Health professionals for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Kriti

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.

Polyxronaki Panagiota is a clinical psychologist - psychotherapist providing online sessions.

She holds a degree from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete and a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Leiden University, Netherlands. She has been trained in the Cognitive Behavioral Approach by the Society of Cognitive Behavioral Studies.

She is certified in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, has completed the one-year postgraduate program in Clinical Psychopathology at the 1st Psychiatric Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the Research University Mental Health Institute (EPISY), as well as holding a diploma in Coaching from UGROW and the Positive Psychology Society.

In parallel, she has attended numerous specialized trainings and continually pursues her professional development through supervision and ongoing education.

Regarding her professional training, she completed her internship as part of her postgraduate studies at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University Hospital of Heraklion and at the Alzheimer Day Center "Nefeli". Additionally, she completed an internship at the Student Counseling Center of NKUA, providing therapeutic support to students.

She works privately, providing sessions to adults and adolescents.

Pitsinis Errikos Dionysios is a Psychologist – Psychotherapist who conducts online psychotherapy sessions while also maintaining his private practice in Kypseli. He has completed studies in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the International Psychotherapy Center "ALYPIA," holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of Central Lancashire, and a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Forensic Psychology from Coventry University. His professional experience includes work in private practice as well as an internship at the Korydallos Detention Center I. He has specialized through training programs at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in the following areas: Couple and Family Counseling and Therapy, Aggressive and Violent Behavior: Professional Risk Assessment and De-escalation Techniques, Anxiety and Depression: Psychoeducation and Management, Psychosocial Support for Prisoners and Reintegration Issues, and Cluster B Personality Disorders (Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders). Finally, the specialist is a regular member of the Hellenic Association of Psychologists.

Panagiota Seferai is a licensed Psychologist - Psychotherapist specializing in Clinical Counseling, with experience in providing psychological support to children, adolescents, and adults, and conducts Online Psychotherapy sessions. She studied Psychology at the University of Derby (United Kingdom), where she completed both her undergraduate studies in Psychology and her postgraduate degree in Applied Clinical Counseling Psychology. She works in psychopedagogical settings, providing sessions for children and adolescents with autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and other emotional or developmental disorders, as well as offering parent counseling. Concurrently, she works on an adult psychotherapy platform, offering support for anxiety disorders, enhancing self-regulation skills and mental resilience, applying cognitive-behavioral approaches and mindfulness techniques. Additionally, she has substantial experience in social institutions, where she provided psychological support, organized empowerment groups, and promoted social inclusion of vulnerable populations. She has been trained in specialized seminars on psychotherapy for autism, selective mutism, and the Marte Meo approach. The specialist approaches each therapeutic relationship with empathy and professionalism, tailoring interventions to the needs of each individual.

Parasyri Iro is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Heraklion, Crete. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete. She has completed her postgraduate training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling, while currently pursuing her master's degree in Developmental Psychology and Educational Applications at the University of Crete. Additionally, she has attended online training seminars at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, focusing on Couple Counseling and Special Education. She completed her internship at the Mental Health Clinic "Agios Charalampos" and has worked at the Municipality of Heraklion at KEKOIFAPI Mastaba and on the psychological support hotline. In the private sector, she has collaborated with speech therapists regarding difficulties experienced by children and their parents. She has volunteered at the SOS Children's Village in Heraklion, providing music lessons and creatively engaging the children. Furthermore, she has worked with the Mobile Mental Health Unit "Arogi" in Agios Nikolaos, in the psychosocial support program "No One Alone During the Pandemic." Since 2021, she has maintained her private office in the center of Heraklion, Crete, while also voluntarily offering her services to the association "Eu-zo me ton Karkino" ("Living Well with Cancer"). Concurrently, as part of her ongoing education, she attends the Psychoanalysis Training Program of the Borromean Knot Society of the New Lacanian School (Crete Branch) as well as the Training Program "Skills and Techniques of the 3rd Wave CBT" at the Educational Institute of Synthetic Approach.