Health professionals for Συμβουλευτική γονέων και παιδιών near Zografou

The Special Therapies Center “Words and Actions” is a space created with love, awareness, and care for children. The primary goal of the team is to meet the therapeutic needs of each child and to guide parents in order to enhance and develop the child's skills. The center provides specialized services for assessment, diagnosis, and therapy for children, adolescents, and adults presenting developmental disorders, speech and language problems, learning difficulties, behavioral issues, as well as psychological support and parental counseling. The founder and Scientific Director of the Center is Darla Eleni, a graduate of the Speech Therapy department of the School of Health Professions at the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, a member of the Association of Speech Pathologists-Speech Therapists of Greece, and holds a professional license. She has been providing speech therapy services for the past 14 years to children and adults with communication, speech, and language disorders. She specializes in the assessment and therapeutic intervention for children with disorders such as delayed speech and language development, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, autism spectrum disorders, stuttering, and hearing impairment. She has attended numerous seminars related to Speech Therapy and Special Education and continues her professional training both theoretically and practically. Notably, she has been certified in widely recognized therapeutic methods such as TEACCH, Makaton, among others. She has also completed a 9-month training seminar on “AUTISM” at the University of Patras.

The INTERNUS counseling and psychotherapy center, led by clinical psychologist Mr. Kargakis Emmanouil - Internus, maintains offices in Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania, and Athens, offering a wide range of services concerning treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, and promotion of mental health, primarily based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Mr. Kargakis, a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with postgraduate studies in Clinical and Counseling Psychology at La Salle University of Philadelphia, and his experienced associates, supported by a modern and continuous framework of supervision, training, and professional development through attendance at national and international psychology conferences, ensure the provision of the most advanced mental health services. Over the years, our center has developed activities and collaborations with various organizations such as SOS Children's Villages, O.E.V.E.N.H, O.E.V.E.N.X, secondary education tutoring centers, schools of various levels, sports clubs, educational seminars for the general public, appearances on television and radio programs, and contributions to local blogs. Sessions are conducted by appointment either in person or online.

Η Χρύσα Ηλιοπούλου είναι Ψυχολόγος - Συστημική Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια. Είναι απόφοιτη του τμήματος Ψυχολογίας του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, με άδεια άσκησης επαγγέλματος Ψυχολόγου. Εκπαιδεύεται στη Συστημική Ψυχοθεραπεία και Συμβουλευτική στο Κέντρο Συστημικής Μελέτης και Θεραπείας (Κε.Σ.Με.Θ.), το οποίο είναι μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Εταιρείας Οικογενειακής Θεραπείας (European Family Therapy Association - E.F.T.A.) και της Εθνικής Εταιρείας Ψυχοθεραπείας Ελλάδος (Ε.Ε.Ψ.Ε.). Ολοκλήρωσε την πρακτική της άσκηση στο ΚΕΘΕΑ Νόστος-Εξάντας εργαζόμενη με ομάδες οικογενειών εξαρτημένων ατόμων. Εργάζεται ως ελεύθερη επαγγελματίας σε ιδιωτικό γραφείο στα Ιλίσια (πλησίον σταθμού μετρό Μέγαρο Μουσικής), διά ζώσης και διαδικτυακά, αναλαμβάνοντας ευρύ φάσμα αιτημάτων, όπως άγχος/αγχώδεις διαταραχές, κατάθλιψη, πένθος, ψυχοσωματικά συμπτώματα κ.α. μέσα σε ένα ασφαλές και συμπεριληπτικό περιβάλλον. Η επαγγελματική της εμπειρία βασίζεται στην ψυχοθεραπευτική στήριξη παιδιών, εφήβων και ενηλίκων, καθώς και στην καθημερινή παρέμβαση μέσα από εξειδικευμένες δομές θεραπείας.

Pliakou Maria BSc, MSc is a Clinical Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Kaisariani (near Karavel - Evangelismos metro station). She studied Psychology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, completing her fourth year of studies at Universität Konstanz in Germany, following a scholarship she received. During her studies, she completed clinical training at the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki (P.H.Th.) and at the Day Care Center for Individuals with Memory Disorders. After completing her undergraduate studies, she gained significant experience in the assessment and support of patients with severe mental disorders, within the framework of clinical training in mental health at the Psychiatric Clinic of Papageorgiou General Hospital of Thessaloniki. She specialized in Clinical Psychology through postgraduate studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, completing clinical training at the Leiden University Treatment and Expertise Centre, providing psychological support to university students. She followed a four-year specialization in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Society of Cognitive Behavioral Studies (SCBS), and received theoretical training in therapy for children and adolescents. She worked for several years as a psychotherapist in the Adult Therapy Department of the Institute for Research and Behavior Therapy (IRBT), and has worked in numerous therapy centers, providing individual psychotherapy to adults, children, adolescents, as well as counseling for parents.

Xristidi Katerina MSc, BTEC is a Child Psychologist with a private practice in Pangrati. She holds a degree in Psychology from Panteion University and completed a postgraduate specialization program in Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychotherapy at London Metropolitan University, London. Additionally, she completed her specialization in Integrative Counseling/Psychotherapy (BTEC Advanced Professional Diploma in Integrative Counseling) from the English institution Pearson, recognized by the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy. A key advantage of the Integrative Approach is that it combines techniques from various approaches, allowing flexible adaptation to the needs and personality of each patient. She has worked at the Psychiatric Clinic of the General Children's Hospital "Agia Sofia," the therapy center "En logo kai ergo," and the Hellenic Society for the Protection & Rehabilitation of Disabled Children, at the neuropsychological rehabilitation center for individuals with brain injuries, and in the infant department. Finally, she regularly attends numerous conferences and seminars as part of her continuing professional development.

Marianna Papadopoulou is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist. She completed her Psychology studies (BSc Hons) at the University of East London, while her postgraduate training is in Systemic and Family Psychotherapy at the Centre for the Investigation of Human Relations (4 years). She holds an Advanced Professional Diploma in Counseling from the International European University of Paris, has been trained in Psychoeducation, and has received additional training related to substances and addictions from KETHEA. She is a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Hellenic Society for Systemic Therapy (ELESYTH).

Her career began in the social sciences, with a degree in Political Science and postgraduate studies in Sociology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. For many years, she worked in positions that required substantial contact and interaction with people, supporting groups and individuals in demanding, changing, and international work environments. She had the opportunity to collaborate with people from different cultural backgrounds and to come into direct contact with the difficulties hidden behind roles, responsibilities, and transitions. This experience served as a springboard for her engagement with Psychology.

As a Psychologist - Psychotherapist, she works with adults, adolescents, couples, and families of various ages who are facing difficulties, challenges, or are in a transitional phase. Sessions are addressed to individuals living in Greece or abroad and can be conducted either in person or online, in Greek or English.

Xristidi Katerina MSc, BTEC is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist who maintains a private practice in Pangrati. She holds a degree in psychology from Panteion University and completed a postgraduate specialization program in Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychotherapy at London Metropolitan University, London. Additionally, she completed her specialization in Integrative Counseling/Psychotherapy (BTEC Advanced Professional Diploma in Integrative Counseling) from the UK institution Pearson, recognized by the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy. A key advantage of the Integrative Approach is that it combines techniques from various modalities, allowing flexible adaptation to the needs and personality of each patient. She has worked at the Psychiatric Clinic of the General Children's Hospital “Agia Sofia,” at the therapy center “En logo kai ergo,” and at the Hellenic Society for the Protection & Rehabilitation of Disabled Children, in the neuropsychological rehabilitation center for individuals with brain injuries and in the infant department. Finally, she regularly attends numerous conferences and seminars as part of her ongoing professional development.

She was born in Athens and obtained her degree from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) (psychologist professional license, No. 1064783). She continued her education by completing a three-year training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling, followed by additional training in Systemic Psychotherapy at the Systemic Counseling and Psychotherapeutic Center. Subsequently, she earned her certification in trauma therapy – EMDR, at the Institute of Trauma Therapy. Additionally, she has attended various seminars and received training in biofeedback (a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach). She works as a Psychologist – Psychotherapist and collaborates with the Stress Management Center SMS (Stress Management Solutions). She specializes in anxiety and stress management, panic attack treatment, depression treatment, and eating disorder issues. She also specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety-related issues, such as performance anxiety and the management of various other distressing emotions, as well as in parental counseling. The intervention is personalized and collaborative with the individual, considering various factors that become clear through individual interviews and questionnaires, aiming at the overall enhancement of the individual's quality of life across all domains.