Health professionals for Phobias

Είμαι ο Γιάννης Πράπας, Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπευτής και διατηρώ ιδιωτικό γραφείο στον Γέρακα Αττικής. Έχω σπουδάσει Ψυχολογία στην Ελλάδα, στο Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (Ε.Κ.Π.Α.), και στην Ιταλία, στο eCampus University, ενώ η ακαδημαϊκή και επαγγελματική μου πορεία περιλαμβάνει σπουδές, εκπαίδευση και κλινική εμπειρία στην Ελλάδα και το εξωτερικό στους τομείς της Ψυχοθεραπείας, της Συμβουλευτικής, της Ψυχογλωσσολογίας και της Εκπαίδευσης Ενηλίκων.

Σημαντικό σταθμό στην επαγγελματική και θεραπευτική μου διαδρομή στο εξωτερικό αποτέλεσε η εργασία μου στο Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh στη Σκωτία, στον τομέα της Συμβουλευτικής και της Ψυχοθεραπείας. Η εμπειρία μου σε ένα μεγάλο νοσοκομειακό και διεπιστημονικό περιβάλλον συνέβαλε ουσιαστικά στη διαμόρφωση της θεραπευτικής μου ταυτότητας και στην ανάπτυξη μιας περισσότερο ολιστικής αντίληψης για την ψυχική υγεία. Η θεραπευτική επαφή με ανθρώπους που καλούνται να διαχειριστούν ψυχολογική επιβάρυνση, ασθένεια, φόβο, αβεβαιότητα, απώλεια και σημαντικές μεταβάσεις ζωής ενίσχυσε την πεποίθησή μου ότι η ψυχοθεραπεία χρειάζεται να προσεγγίζει τον άνθρωπο ως μια σύνθετη βιοψυχοκοινωνική ολότητα και όχι απλώς ως φορέα ενός συμπτώματος ή μιας διάγνωσης.

Είμαι κάτοχος διπλωμάτων στη Συνθετική–Απαρτιωτική Ψυχοθεραπεία, στη Συμβουλευτική και στη Θετική Ψυχοθεραπεία, ενώ η θεραπευτική μου κατάρτιση περιλαμβάνει διαφορετικά θεωρητικά και κλινικά μοντέλα. Στην πρακτική μου αξιοποιώ στοιχεία και τεχνικές από τη Γνωσιακή–Συμπεριφοριστική Θεραπεία (CBT), τη Διαλεκτική Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία (DBT), τη Συστημική, την Ψυχοδυναμική, τη Σχηματοθεραπεία, την Προσωποκεντρική και άλλες σύγχρονες συνθετικές προσεγγίσεις.

Κεντρικός άξονας της δουλειάς μου είναι η ψυχοθεραπεία. Αντιλαμβάνομαι κάθε θεραπευόμενο ως μια ξεχωριστή ψυχολογική πραγματικότητα και όχι ως μια διάγνωση, ένα σύμπτωμα ή μια κατηγορία. Για τον λόγο αυτό δεν θεωρώ ότι υπάρχει μία θεραπευτική μέθοδος κατάλληλη για όλους. Η θεραπευτική παρέμβαση χρειάζεται να προσαρμόζεται στον άνθρωπο, στην προσωπικότητά του, στο αναπτυξιακό και οικογενειακό του ιστορικό, στις σχέσεις του, στις άμυνές του, στις ιδιαίτερες δυσκολίες του αλλά και στη συγκεκριμένη φάση της ζωής στην οποία βρίσκεται.

Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, με ενδιαφέρουν ιδιαίτερα οι σύγχρονες και καινοτόμες κατευθύνσεις της ψυχοθεραπείας και η λογική της εξατομικευμένης και συνθετικής θεραπευτικής παρέμβασης. Παρακολουθώ τη σύγχρονη διεθνή επιστημονική γνώση και προσεγγίσεις που αναπτύσσονται σε πανεπιστημιακά και ερευνητικά περιβάλλοντα, μεταξύ των οποίων και το University of Minnesota, με στόχο η θεραπεία να μην εφαρμόζεται μηχανιστικά, αλλά να οργανώνεται δυναμικά γύρω από τις πραγματικές ανάγκες, τις δυνατότητες και τη λειτουργικότητα του θεραπευόμενου.

Maria Lekka holds a BSc and MSc in Psychology/Child Psychology-Psychotherapy and maintains a private practice in Galatsi. She graduated with honors from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her postgraduate studies focused on Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She possesses four years of specialization in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for adults (CBT) from the Society of Cognitive Behavioral Studies. As part of her training, she attended a one-year program at G.N.S. Aeginiteio in collaboration with the Mental Health Research Institute (E.P.I.P.S.Y.) on "Awareness in Cognitive Psychotherapy" and also received training in "Adult Clinical Psychopathology." She has worked extensively with adults providing individual psychotherapy sessions, as well as with pediatric populations in nursery schools. During her professional career, she has been involved at the Mental Health Center (K.P.S.Y.) of Chalandri, G.N.S. Gennimatas, providing adult psychotherapy interventions, and completed her practical training at the Child Psychiatry Clinic of G.N.S. Sismanogleio and the Autism Unit of the General Pediatric Hospital Agia Sofia. Currently, alongside her private practice, she has been collaborating for the past three years with the "Beautiful World" Therapy Center, offering individual and group psychotherapy sessions for adults, children, and adolescents, as well as parent counseling. Finally, she is a member of the Hellenic Psychological Society (ELPSE).

Dimitrios Valavanis is a Psychologist – Psychotherapist (M.Sc.) specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He is a graduate of the Department of Psychology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a postgraduate degree in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the University of Bolton in the United Kingdom. He has also completed specialized clinical training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Psychiatric Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (E.P.I.P.S.Y. – Psychotherapy Center of Aeginition Hospital), further enhancing his clinical training in the application of evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions. He has extensive clinical experience in the fields of mental health, social care, and addiction treatment.

He has worked as a Psychologist at the Center for the Accommodation of Unaccompanied Minors of the Hellenic Red Cross, providing psychological support to children and adolescents with increased needs for protection, adjustment, and psychosocial support. In addition, he has worked in the community organization PRAKSIS, participating in psychosocial support programs and interventions for homeless individuals and socially vulnerable groups.

Furthermore,he has gained significant clinical experience in the field of addiction through his work in units of the Organization Against Drugs (OKANA), which are now integrated into the National Organization for the Prevention of and Treatment of Addictions (E.O.P.A.E.).His professional experience also includes working in hospital settings, such as Evangelismos Hospital and Alexandra General Hospital of Athens, where he provided psychological support, participated in clinical assessment, and collaborated with interdisciplinary teams in addressing addiction-related issues and supporting the treatment of patients. His therapeutic approach is based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with an emphasis on creating a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship, individualized understanding of each person’s needs, and the application of modern psychotherapeutic techniques aimed at improving mental health and quality of life.

Eftexar Samira-Vasiliki is a Psychologist-Psychotherapist (professional license number 6851/2015) and maintains a private practice in the Ilisia area, near the "Megaro Mousikis" metro station. As a Psychotherapist, she specializes in the Cognitive-Behavioral model, which forms the main axis of her therapeutic practice. In accordance with the individualized needs of each patient, she integrates tools and interventions from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy into this model. These constitute the "third generation" of Cognitive-Behavioral therapies, for which she has received relevant training. She has worked as an external scientific collaborator at the Eating Disorders Unit of the 1st Psychiatric Clinic of Aeginiteio Hospital, as part of her two-year postgraduate training in the treatment of Eating Disorders. She provides specialized therapeutic support to adults experiencing difficulties related to anxiety (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, health anxiety, phobias), eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder), depression, as well as life transitions, interpersonal relationship issues, communication challenges, low self-esteem, boundary issues, anger, procrastination, and more.

H Μαρία Ηλιάδη είναι Ψυχολόγος MSc. ψυχαναλυτικής κατεύθυνσης και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Κουκάκι. Σπούδασε στο Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης και ολοκλήρωσε μεταπτυχιακες σπουδές στο Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο, ερευνώντας συνδέσεις της Ψυχανάλυσης με την Κοινωνική Θεωρία και τη Φιλοσοφία. Έχει λάβει πολυετή κλινική εκπαίδευση σε ψυχαναλυτικούς θεσμούς και είναι μέλος του Φόρουμ Ψυχανάλυσης του Λακανικού Πεδίου της Αθήνας, της Σχολής Ψυχανάλυσης IF-EPFCL. Επιπλέον έχει μετεκπαιδευθεί στη διαθεματική προσέγγιση στην ψυχοθεραπεία, καθώς και σε κλινικά πλαίσια στην ψυχοπαθολογία ενηλίκων.

Έχει εργαστεί επί σειρά ετών σε δομές ψυχικής υγείας στον τομέα της Κοινοτικής Ψυχιατρικής, προσφέροντας υπηρεσίες ψυχοθεραπείας και ψυχοκοινωνικής υποστήριξης σε ενήλικες που αντιμετωπίζουν ψυχιατρικές παθήσεις, συναισθηματικές δυσκολίες, δυσκολίες στις διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις και την κοινωνική ζωή. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό έχει εργαστεί επίσης με ψυχοκοινωνικές εφαρμογές των τεχνών στο Κέντρο Ημέρας Υποστήριξης Ψυχικής Υγείας μέσω Τέχνης της Π.Ε.Ψ.Α.Ε.Ε. και έχει ασχοληθεί ειδικότερα με την αντιμετώπιση των επιπτώσεων του στίγματος και των διακρίσεων στην ψυχική υγεία, συμμετέχοντας σε ποικίλες κοινοτικές παρεμβάσεις. Παράλληλα, έχει λάβει μέρος ως εισηγήτρια σε εκπαιδεύσεις και επιστημονικές διοργανώσεις σε θέματα ψυχικής υγείας. 

Στο ιδιωτικό της γραφείο υποδέχεται ενήλικες σε ατομικές συνεδρίες ψυχαναλυτικής θεραπείας.

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.

Mr. Eustathiou Lazaros is a Mental Health Counselor and operates his private practice in Nikaia. He holds a Level 5 BTEC Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling from Pearson and is a graduate of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Promotion program at the University of West Attica. Additionally, he has received specialized training through seminars at KDBM Tsaousis on the pathology of intimate partner relationships and possesses extensive experience with cases involving substance addictions and all forms of contemporary dependency. In his private practice, he manages a wide range of cases, leveraging his many years of experience while always prioritizing the best possible service to meet the individualized needs of each client.

Leivaditi Penny is a Military Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist with many years of experience in the field of mental health and maintains a private practice in Panormou. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, while simultaneously attending the Military Academy of Corps Officers (2009-2013).

Since 2013, she has worked in mental health institutions, acquiring extensive clinical experience in psychiatric clinics, mental health centers, and psychosocial support services. Over the years, she has developed a deep understanding of the needs of adults facing emotional, interpersonal, and psychological difficulties. Within the framework of her clinical practice, she has been trained at Aeginiteio Hospital in the administration and evaluation of the DSM-5 Personality Questionnaire (SCID-5), enhancing her capability in psychodiagnostic assessment.

Since 2018, she has been training in Systemic Psychotherapy and Group Therapy at the Athens Center for the Study of Humans (AKMA), one of the most prestigious educational institutions for systemic approaches in Greece.

Additionally, she has completed specialized seminars in Systemic Group Psychotherapy, Parent Counseling, and Couples Counseling.

Her therapeutic work includes support in managing anxiety and panic attacks, depression and emotional difficulties, interpersonal problems and relationships, family issues, parenting roles, and matters of self-esteem and self-awareness.

She offers individual sessions for adults, couples counseling, and family counseling, aiming to understand relationships, improve communication, and overall empower the individual within the context of their relational connections.

Mylonaki Lydia is a graduate psychologist from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a postgraduate diploma in forensic psychology from Nottingham Trent University, UK. She is also a Systemic-Family psychotherapist and EMDR therapist. Additionally, she has been trained in Problem Management +, both as a counselor and supervisor, as well as a trainer. She is a member of the Hellenic Psychological Society, the British Psychological Society, ELESYTH, and EMDR Hellas, with extensive professional experience in a variety of therapeutic settings, including inpatient environments and community-based psychotherapy groups. She began her career working in the national health system and continued in the NHS UK, working in various facilities focused on the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with mental health difficulties. She has also worked in English prisons and in victim support with Victim Support UK. Over the past four years, she has provided consultancy services in various organizations working with the refugee population, including clinics, community centers, and reception facilities. Her primary goal is to support, treat, integrate, and rehabilitate refugees experiencing mental health challenges. Furthermore, she serves as a Lecturer in Forensic and Clinical Psychology at City Unity College. She also maintains a private practice in Kaisariani, offering mental health services to individuals, couples, and families, as well as group psychotherapy, with particular expertise in anxiety, depression, and trauma. In her private practice, she addresses a wide range of cases, utilizing her experience and scientific expertise, always focusing on providing the best possible care tailored to the individualized needs of each person she undertakes.

Tsolakidou Despoina is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has completed a four-year specialization in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy through the Hellenic Society for Behavioural Research (EEES) – Macedonia Branch, in a program certified by the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT).

She has worked in mental health facilities such as the Central Sector Thessaloniki Mental Health Center and the "Stirixis" Center in Ermou. Simultaneously, she is active in counseling and mentoring executives and employees, providing support in matters of professional development and psychological empowerment. As a Soft Skills Trainer at skg.education, she designs and implements training programs that help young people and professionals develop their communication, social, and professional skills, facilitating their transition into the labor market.

She has attended numerous specialized seminars on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, counseling, motivational interviewing, among others. Additionally, she has participated as a speaker at conferences on topics of well-being and psychology in the workplace.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Association Against Moral Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace "No Mobbing at Work," actively contributing to the improvement of working conditions and mental well-being in the professional environment.

Verykiou Eirini is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist with a private practice in Patras. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of East London and a master's degree in Clinical and Community Psychology from the same university. She specializes in the integrative psychotherapeutic approach and has completed the four-year study program offered by "Contemporary Amphiaraia" in collaboration with the Hellenic Society of Integrative Psychotherapy and the European Institute of Integrative Psychotherapy, under the auspices of the Open University of Crete. She has participated in the social clinics of Nafpaktos, providing psychological support both individually and in groups for cancer patients. Additionally, she has gained significant professional experience, having worked as a Psychologist - Psychotherapist in social structures, as well as a trainee Clinical Psychologist at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University General Hospital of Rio – Patras. Finally, she has collaborated with and provided services to the Patras Rheumatic Patients Association, conducting group psychotherapeutic sessions.

Η Σπηλιωτοπούλου Τζένη έχει περισσότερα από 20 χρόνια εμπειρίας στον χώρο της ψυχικής υγείας. Σπούδασε και εκπαιδεύτηκε εξολοκλήρου στην Αγγλία. Έχοντας ολοκληρώσει το πτυχίο της στην Εφαρμοσμένη Ψυχολογία συνέχισε τις μεταπτυχιακές της σπουδές στο Goldsmiths College, University of London όπου είχε την τύχη να είναι ανάμεσα στους τελευταίους που διδάχθηκαν και εκπαιδεύτηκαν από τον ίδιο τον Professor Windy Dryden, πρωτοπόρο στον τομέα της RECBT. Επόπτης της ήταν ο Rob Willson, ηγετικό όνομα στην θεραπεία της Ιδεοψυχαναγκαστικής Διαταραχής (ΙΔΨ/ OCD) και της Σωματο-δυσμορφικής Διαταραχής (BDD). Ήταν μεταξύ των πρωτοπόρων που ξεκίνησαν τις CBT Clinics Βραχείας Ψυχοθεραπείας εντός των Γενικών Ιατρείων της Μ. Βρετανίας. Το NHS μονιμοποίησε και ενσωμάτωσε στο σύστημά του τις CBT Clinics ανακουφίζοντας έτσι τις μακρές και ασφυκτικές λίστες αναμονής, μέτρο που αξιοποιεί μέχρι σήμερα. Ξεκίνησε την καριέρα της σε Κλινική Γενικών Ιατρών παρέχοντας κύκλο σύντομων συνεδριών για ψυχολογικά θέματα όπως αγχώδεις διαταραχές, κατάθλιψη, πένθος, ζητήματα σχέσεων. Ταυτόχρονα, εργάστηκε ψυχοθεραπευτικά –ατομικά και ομαδικά- σε δομή της Richmond Fellowship (R.F.) με άτομα με οξεία προβλήματα ψυχικής υγείας όπως σχιζοφρένεια, ψυχώσεις, διπολική διαταραχή και παρόμοιες παθήσεις. Την ίδια περίοδο απέρριψε πρόταση του Priory Hospital of North London θέλοντας να τιμήσεις την δέσμευσή της προς τους θεραπευόμενους της Richmond Fellowship. Συνέχισε στην R.F. με καθηκοντολόγιο Διευθύντριας Δομής. Εξειδικεύτηκε στην ΙΔΨ διαταραχή δουλεύοντας εκτενώς ατομικά και ομαδικά με πάσχοντες καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της μακράς συνεργασίας της με το OCD Centre of London, Belgravia. Υιοθέτησε το επιτυχημένο θεραπευτικό μοντέλο εντατικής ψυχοθεραπείας για την ΙΔΨ διαταραχή με πολλούς πάσχοντες εντός και εκτός Η.Β. Επιστρέφοντας στην Ελλάδα για οικογενειακούς λόγους, εργάστηκε ιδιωτικά στο γραφείο της στο Κεφαλάρι Κηφισιάς. Συνεργάστηκε με αγγλόφωνα Εκπαιδευτικά Ιδρύματα διδάσκοντας Προπτυχιακά και Μεταπτυχιακά Προγράμματα Ψυχολογίας και Ψυχοθεραπείας. Επιπλέον έχει σχεδιάσει και διδάξει δικά της εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα για επαγγελματίες ψυχικής υγείας και μη. Συνεχίζει να εκπαιδεύει και να παρέχει εποπτεία σε επαγγελματίες. Παραμένοντας ανήσυχο πνεύμα, εκπαιδεύτηκε σε Ενεργειακή Ψυχοθεραπεία. Η ευθύνη της προς τους θεραπευόμενους και η αγάπη της για το αντικείμενο την οδήγησαν να εκπαιδευτεί στην Κλινική Υπνοθεραπεία και στο NLP, ενώ είναι πλέον υποψήφια για διδακτορικό τίτλο. Είναι ιδρυτικό στέλεχος του Συλλόγου Κλινικών Υπνοθεραπευτών στην Ελλάδα (ΣΚΥΕ). Μοιράζει τον επαγγελματικό της χρόνο σε διαδικτυακές και κατ’ ιδίαν συνεδρίες στην Αθήνα και στην Πάτρα.

Eleonora Tsilimpakou is a Social Worker, graduate of Democritus University of Thrace, with postgraduate studies in Clinical Social Work with families and children from the University of West Attica. After completing her postgraduate studies, she trained as a Career Guidance Counselor at the Higher School of Pedagogical and Technological Education and completed a four-year training program in Gestalt Psychotherapy at the Gestalt Foundation Psychotherapy and Training Center. Additionally, she has been trained in coordinating parent groups by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as in the Healthy Relationship Building Program between the two genders. She possesses extensive professional experience as a Social Worker, having worked in both private and public sectors, including the Elderly Care Unit "Frontizo," the Adult Psychiatric Clinic "Agia Aikaterini," the 2nd Special Vocational Education and Training Laboratory (EEEKK) of Piraeus "Anixi," the Foster Care Service of SOS Children’s Villages, the 2nd Local Health Unit of Nea Filadelfeia, as well as the Day Center for Children and Adolescents of the Hellenic Society of Medical Psychology. As a Career Guidance Counselor, she has collaborated with the Career Office of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and since 2020 she has maintained a private practice in Agia Paraskevi, Attica, where she provides psychotherapy services in both individual and group settings.

Ntourou Iliana MSc is a graduate of Psychology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through the Hellenic Association of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy (HACBP) according to the criteria of the European Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT), and since 2021 she has been a doctoral candidate in the Medical Department of the University of Ioannina. In recent years, she has been providing psychotherapy sessions in the center of Thessaloniki. Simultaneously, since 2022, she holds a position as a Collaborating Researcher at the National Center for Research (CERTH), where among her duties are conducting research studies and providing training to healthcare professionals. Finally, she is under continuous supervision for the management of her cases.