Health professionals for Addictions

Mamo Xrysovalanto - Eirini is a Psychologist specializing in Clinical Psychology and Counseling, holding a Master of Science (MSc) degree from the University of Derby, as well as a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Applied Psychology. Her experience includes professional and voluntary work across a wide range of psychological needs and interventions. She has collaborated with organizations such as the Hellenic Network of European Women, IASIS, and Ithaca Laundry, providing counseling sessions and contributing to programs that promote social inclusion and psychological well-being. Additionally, she actively participates in continuous education, currently undergoing a four-year training program in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In the past, she has completed specialized training programs in Psychodynamic Therapy, Systemic Counseling, and Counseling Psychotherapy. She has an extensive research portfolio, with publications exploring topics such as "emotional nourishment," attachment, mental disorders, and innovative psychological interventions.

Mpardaka Semeli MSc, MA is a Psychologist, Integrative Systemic Psychotherapist, as well as a Career Counseling Advisor. She is a graduate of the Psychology Department of the University of Strasbourg. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Counseling, Career Guidance, and Lifelong Learning from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Additionally, she has specialized at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Clinical Social Psychology of Addictions, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Art Therapy. She has also been trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) by the EFT Greek Network, as well as Compassion-Focused Therapy. She has attended seminar series and has participated as a speaker in conferences. She completed her supervised internship at the company CVexperts as a career counselor and at the service center for people with disabilities "To Ergastiri – Lilian Voudouri" as a psychologist. Furthermore, she collaborates with the psychosocial services center Amphiaraos, Child and Family, where she handles a wide range of cases. Lastly, she maintains her private practice in Kifisia and Peristeri, providing individual psychotherapy, parent and family counseling, couples counseling, as well as career counseling services.

Saliverou Elisavet is a Psychologist - Psychoeducator - Psychotherapist, holding a Master's degree (MSc) in Counseling Psychology (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Excellence Scholarship), with studies in Psychology, Education (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), and Social Work (University of West Attica). She has been trained in Systemic – Family Psychotherapy and maintains a private Counseling – Psychotherapy practice. Simultaneously, she is responsible for the Counseling Service and social initiatives of HEN Athens and coordinates educational and psychoeducational programs for children, adolescents, adults, and parents. She has collaborated with organizations such as ELIZA, the "Together for the Child" hotline, SOS Children's Villages, and the Social Psychiatry Company P. Sakellaropoulos. She applies an integrative therapeutic approach (Systemic, Psychoanalytic, Narrative, Art Therapy) to various mental health issues of children, adolescents, and adults.

Ο Μενέλαος Βουτσινάς είναι Σύμβουλος ψυχικής υγείας και Συνθετικός Ψυχοθεραπευτής. Διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στην Αθήνα και  είναι εγγεγραμμένος στην Ελληνική Εταιρεία Συμβουλευτικής, όπως και στην αντίστοιχη Ευρωπαϊκή (E.A.C.). Το Συνθετικό μοντέλο στο οποίο εκπαιδεύεται εμπεριέχει τη Συστημική, την Υπαρξιακή και την Πολυπολιτισμική θεραπεία. Έχει εργαστεί εκτενώς με εξαρτημένο πληθυσμό, για σειρά ετών, σε κέντρο υποστήριξης εξαρτημένων, με θεραπευτικό μοντέλο βασισμένο στα 12 Βήματα των Ανώνυμων Αλκοολικών, όπου κάλυπτε ανάγκες ατομικής και ομαδικής συμβουλευτικής. Απέκτησε πληθώρα εμπειρίας μέσα και από άλλες συνεργασίες με θεραπευτικά κέντρα έχοντας εκτός από θεραπευτικά και διοικητικά καθήκοντα. Επίσης, από τον εκτεταμένο αριθμό σεμιναρίων στα οποία παίρνει μέρος ανά τα χρόνια (CBT, Child CBT, 18 Άνω, Yalom’s Group Therapy Model, Ψυχοπαθολογία, Εκπαίδευση Ενηλίκων, Αναπτυξιακή και Κοινωνική Ψυχολογία, Hearing Voices Network). Ο εθισμός πέρα από την ξεκάθαρη μορφή των ουσιών ή του αλκοόλ, μπορεί να πάρει πολλές μορφές (συνεξάρτηση, internet, porn, τροφή ) στις ζωές όλων μας, σε διαφορετικά διαστήματα. Εκτός από τον εθισμό, εργάζεται με αγχώδεις διαταραχές, οριακή διαταραχή, φοβίες, πένθος, διαχείριση θυμού, συμβουλευτική ζεύγους και οικογένειας, καθώς και συμβουλευτική εξαρτήσεων στην οικογένεια και δόμηση πλάνου παρέμβασης. Μέσα από τα χρόνια που απασχολείται στην ψυχική υγεία θεωρεί ξεκάθαρο ότι χρειάζεται να υπάρχει αγάπη προς τις ατελείς και πονεμένες ανθρώπινες πλευρές αλλά και να καλλιεργείται η πίστη ότι η αλλαγή μέσω της ΣΥΝ-ΠΡΑΞΗΣ είναι εφικτή. Επιπρόσθετα, η διαδρομή του στην προσωπική του θεραπεία, το θάρρος, η κατάθεσης ψυχής, η προοδευτικά αυξανόμενη ειλικρίνεια και η αποεπένδυση του μίγματος ενοχών και ντροπής, λειτούργησε σαν να έχει αφαιρεθεί βάρος από την ψυχή του και εν δυνάμει, αυτό μπορεί να προσφερθεί σε όποιον/α επιθυμεί να υπάρξει και να δουλέψει μέσα στο θεραπευτικό δωμάτιο. Τέλος, παρέχει ατομικές συνεδρίες συμβουλευτικής και ψυχοθεραπείας, βασισμένες στο συνθετικό μοντέλο που απαντούν σε θεραπευτικά αιτήματα με εκδηλώσεις στο άγχος, τις φοβίες, τις κρίσεις πανικού, την κατάθλιψη, το πένθος και την απώλεια, υπαρξιακά δεδομένα, δυσλειτουργικές πεποιθήσεις,  χαμηλή αντίληψη εαυτού και αυτοεικόνας, χρήση ή κατάχρηση ουσιών, συνεξάρτηση, μεταβολές ζωής και αντίσταση στην αλλαγή, διαταραχές άγχους και  προσωπικότητας (σε συνεργασία με τον/την εκάστοτε ψυχίατρο από τον/την οποίο/α παρακολουθείται ο θεραπευόμενος).

Afrodopoulou Eleni is a Mental Health Counselor - Psychotherapist. She maintains a practice at the Medihall polyclinic center in Kifisia and is the scientific director of the Ariadne and Odysseus Psychosocial Rehabilitation Hostel. She graduated from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with postgraduate training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and holds a postgraduate diploma in Life Coaching - AC Accredited. She has experience and provides specialized interventions for anxiety management, improvement of relationships, as well as personal self-esteem, and assistance in every aspect of a person's life who wishes to develop.

Tzeremes Andreas is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and conducts online and face-to-face sessions in Haidari, Attica. He holds a BSc in Psychology with Counselling from the University of Bradford and a master's degree, MSc in Clinical Skills based on Integrative Psychotherapy, from Manchester Metropolitan University. Concurrently, he continues his training at the Institute of Relational and Group Psychotherapy (ISOPS) in the Clinical Skills program based on Relational Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (PgDip). Professionally, he is active in individual and online sessions, collaborates with the Center for Counselling and Psychotherapy "Psychoplefsi" and the Model Center for Integrative Therapy "The Tree of Therapy", and has participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars both in Greece and abroad. His interest focuses on the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship, the importance of reciprocity, and the reflective exploration of the self within the therapeutic framework.

Karalis Georgios is a Specialist Psychiatrist with 9 years of experience in psychiatry and addiction treatment, and maintains a private practice in Ilion as well as within the Kostarelos Medical Center in Markopoulo. He is a graduate of the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has completed basic training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through the Karolinska Institute within the framework of his specialty. During his career, he has been trained in psychiatry, addiction treatment, geriatrics, and neurological rehabilitation. He has worked in emergency departments, counseling groups, and outpatient psychiatric and addiction clinics, both in Sweden and Greece, managing patients with complex conditions. Furthermore, he has served in numerous on-call shifts as a primary on-call physician in Psychiatric Emergency Units and Addiction Emergency Clinics. He has also served as a physician in the Hellenic Armed Forces, where he was the responsible doctor at a military base in Leros and additionally provided medical care in a refugee camp with the NGO Praxis. At the 401 General Military Hospital in Athens, he gained experience in emergency care, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. Finally, the physician has participated in over 20 continuing education seminars within the field of psychiatry and has completed relapse prevention training for patients with addictions.

Maria Prigkou is an experienced clinical psychologist with a strong academic background and diverse training in the field of mental health. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the *European University of Cyprus* and a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from the *University of Indianapolis*, where she gained solid theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

Further deepening her specialization, she completed a Master's in Counseling with a focus on addiction at *Philips University*, enhancing her skills in treating individuals struggling with dependency-related behaviors. In 2025, she began advanced training in Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Adults and Adolescents at the *European Institute of Counseling & Psychotherapy*.

Her professional experience includes work in municipal health services, non-profit mental health organizations, and private practice. She focuses on psychosomatic symptoms, eating disorders, and various forms of addiction. Her therapeutic style is grounded in consistency, empathy, and a commitment to continuous personal and professional development, including regular supervision with members of the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society.

In addition to individual therapy sessions, she organizes experiential psychoeducational workshops and continually enriches her practice through ongoing training and clinical engagement.

Sklaveniti Xristina is a Psychologist – Psychotherapist with many years of experience in Greece and abroad, accompanying individuals through both small and significant life stories. She emphasizes the unique characteristics and needs of each person, offering personalized care with respect for human rights, regardless of gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or gender expression. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Crete and a master's degree in Gender Studies from the Hellenic Open University, awarded with an academic excellence scholarship. Her research work focused on the phenomenon of obstetric violence as experienced and narrated by those who have undergone it, through a feminist research perspective with an emphasis on the voices of the subjects. She is specialized in Narrative Psychotherapy and Systemic Psychodrama, as well as in approaches that incorporate feminist, intersectional, and inclusive perspectives. She provides individual therapy, couples therapy, support for children and adolescents, parental counseling, therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals, and experiential empowerment groups. Her focus is on the therapeutic relationship, empathy, and the creation of a safe environment where one can rewrite their story with meaning and purpose.

Vlaxou Georgia is a Systemic Psychotherapist who maintains a private practice in Marousi. She completed her clinical postgraduate studies in Psychiatry at the Medical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and continues her specialization in Systemic & Family Psychotherapy at the Institute of Education and Research in Systemic Psychotherapy SANE. She has additionally specialized in the therapeutic treatment of addictions and psychological trauma.

She provides individual psychotherapy for adults, counseling for parents, children, and adolescents, couples therapy, and group therapy. She specializes in managing anxiety, depression, addictions, and interpersonal difficulties. She has particular experience in managing psychological and intergenerational trauma, as well as supporting individuals who have experienced narcissistic abuse and dysfunctional relational dynamics, aiming to enhance self-regulation, self-esteem, and the capacity for healthy boundary-setting.

Specializations

Couples counseling – enhancing communication, conflict resolution & relationship restructuring

Parent counseling – support in the parenting role & cultivation of healthy family relationships

Anxiety, panic attacks & phobia management

Treatment of depression & mood disorders

Support for addiction issues (substances, alcohol, gambling)

Improvement of interpersonal relationships & boundary-setting

Processing of psychological trauma & intergenerational patterns

Recovery from narcissistic abuse & toxic relationships

Empowerment of self-esteem & personal identity

Tzougkaraki Ifigeneia is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist who maintains a private practice in Cholargos. She is a graduate of the University of Derby with a professional license to practice. In recent years, she has been pursuing a certified four-year specialization in Systemic Family Psychotherapy from the Laboratory for the Exploration of Human Relations, while simultaneously volunteering at the Municipal Polyclinics of Papagou, as well as at Merimna. She provides psychotherapy, counseling, and psychoeducation sessions at her private office in Cholargos, both in person and online. She places particular emphasis on creating a safe environment within which each client can genuinely explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her clinical experience includes supporting individuals with issues such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, grief, phobias, interpersonal relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, anger management, addictions, and trauma. To ensure the quality of her therapeutic work, she regularly participates in supervision, utilizing it as an important tool for self-observation and professional growth. She supports and accompanies her clients with respect for their uniqueness, empowering them on their journey toward self-awareness, strengthening, and self-acceptance. At the same time, she remains committed to continuous personal and professional development to respond with authenticity and sensitivity to the needs of those who trust her. She also states that the therapeutic process consists of the meeting of two "experts": the client, who is the expert of their own life, and the therapist, who provides the knowledge and experience. 

Alexandra Xristodoulopoulou, MSc, is a Psychologist with a private practice in Piraeus. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with postgraduate studies in Criminology from Panteion University. She has specialized in Addiction Counseling through KETHEA in collaboration with the University of San Diego, as well as in Special Education (ASPAITE). She possesses extensive professional experience in public mental health and social care structures, having worked, among others, as a clinical psychologist at a Mental Health Center, as an addiction psychologist in OKANA facilities, and with vulnerable groups such as victims of gender-based violence, migrants, and refugees. Additionally, she has significant experience working with children and adolescents, both as a school psychologist and in the Child Psychiatry Department of Tzaneio Hospital in collaboration with the National Public Health Organization (EODY). In her private practice, she provides psychological support to adults, children, and adolescents, focusing mainly on anxiety disorders, depression, grief management, coping with traumatic experiences, addictions, as well as issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. She also offers parental counseling aimed at strengthening the parental role and improving family functionality. Her therapeutic approach is based on Cognitive Analytic Psychotherapy, emphasizing the creation of a trusting, accepting, and safe relationship. Her goal is to facilitate a profound understanding of the individual's difficulties and support them in the process of personal change and empowerment.

I was born in Athens in 1983, where I spent my childhood and school years.

Driven by my Cretan roots and the prestigious reputation of the University of Crete, I decided to study Medicine in Heraklion following the national exams in 2001. I graduated in 2008 with a GPA of 7.05 ('Very Good').

Immediately after obtaining my degree, I moved to Munich, Germany, to pursue my medical residency. Although I initially wavered between Neurology and Psychiatry, I was drawn to Psychiatry after a year of working in neurological rehabilitation.

I completed my residency at the renowned psychiatric teaching hospital Inn Salzach Klinikum in Wasserburg am Inn, affiliated with the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). During the academic years 2015/2016, I also served as a lecturer at the hospital's nursing school.

In the summer of 2016, I was awarded the title of Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie) by the State of Bavaria. My medical specialty was officially recognized in Greece in 2017.

From 2017 until late 2024, I worked as a specialist Psychiatrist-Psychotherapist at the outpatient clinics of KBO-Klinik Nord in Munich. Parallel to this, from 2018 to 2023, I served as a Court-Appointed Psychiatric Expert for the Bavarian State Courts, collaborating with the Munich-based institute GWG (Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Gerichts- und Rechtspsychologie).

In 2018, I had the honor of being a speaker and interpreter at the Greek-German conference "Challenges of Psychotherapy in a Globalizing World," organized by the Munich Medical Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymvari, Chania.

Returning permanently to Greece in 2025 marked a year of transition after 15 years in Germany. In 2026, I established my private psychiatric practice in Heraklion, Crete.

My extensive experience in Germany allowed me to work across the full spectrum of mental health disorders. This background shaped my approach to mental illness as a complex issue with biological, psychological, and social dimensions. I am committed to providing high-level medical services with profound respect for the individual, free from discrimination, stereotypes, or stigma.

Mitsa Maria MSc is a Psychologist - Systemic Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Ampelokipoi. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a postgraduate degree in "Health Promotion and Education" from the Medical School and the Department of Psychology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She trained in Systemic Psychotherapy and Counseling and has completed the clinical training program at the 1st Psychiatric Clinic of the Papageorgiou General Hospital of Thessaloniki. In recent years, she has worked in non-governmental organizations, providing psychological and psychosocial support to vulnerable populations as a psychologist, through individual and group sessions, and as a coordinator of a hosting structure for unaccompanied minors. Furthermore, she has worked as a psychologist in the design and implementation of national and European programs for the prevention and promotion of psychosocial health for children, parents, educators, and professionals. As part of her ongoing training and improvement of therapeutic practice, she attends educational seminars, receives systematic supervision, and follows a personal course of individual psychotherapy.

Η Λαμπρούση Ράνια είναι MSc  Ψυχολόγος - CBT Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια με άδεια ασκήσεως επαγγέλματος και αφοσιώνεται στη βοήθεια και τη στήριξη εφήβων και ενηλίκων στην ανάπτυξη της ψυχικής τους ευεξίας. Έχοντας αποφοιτήσει από το Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης συνέχισε τις σπουδές της για να αποκτήσει μεταπτυχιακό τίτλο σπουδών στο «Ποινικό Δίκαιο και Εξαρτήσεις» της Νομικής Σχολής του ίδιου πανεπιστημίου εμβαθύνοντας τις γνώσεις της στις θεραπευτικές μεθόδους αντιμετώπισης των εξαρτήσεων. Στη συνέχεια μετεκπαιδεύτηκε και εξειδικεύτηκε στη Γνωσιακή - Συμπεριφορική Ψυχοθεραπεία (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – CBT) στο Κέντρο Εφαρμοσμένης Ψυχοθεραπείας και Συμβουλευτικής, η οποία αποτελεί τη θεραπευτική προσέγγιση  που χρησιμοποιεί, ώστε να δομήσει τις συνεδρίες με τους θεραπευόμενούς της.  Από την έναρξη της πορείας της έως και σήμερα φροντίζει διαρκώς να επιμορφώνεται παρακολουθώντας συνέδρια, σεμινάρια και δια βίου εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα του επιστημονικού κλάδου. Επιπλέον, από το 2017 μέχρι και σήμερα έχει προσφέρει εθελοντικά τις υπηρεσίες της σε διάφορους φορείς όπως: στο Πρόγραμμα Εναλλακτικής Θεραπείας Εξαρτημένων Ατόμων ΑΡΓΩ του Ψυχιατρικού Νοσοκομείου Θεσσαλονίκης, όπου υπήρξε συνσυντονίστρια σε θεραπευτικές ομάδες, στη  Διαδικτυακή πλατφόρμα "Milamou.gr" παρέχοντας ψυχολογική υποστήριξη και εμψύχωση κατά την περίοδο COVID-19 και στο Σύλλογο Οικογενειών για την Ψυχική Υγεία στη Θεσσαλονίκη (Σ.Ο.Ψ.Υ.), όπου υπό την τακτική εποπτεία ψυχιάτρου βοηθούσε στην ανάπτυξη δεξιοτήτων και ψυχοσυναισθηματικής ισορροπίας των ληπτών και παρείχε συμβουλευτική γονέων. Επιπλέον, στα πλαίσια της πρακτικής της άσκησης στο Ψ.Ν.Θ. Παπανικολάου εφάρμοσε πρακτικά ψυχομετρικές δοκιμασίες υπό εποπτεία και συμμετείχε στην ομάδα Συστημικής Οικογενειακής Ψυχοθεραπεία. Δραστηριοποιήθηκε επαγγελματικά σε Κέντρο Φιλοξενίας Ασυνόδευτων Ανηλίκων στην Ηγουμενίτσα, όπου παρείχε ατομικές συνεδρίες σε ευάλωτες πληθυσμιακές ομάδες με στόχο τη διαχείριση συναισθηματικών δυσκολιών, του τραύματος, της απώλειας και του μετατραυματικού στρες. Επόπτευε μεταπτυχιακούς φοιτητές και εθελοντές του Κέντρου και επιμόρφωνε το διεπιστημονικό προσωπικό ως Υπεύθυνη Πολιτικής Παιδικής Προστασίας. Σήμερα, δραστηριοποιείται επαγγελματικά σε Κέντρο Ημέρας για Άτομα με Άνοια (Τ.Ε.Π. Ηγουμενίτσας), όπου αναλαμβάνει τη διάγνωση και αξιολόγηση των γνωστικών λειτουργιών των ατόμων με άνοια παρέχοντας ψυχολογική υποστήριξη, θεραπεία για τις οικογένειες, ομαδική θεραπεία και δραστηριότητες με στόχο την κοινωνική αλληλεπίδραση και την ψυχική διέγερση των ατόμων με άνοια. Παρέχει εκπαίδευση και καθοδήγηση στο προσωπικό του Κέντρου Ημέρας και συμμετέχει στην ανάπτυξη και εφαρμογή προγραμμάτων αποκατάστασης που βοηθούν τα άτομα με άνοια να διατηρήσουν τις δεξιότητές τους και να βελτιώσουν την ποιότητα ζωής τους. Αυτή την περίοδο αρθρογραφεί σε ιστοσελίδα (psychoedu.gr) με στόχο τη ψυχοεκπαίδευση, την προώθηση της ψυχικής υγείας και την αποστιγματοποίηση της ψυχικής ασθένειας και προσφέρει εθελοντικά στο Κέντρο Φιλοξενίας Ασυνόδευτων Ανηλίκων στην Ηγουμενίτσα. Τέλος, είναι ενεργό μέλος του Συλλόγου Ελλήνων Ψυχολόγων (ΣΕΨ).