor, specializing in Systemic - Family Counseling and Therapy, with a private practice in Zografou. As a Mental Health Counselor, she provides services to individuals, groups, or families using the Systemic Therapy model, respectfully utilizing each person’s uniqueness and therapeutically addressing both the individual and their interactions with their immediate and broader environment. As a Career Guidance Counselor, she offers services to adolescents who are responsibly planning their futures, as well as to adults who are required by internal or external norms to change their professional path or reshape their current one. She holds two master's degrees and has completed a two-year training program in Educational Drama. Subsequently, she specialized as a Mental Health Counselor at the Laboratory for the Exploration of Human Relations and as a Career Guidance Counselor at Aegean College. Over the past three years, she has also worked as the Mental Health Program Coordinator for ERGO NGO, designing and implementing empowerment programs for children and youth as well as their adult caregivers, at both national and international levels. Earlier in her career, she had the opportunity to work in various educational and care settings, such as KETHEA, ActionAid as an author of psycho-empowerment and resource management educational materials for primary and secondary schools, the University of Psychology of Turin as an instructor in the European Carepath program focusing on training and empowering caregivers of people with psychological trauma, INEDIVIM as an educator, and EIHIMUTH. She has presented her work at numerous conferences, founded an experiential workshop for primary school children in Ithaca, and was co-founder of a cultural and educational association for children.

Η Ιλίτια Γκίνη είναι Ψυχολόγος, απόφοιτη του University of East London, όπου ολοκλήρωσε τις σπουδές της στο BSc Psychology και το μεταπτυχιακό πρόγραμμα MA Counselling & Psychotherapy, με εξειδίκευση στις διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις και στη διαχείριση άγχους.Πιστεύει πως κάθε άνθρωπος κουβαλά τη δική του μοναδική ιστορία, τις προσωπικές του προκλήσεις αλλά και τις δυνατότητες εξέλιξης και αλλαγής. Βασικός της στόχος είναι η δημιουργία ενός ασφαλούς, υποστηρικτικού και ουσιαστικού θεραπευτικού πλαισίου, μέσα στο οποίο ο θεραπευόμενος μπορεί να εκφραστεί ελεύθερα, να νιώσει αποδοχή και να εργαστεί με σεβασμό προς τον εαυτό του και τις ανάγκες του.Διαθέτει εμπειρία στην υποστήριξη ενηλίκων, στη συμβουλευτική γονέων και ζεύγους, καθώς και στη συμβουλευτική παιδιών και εφήβων. Έχει εργαστεί σε κέντρα συμβουλευτικής και ψυχοθεραπείας, σε κέντρα ειδικών θεραπειών παιδιών και εφήβων, αλλά και σε ιδιωτικό πλαίσιο ατομικών συνεδριών.Η θεραπευτική της προσέγγιση εστιάζει στη διαχείριση άγχους και φόβων, στις διαπροσωπικές δυσκολίες, στις συντροφικές και οικογενειακές σχέσεις, στην ενίσχυση της αυτοεκτίμησης, στη συναισθηματική ενδυνάμωση και στην προσωπική ανάπτυξη.

Για την Ιλίτια Γκίνη, η θεραπευτική διαδικασία δεν αφορά μόνο την αντιμετώπιση μιας δυσκολίας, αλλά και τη βαθύτερη γνωριμία με τον εαυτό, την καλλιέργεια εσωτερικής ισορροπίας και την ανάπτυξη πιο λειτουργικών τρόπων σκέψης, επικοινωνίας και διαχείρισης της καθημερινότητας.

Παραμένει διαρκώς ενημερωμένη μέσω της συμμετοχής της σε επιστημονικά συνέδρια, σεμινάρια και εκπαιδευτικά εργαστήρια, με στόχο τη συνεχή εξέλιξη της επιστημονικής και επαγγελματικής της κατάρτισης, παρέχοντας σύγχρονη, εξατομικευμένη και ουσιαστική ψυχολογική υποστήριξη.

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.

Mpooules Katri Tereza is a Psychologist who maintains a private practice in Ilioupoli. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She specializes in a four-year training program in Systemic - Family Psychotherapy at the Institute for Education and Research in Systemic Psychotherapy "Logo Psychis." She has attended numerous educational seminars, and currently, in addition to her private practice, she serves as a Psychologist at the Athens Therapy Center. Previously, she has worked as a Psychologist for the Municipality of Ilioupoli and has completed her internship at the Institute of Mental Health & Personal Development "Galinos" as well as at ALMA (Panhellenic Association for Adaptive Activities). In her private practice, she manages a variety of cases, utilizing her scientific expertise and always prioritizing the best possible service to meet the individualized needs of each client she undertakes.

Parouti Aloi is a Psychologist with a private practice located in Kallithea. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Wales and a postgraduate diploma specializing in Mental Health and Wellbeing as well as Refugee Care (MA in Refugee Care) from London Metropolitan University and the University of Essex, respectively. She has also received training in the Supervision of Therapists within the Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapeutic Model. The Psychologist has provided her services to the National Health Service of Northeast London, a Refugee Support Center, the Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Peloponnese, as well as in a Psychiatrist's clinic.

She was born in Athens and obtained her degree from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) (psychologist professional license, No. 1064783). She continued her education by completing a three-year training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling, followed by additional training in Systemic Psychotherapy at the Systemic Counseling and Psychotherapeutic Center. Subsequently, she earned her certification in trauma therapy – EMDR, at the Institute of Trauma Therapy. Additionally, she has attended various seminars and received training in biofeedback (a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach). She works as a Psychologist – Psychotherapist and collaborates with the Stress Management Center SMS (Stress Management Solutions). She specializes in anxiety and stress management, panic attack treatment, depression treatment, and eating disorder issues. She also specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety-related issues, such as performance anxiety and the management of various other distressing emotions, as well as in parental counseling. The intervention is personalized and collaborative with the individual, considering various factors that become clear through individual interviews and questionnaires, aiming at the overall enhancement of the individual's quality of life across all domains.

Anastasia Kastranta is a Psychologist with private practices in Kallithea and Chalkida and holds a professional license to practice psychology. She graduated from the Psychology Department of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and holds a postgraduate specialization from the Medical School of the University of Ioannina, titled "Pain Management," with a focus on Health Psychology. She is specialized in supporting individuals with chronic physical illnesses and pain-related conditions, following the biopsychosocial model of health, which emphasizes not only the physical but also the psychological and social dimensions of physical illness, thus providing a comprehensive approach to individuals' difficulties. Furthermore, regarding her psychotherapeutic approach, with extensive clinical experience and continuous training in various therapeutic approaches and treatment models, she has integrated into her therapeutic work a synthetic model of a holistic mental health approach based on contemporary principles of humanistic psychotherapy. She addresses therapeutic support requests across the full spectrum of psychological difficulties that an individual may experience temporarily or long-term, such as depression and emotional disorders, anxiety problems, panic attacks, psychosomatic symptoms, anger management and conflict resolution, grief and painful/traumatic experiences, phobias, self-esteem enhancement, couple problems, domestic violence, among others. Her academic interests include topics of gender, education, and psychosociology of health.

Vasilopoulou Evelina is a Mental Health Counselor - Systemic - Family Therapist with a private practice in Piraeus. She is a recognized Psychotherapist by the Hellenic Society of Systemic Therapy (EL.E.SY.TH.) and holds the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) from the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP). Additionally, she is a certified Mental Health Counselor from the Hellenic Society of Counseling, having obtained a diploma in Mental Health Counseling from the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling. She has received further training in Systemic Family Counseling and Psychotherapy at the Laboratory for the Investigation of Human Relationships. Moreover, she holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of East London. Beyond these studies, she has obtained certificates mainly in Special Education and Learning Disabilities, as well as in Child Psychology. Furthermore, in 2021, she attended a seminar on psychosomatic diseases to enhance her expertise in this field. Since 2019, she has maintained a private practice in Piraeus and has previously worked as a Counselor for Children, Adolescents, and Parents at a Center for Special Therapies, as well as a Coordinator of Self-awareness and Emotion Management Groups for adolescents. She also possesses significant experience in interpersonal relationships, individual psychotherapy, and systemic counseling. Finally, she holds a degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Political Science and Public Administration.

Η Κριτζαλάκη Eύα MSc είναι Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Παλαιό Φάληρο. Πραγματοποίησε σπουδές στη συμβουλευτική ψυχικής υγείας στο Κέντρο Ψυχοθεραπείας και Συμβουλευτικής (ΚΕΨΥΣΥ) και, εν συνεχεία, μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές στο πρόγραμμα «Προαγωγή της Ψυχικής Υγείας - Πρόληψη των Ψυχιατρικών Διαταραχών» της Ιατρικής του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ). Ακόμα, σπούδασε Ψυχολογία στο Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU). Παράλληλα, εκπαιδεύτηκε στην Συστημική - Οικογενειακή Συμβουλευτική και Ψυχοθεραπεία στο Ερευνητικό Πανεπιστημιακό Ινστιτούτο Ψυχικής Υγιεινής (ΕΠΙΨΥ). Επίσης, έχει παρακολουθήσει διετές μετεκπαιδευτικό σεμινάριο στην Κλινική Ψυχοπαθολογία στην Α΄ Ψυχιατρική Κλινική του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών και μετεκπαιδεύτηκε στην Ψυχαναλυτική Ψυχοθεραπεία ομάδων από την Α΄ Ψυχιατρική Κλινική Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών και την Ελληνική Εταιρεία Ψυχαναλυτικής Ψυχοθεραπείας Ομάδας (ΕΕΨΨΟ). Εξειδικεύεται στην περιγεννητική ψυχική υγεία και η διπλωματική και ερευνητική της εργασία ήταν πάνω στους τρόπους αντιμετώπισης και διαχείρισης του στρες στη διάρκεια της κύησης και της λοχείας και επίσης στις διατροφικές διαταραχές, όπου εκπαιδεύτηκε στο Κέντρο ημέρας αντιμετώπισής διατροφικών διαταραχών «Ανάσα» και με σεμινάρια στο Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο. Τέλος, έχει παρακολουθήσει θεωρητικά και πρακτικά σεμινάρια αναφορικά με τις αγχώδεις και συναισθηματικές διαταραχές, τη διαχείριση του στρες, τις εξαρτήσεις, τη συμβουλευτική γονέων κ.ά.. Διαθέτει εμπειρία έχοντας εργαστεί σε δημόσιους φορείς εθελοντικά, είτε στην παρακολούθηση τακτικών ιατρείων είτε στη παροχή συμβουλευτικής και ψυχοθεραπείας σε ευπαθείς ομάδες με σκοπό την εξοικείωση στις θεωρητικές γνώσεις και την απόκτηση κλινικής εμπειρίας. Τέλος, παρακολούθησε τα κλινικά ιατρεία του Ψυχιατρικού τμήματος του Γενικού Νοσοκομείου «Κωνσταντοπούλειο» Νέας Ιωνίας, του Ειδικού Ιατρείου Ψυχικής Υγείας Γυναικών Α΄ Ψυχιατρική Κλινική στο Αιγινήτειο και του Ιατρείου Οικογένειας στη Β΄ Ψυχιατρική Κλινική στο Αττικό νοσοκομείο.

Katerina Varela is a Psychotherapist - Social Worker, licensed to practice professionally. She maintains a private practice in Argyroupoli and provides psychotherapy services to adults, both in-person and remotely. She graduated from the Department of Social Work at the University of Patras and completed her training in the Person-Centered Psychotherapeutic Approach at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. She is a certified Psychotherapist by the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).

Since 2016, she has worked with vulnerable social groups, such as migrants and refugees, in the field of child protection and with women who have experienced abuse. Additionally, she has experience in coordinating parent groups and in providing therapeutic support to adolescents and their families within the framework of rehabilitation programs at KETHEA. Her work emphasizes the creation of a trusting relationship and a safe, supportive environment where each individual can freely express themselves and work respectfully with their uniqueness and needs.

Eleni Pappa is a Clinical Psychologist (MSc) and a PhD holder in Neurosciences from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She maintains a private practice in Piraeus and works with adults, adolescents, and parents. Her therapeutic approach is based on the principles of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, which she applies within the framework of ongoing training and supervision. She focuses on a deeper understanding of emotional entanglements, relationships, and internal conflicts that affect daily life. She has extensive experience in individual therapy and parent counseling, while also teaching at the American College of Greece. She has collaborated with organizations such as KETHEA, METAdrasi, EPIPSY, and Aeginiteio Hospital, participating in research programs and international publications in the fields of mental health and neurosciences. Committed to scientific and psychotherapeutic ethics, she offers a safe and supportive environment for understanding, processing, and gradually changing internal difficulties.

The Counseling - Systemic Psychotherapy Center Kentro Symvouleutikis - Systimikis Psyxotherapeias Mairi Oikonomou was established by Kentro Symvouleutikis - Systimikis Psyxotherapeias Mairi Oikonomou (Mental Health Counselor with further training in family systemic therapy - Coordinator of Systemic Constellations according to Bert Hellinger). Each individual has a distinct and unique personality. The aim is to assist individuals in understanding their inner world as well as their differences from others, to find solutions to their concerns, to improve their mental health, to make decisions, set goals, and develop their skills. "To know others is wisdom. To know oneself is enlightenment." [Lao Tzu]

Ο Τασσιός Θωμάς M.Sc, ECP, είναι πιστοποιημένος Ψυχοθεραπευτής και Σύμβουλος Ψυχικής Υγείας και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στην περιοχή του Βύρωνα. Έχει ολοκληρώσει την θεωρητική και βιωματική του εκπαίδευση στην Ψυχοθεραπεία και τις μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές του ως Προσωποκεντρικός Ψυχοθεραπευτής, αποκτώντας τον μεταπτυχιακό του τίτλο στην Ψυχοθεραπεία και Συμβουλευτική από το University of Strathclyde (M.Sc. in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy), καθώς επίσης και το Ευρωπαϊκό Πιστοποιητικό Ψυχοθεραπείας (European Certificate of Psychotherapy ECP). Τα τελευταία τρία χρόνια, συνεχίζοντας την ανάπτυξη του ως Θεραπευτής, εκπαιδεύεται (HiEFT) και στην Θεραπεία Εστιασμένη στο Συναίσθημα (Emotion Focused Therapy EFT), μία θεραπευτική προσέγγιση που θεωρεί ότι τα συναισθήματα έχουν κεντρική σημασία στην ανθρώπινη λειτουργία και τη θεραπευτική αλλαγή. Είναι πιστοποιημένος Ψυχοθεραπευτής από την Ευρωπαϊκή Εταιρεία Ψυχοθεραπείας (European Association for Psychotherapy EAP), μέλος της Εθνικής Εταιρείας Ψυχοθεραπείας Ελλάδος (ΕΕΨΕ) και ιδρυτικό μέλος της Πανελλήνιας Ένωσης Επαγγελματιών Προσωποκεντρικής και Βιωματικής Προσέγγισης (ΠΕΕΠΒΙΠ). Επί σειρά ετών προσέφερε τις υπηρεσίες του ως ενεργό μέλος της εθελοντικής μη κερδοσκοπικής, κοινωνικής δομής ψυχολογικής υποστήριξης «ƩυνΎπαρξη», καθώς επίσης και στους φροντιστές των πασχόντων από άνοια ως εξωτερικός συνεργάτης στο κέντρο ημέρας της “Εταιρείας Alzheimer Αθηνών”. Συνεργάζεται με το Pet’s Heaven προσφέροντας υπηρεσίες ψυχοθεραπείας και συμβουλευτικής σε ανθρώπους που βρίσκονται στην επώδυνη και ιδιαίτερη διαδικασία του πένθους μετά την απώλεια του αγαπημένου τους κατοικίδιου. Ʃήμερα το ενδιαφέρον του ως Προσωποκεντρικός Ψυχοθεραπευτής και Σύμβουλος επικεντρώνεται στην συμβουλευτική ζευγαριών και σε ανθρώπους που αντιμετωπίζουν προσωπικές και σχεσιακές δυσκολίες, διαταραχές προσαρμογής, κατάθλιψη, διαταραχές άγχους, φοβίες, κρίσεις πανικού αλλά και σε εκείνους που βρίσκονται σε διαδικασία απώλειας και πένθους παρέχοντας ατομικές συνεδρίες ψυχοθεραπείας. Παράλληλα, είναι “facilitator” σε θεραπευτικές ομάδες και ομάδες προσωπικής ανάπτυξης. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι, λόγω της προηγούμενης εργασιακής του εμπειρίας ως υψηλόβαθμου στελέχους ελληνικών και πολυεθνικών εταιρειών, συνεργάζεται με υψηλόβαθμα στελέχη επιχειρήσεων (μέσω ατομικών και ομαδικών συνεδριών) στοχεύοντας στην βελτίωση των προσωπικών και εργασιακών τους σχέσεων, στην προσωπική τους ανάπτυξη και επομένως, στην πραγμάτωση του “ευ ζην”. “[...] η Προσωποκεντρική θεραπεία σέβεται τις ανάγκες κάθε ανθρώπου και είναι πρόθυμη να προχωρήσει δίπλα του στο ταξίδι προς την ανακάλυψη του εαυτού του, χωρίς να προσπαθεί να του επιβάλλει μια ορισμένη άποψη για το πως θα έπρεπε να είναι.” (Tony Merry, 1995) “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” (Rogers, 2012)