Health professionals for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Kriti

Sfakianakis Georgios BSc, MSc is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Heraklion, Crete. He holds a degree from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete and a master's degree in "Integrative Psychotherapy and Counseling" from Mediterranean College, a branch of the University of Derby, UK. The integrative model he practices combines cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, and psychoanalytic approaches (with an emphasis on attachment theory). Since 2024, he has also been attending the training seminar at the University of Crete in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

He has completed his practical training in various settings. Initially, at the Psychiatric Clinic "Agios Charalampos" during his undergraduate studies, followed by placements at the General Hospital of Heraklion "Venizeleio - Pananio," the Heraklion Community Center, MITERA Hospital in Athens, and the 2nd & 5th Primary Schools of Nea Alikarnassos as part of his postgraduate degree. Additionally, he served as a Psychologist during his 9-month military service, participating in all related activities and responsibilities.

He provides psychotherapy sessions to individuals over 16 years old, either in person or online. The first session is offered free of charge, as it primarily serves as an introductory meeting.

Mytautsi Stella is a Psychologist & Child Psychologist – Psychotherapist with two private practices in Heraklion, Crete, and in central Athens. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Panteion University and holds a master's degree (MSc Child and Adolescent Mental Health) from King’s College London, officially recognized by DOATAP.

During her studies in the United Kingdom, she trained at the Institute of Psychiatry and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, gaining valuable clinical experience in modern, scientifically validated therapeutic models. Upon returning to Greece, she specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and completed the postgraduate Clinical Psychopathology program at the Psychiatric Clinic of the Medical School of Athens.

In recent years, she has expanded her clinical training in contemporary therapies, such as Schema Therapy, EMDR trauma therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). Simultaneously, she has specialized in the treatment of Eating Disorders.

Her therapeutic approach is individualized, combining scientific evidence with an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, empathy, and understanding of deeper psychological patterns.

She has been practicing privately as a psychologist since 2016 and holds a professional practice license.

Η Σφενδυλάκη Σοφία είναι Ψυχολόγος MSc - πιστοποιημένη Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια στη Γνωσιακή-Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία (CBT) και στις θεραπείες τρίτου κύματος, με έμφαση στη Θεραπεία Εστιασμένη στη Συμπόνια (CFT) και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στον Άγιο Νικόλαο Κρήτης. Αποφοίτησε από το Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας του Παντείου Πανεπιστημίου και ολοκλήρωσε το MSc «Προαγωγή Ψυχικής Υγείας & Πρόληψη Ψυχικών Διαταραχών» της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Έχει ολοκληρώσει τετραετή εποπτευόμενη εκπαίδευση στη Γνωσιακή-Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία στην Εταιρεία Γνωσιακών & Συμπεριφορικών Σπουδών και έχει παρακολουθήσει θεωρητική και βιωματική κατάρτιση στη CFT και σε πρακτικές ενσυνειδητότητας. Είναι πιστοποιημένη θεραπεύτρια σύμφωνα με τα κριτήρια της European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT) και της Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Έρευνας της Συμπεριφοράς. Συμμετέχει συστηματικά σε ατομική και ομαδική εποπτεία και διατηρεί προσωπική θεραπευτική πορεία, με στόχο τη συνεχή επαγγελματική ανάπτυξη, την αυτεπίγνωση και την κλινική ασφάλεια. Η επαγγελματική της πορεία περιλαμβάνει εμπειρία σε δομές ψυχικής υγείας, κοινωνικής φροντίδας, εξαρτήσεων και ψυχοκοινωνικής υποστήριξης. Έχει εργαστεί σε ψυχοκοινωνικές δομές, όπως ο Ξενώνας Αστέγων του Δήμου Αθηναίων και δομές ασυνόδευτων ανηλίκων. Στη συνέχεια εργάστηκε στον Οργανισμό Κατά των Ναρκωτικών (ΟΚΑΝΑ), στην ομάδα Παρέμβασης στο Δρόμο (Streetwork), καθώς και στο Τμήμα Θεραπειών Ενηλίκων του Ινστιτούτου Έρευνας και Θεραπείας της Συμπεριφοράς, όπου παρείχε ατομικές ψυχοθεραπευτικές συνεδρίες υπό εποπτεία. Η επαγγελματική της εμπειρία περιλαμβάνει επίσης συνεργασίες με τον Εθνικό Οργανισμό Πρόληψης και Αντιμετώπισης των Εξαρτήσεων (ΕΟΠΑΕ), στη ΜΟΘΕ Ηρακλείου, καθώς και με την Ελληνική Ομοσπονδία Ορειβασίας & Αναρρίχησης (ΕΟΟΑ). Σήμερα δραστηριοποιείται ιδιωτικά ως Ψυχολόγος – Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια, παρέχοντας ατομικές συνεδρίες σε ενήλικες, δια ζώσης στον Άγιο Νικόλαο Κρήτης και online.

Maggana Panagiota is a Psychologist - Specialist Psychotherapist working privately, offering online sessions in Greek and English. She provides services to individuals living in Greece and abroad. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology (BSc) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). She holds a master's degree (MSc) in Social Psychology from Tilburg University in the Netherlands. Additionally, she specializes through a four-year training program in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provided by the Hellenic Society of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapy (GACBP).

The therapeutic approach of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy aims to illuminate the connections between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. From early years and throughout a person's life, certain thought patterns as well as cognitive and behavioral "habits" are formed that are not always functional and often lead to dysphoric feelings or complicate our relationship with ourselves or others.

In therapy, the goal is to establish a therapeutic alliance and collaboration to identify these patterns. By setting realistic goals and considering objective environmental challenges, the individual begins to gain self-awareness, practice self-acceptance and self-compassion, and through a range of tools, develops new mechanisms for managing the self, relationships, and everyday situations.

Paraskeui Stamataki is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist offering online sessions. She holds a degree in Psychology from Panteion University, with postgraduate studies in Neuroscience and Mental Functioning ("Brain and Mind") and specialization in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy and psychopathology. Having worked in various settings, including psychiatric clinics and diagnostic centers, she provides psychological support services for adults dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, as well as interpersonal issues. Her professional experience also includes collaboration with primary and secondary schools, offering comprehensive therapeutic solutions and counseling for personal development and mental well-being. Additionally, the Psychologist has participated in numerous seminars as part of her ongoing professional development. Ultimately, with the aim of effectively enhancing emotional balance and well-being, the specialist offers individualized psychological services centered on understanding and managing mental health challenges.

Liodaki Katerina is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Chania, Crete. She studied Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and specialized at the postgraduate level in Clinical Psychology (MSc in Clinical Psychology) at Leiden University in the Netherlands, from which she graduated with distinction, cum laude. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Society for Cognitive and Behavioral Studies (ΕΓΣΣ) through a four-year study program, in accordance with the standards of the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT). Additionally, she has been trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), two contemporary approaches of the so-called “third generation” cognitive therapies, with scientifically validated effectiveness in a variety of psychological difficulties. She provides individual psychotherapy sessions for adults, both in-person and online. She deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutic treatment of a variety of mental disorders and problems.

Thomaidi Paulina is a Psychologist – Psychotherapist, a regular member of the Hellenic Psychological Society (HPS), and maintains a private practice in Kypseli, Athens. She is a graduate of the Psychology Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a postgraduate diploma in Forensic – Criminal Psychology from Coventry University. She trained in Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and has specialized in addressing issues related to anxiety, depression, personality disorders, as well as couples counseling and family therapy. She has consistently invested in her scientific development through numerous seminars and training programs covering topics such as trauma therapy, autoimmune diseases and mental health, domestic violence, and contemporary, revised guidelines for mental health treatment, ensuring that her services are based on the most reliable psychological practices. Academically, she has conducted research on the social stigma of LGBTQ+ community members, as well as on attitudes and behaviors toward sexual violence against women and double standards. She addresses issues of anxiety, depression, psychological trauma, eating disorders, addictions – dependencies, obsessive-compulsive disorders, personality disorders, and provides counseling services. Additionally, she offers couples and family counseling and therapy. Her treatment is LGBTQ+ friendly and tailored to cases of neurodiversity (ADHD, ASD, etc.).