Health professionals for Obsessive–compulsive disorder-OCD in the Eastern suburbs of Athens

Roxani - Maria Vakalou is a Psychologist, graduate of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in Clinical Psychology. She is a certified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and is training in Bioenergetic Clinical Hypnosis.

Her choice of specializations is based on the integration of two critical pillars: focusing on the "here and now," addressing dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behavior, and processing emotional traumas formed during early developmental stages before the development of logical thinking.

Her career in the Mental Health field includes voluntary service at S.O.F.PSY. Serres, coordinating therapeutic groups and cognitive-behavioral interventions; collaboration with the Hellenic Alzheimer’s Disease Association; specialization in "Dance Theatre"; and mental health counseling in a multinational environment through conducting psychoeducational groups and individual sessions (since 2024).

She firmly believes that Psychotherapy is the most valuable investment in oneself and the cornerstone of self-awareness and mental well-being. Her goal is, within an environment of trust, understanding, and acceptance, to help individuals genuinely "embrace" themselves.

Sourina Karina is a Clinical Psychologist-Psychotherapist and operates her private practice in Gerakas. She holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree from the University of Derby and has completed postgraduate studies in Clinical Psychology at Hellenic American University. In her practice, she handles a wide range of cases, always focusing on providing the best possible service tailored to the individual needs of each client she undertakes.

Salem Fatma is a licensed Psychologist - Psychotherapist who conducts online sessions. She holds a degree in Psychology from a university in England and is currently a candidate for her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Essex. She specializes in psychological assessment and intervention, while also training in Cognitive Analytic Psychotherapy (CAT). Her professional experience includes working in schools in England, where she collaborated with adolescent students to support their mental health and academic performance. Specifically, she provided individual support to students facing mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, among others, as well as the related social challenges. She developed and implemented personalized support programs tailored to each student's needs and helped them manage their emotions and behaviors by offering strategies and tools for coping with anxiety, frustration, and other emotional states. Simultaneously, she maintained close collaboration with experienced psychologists and provided counseling to parents. Within her role, she participated in weekly Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars to enhance her skills and increase her effectiveness in her work. Additionally, she served in a role equivalent to a psychological assistant during her internship in England. She has also completed a training program at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and has attended seminars, expanding her knowledge and developing her skills in the field of psychology. She is committed to providing high-quality psychological services and supporting individuals in overcoming their difficulties and improving their mental well-being.

Demerouti Vasileia is a Psychiatrist - Psychotherapist and former Chief Resident A at the Athens Psychiatric Hospital "Dromokaiteio" and also maintains a private practice in Pallini. She completed her studies at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and specialized in Psychiatry at the State Nursing Home of Leros and the Athens Psychiatric Hospital "Dafni." Furthermore, she worked as an Assistant Psychiatrist at the Athens Psychiatric Hospital "Dromokaiteio" until 2020 and has been serving as a Chief Resident since then. She respectfully manages a wide range of cases including psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, panic attacks, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia and anorexia nervosa, anxiety and stress, bipolar disorder, sexual disorders, and others.

Provi Maria is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist licensed to practice professionally and maintains a private practice in Pikermi. Despite her initial studies in Mechanical Engineering, her profound desire to explore, understand, and support human psychology and behavior consistently guided her toward her youthful dream, educational training, and professional practice as a psychologist. She is a regular member of SEPS (Hellenic Psychological Society), registration number 3224, and is also registered in the SEPS Volunteer Psychologists Registry, providing psychological services in psychosocial interventions following mass disasters. Additionally, she has attended numerous seminars and workshops covering stress management, depression, eating disorder prevention, drama therapy, emotional dependencies, self-esteem, and more.

I am a Greek Clinical Psychologist (MSc) - Psychotherapist that has lived in Greece, Italy and Netherlands. During the last years, I have gained a diverse range of clinical experiences working with individuals and families with a variety of mental health and developmental conditions. I completed my BSc in Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, followed by an MSc degree in Clinical Psychology at Utrecht University. To further my professional development, I am getting trained to become a Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist from the Greek Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, which is accredited by the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT). During my Bachelor's Internship at Papanikolaou Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, I participated in group therapy sessions, consisted of individuals diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder and other psychotic disorders. I also gained experience in family and couple therapy, utilizing the systemic approach. During my Master's Internship at the Psychiatric Facilities of the General Hospital of Corfu, I provided psychoeducational interventions to individuals diagnosed with Schizophrenia and to their families, as well as one-on-one psychotherapy sessions to individuals struggling with emotional issues. At the same time, I participated in group sessions with individuals hospitalized at the Detox Unit of the clinic, who were struggling with addiction issues. During my working experience at a Dyslexia Center, I provided counseling to parents, as well as I conducted individual sessions with children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, and other developmental disabilities. In addition, I promoted social skills learning through the use of board games, CBT techniques, role-playing, and various psychoeducational materials. My decision to pursue a career as a psychotherapist stems from a profound love for understanding the intricacies of the human soul. This profession brings me immense fulfillment as it allows me to help individuals feel heard, gain deep self-awareness, and piece together the complex puzzles of their lives. Through this process, I assist them in finding meaning and moving closer to a sense of wholeness.

Aslanidou Lydia is a Psychologist, licensed to practice (License No.: 241760). She studied Psychology at Deree - The American College of Greece, simultaneously obtaining a degree from the Open University of the United Kingdom, and continued with postgraduate studies in Clinical Psychology of Children and Adolescents at Utrecht University. Concurrently, she is training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Society for Cognitive Behavioral Studies.

She began her professional career in 2021 with an internship at the Hellenic Institute of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy (RECBT). In 2022, she worked as a trainee psychologist at the International School Delft (ISD) in the Netherlands. Since 2023, she has collaborated with the “Enaysma” Center in Chalandri, providing support to children and parents, while from 2024 she offers psychotherapy services to adults via an online platform. From 2025, she has been collaborating with the Psychosynthesis Center in Vari, continuing her work with children and parents. Today, she continues to provide psychological support services to children and adolescents, counseling to parents, as well as psychotherapy to adults, both in-person and online. 

Her work focuses on emotional regulation, improving self-esteem, enhancing adaptability, and developing healthy interpersonal relationships, aiming for clients to recognize their potential and acquire practical tools for daily life. For continuous improvement and ensuring the quality of the support she provides, she is engaged in personal psychotherapy and receives clinical supervision.

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.

Dr. Theodorou Afroditi is a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist with a private practice in Nea Makri. She graduated from the Medical School of the University of Ioannina and specialized in Psychiatry, initially training at the Neurology Clinic of the "G. Gennimatas" Hospital and subsequently at the Psychiatric Clinic of the "Sismanogleio" University General Hospital of Athens. She has been actively involved in clinical, teaching, and research work, participating in a wide range of clinical drug evaluation studies. She completed a four-year training program in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy at the Institute for Research and Therapy of Behavior (Member of the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies - EABCT), where she collaborates as an External Consultant, teaching students the basic principles of psychopharmacology. She also participated in a two-year program at the Research University Institute of Psychiatry (EPIΨY), implementing psychoeducational interventions. Dr. Theodorou has worked as a Medical Advisor at the pharmaceutical company Janssen-Cilag and at the Center for Rehabilitation Education of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities "Theotokos." She has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of major and minor mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders (panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder), mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder), psychoses, dementia syndromes, psychosomatic symptoms, as well as managing interpersonal relationship problems. She does not treat substance or gambling addictions. Finally, she emphasizes an individualized therapeutic approach with psychotherapeutic, pharmacological, or combined treatment and the psychosocial rehabilitation of patients.