Health professionals for Obesity in Papagou

Dr. Maria Livanou, PhD, MSc, Senior Lecturer, is a Psychologist and Psychotherapist specializing in child and adolescent therapy, with a particular emphasis on the psychodynamic approach. She has an academic background in the United States and the United Kingdom and holds an academic post at King’s College London (KCL). Her research focuses on child and adolescent mental health.

Her therapeutic approach is primarily grounded in psychodynamic therapy, aiming to understand deeper emotional processes and relationship patterns. At the same time, it remains individualized and holistic, responding to the unique needs of each child, adolescent, adult, and family.

During sessions, parental counselling and parent therapy are offered—from pregnancy through the early years of the child—along with support for families during early parenthood. Discussions may include topics related to early child development and the parent–infant relationship. She places particular emphasis on addressing communication difficulties, enhancing psychological well-being, building self-confidence, and improving social relationships.

She works with a wide range of issues concerning childhood and adolescence, including:

• Anxiety and anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, panic attacks)
• Phobias, separation anxiety, and attachment issues
• Depressive mood, depression, social withdrawal
• Adjustment difficulties and emotional distress
• Psychosomatic symptom
• Low self-esteem
• Difficulties in communication and social relationships, family conflicts, and adaptation to change (e.g., divorce)
• Grief and loss management
• Eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns
• School-related difficulties, academic stress, and performance anxiety
• Issues of identity, self-image, and adolescent development
• Conduct problems, anger management difficulties, delinquent behavior
• Family counselling and therapy
• Neurodevelopmental difficulties (e.g., autism, ADHD)
• Trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), developmental trauma, and adverse childhood experiences

Panagiotakopoulou Xristina is a Psychologist - Systemic Family Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Papagou, where she provides individual sessions for adults, couples, and families. She studied Psychology at the Open University of the United Kingdom and subsequently specialized in Systemic Psychotherapy at SKEPSYS (Systemic Center for Training and Psychotherapy). Additionally, she has been trained in the Systemic Appreciative Approach, which is a method for exploring people's strengths, abilities, and resources. She has also received training in psychological support for children, adolescents, families, and communities in bereavement. She possesses notable experience as well as voluntary contributions, having collaborated voluntarily with SYNYPARXI to provide counseling support services. She voluntarily cooperates with the Municipal Polyclinics of Papagou - Cholargos to provide counseling support services and organizes and coordinates adult education groups aimed at their empowerment. Finally, she publishes monthly articles on relevant topics in the magazine Asfalistiki Agora.

Dr. Ioannis Virlos is a General Surgeon who maintains a private practice in Glyfada. He graduated from the Medical School of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, obtaining his medical degree in 1990. In 2000, he earned a Master’s degree in Surgical Sciences (MSc in Surgical Sciences) as well as a Diploma from Imperial College London (Diploma Imperial College), United Kingdom. In 2009, he was awarded a Doctorate (Medical Doctorate) from the University of Manchester, UK.He has been a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd.) since 1998 and of the Intercollegiate Board in Surgery of the United Kingdom (FRCS (Gen Surg)) since 2008. Since 2011, he has been a Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in the field of Colorectal Surgery (FEBS (Coloproctology)).Dr Ioannis Virlos is a specialized colorectal and bariatric surgeon, also trained in minimally invasive surgery — both laparoscopic and robotic. He has received training not only in Greece but also in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Belgium.After completing his military service in 1992, he trained in General Surgery in hospitals in Athens and the United Kingdom between 1992 and 1999, obtaining his specialty title in General Surgery in 1999. From 2002 to 2012, he served as a surgical consultant in hospitals in the UK, Australia, Belgium, and Greece. Specifically, he worked at the following hospitals in the UK: North Middlesex, Arrowe Park, Derriford, Torbay, Exeter, Cheltenham, and North Bristol, as well as at Sir Charles Gairdner University Hospital in Perth, Australia, and Sotiria Hospital in Athens (as Senior Consultant).During the same period, he received advanced training in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and laparoscopic bariatric surgery at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, UK, and Heilighart Ziekenhuis in Roeselare, Belgium.From 2012 to 2021, he worked as a Consultant Surgeon at the following hospitals in the UK: Ealing Hospital, Homerton University Hospital, John Radcliffe & Churchill Hospitals in Oxford, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Northampton General Hospital, and University Hospitals of Derby and Burton. He returned to Greece in 2021.Since 2023, Mr. Virlos has been the Director of Surgery at Metropolitan General Hospital in Athens. He also serves as the General Secretary of the Hellenic Society of Coloproctology. Finally, for the period 2025–2028, he will represent Greece at the European Society of Coloproctology.

Anna Georgiou BSc, MSc is a Dietitian-Nutritionist and maintains a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. She holds a degree from the Dietetics department of Queen Margaret University in Scotland and a postgraduate degree in "Applied Dietetics and Nutrition" from Harokopio University of Athens. She has worked as a Clinical Dietitian at the Athens Medical Center, and currently, in addition to her private practice, she works as a Dietitian-Nutritionist at IASIS Medical Diagnostic Centers. Finally, she is a regular member of the Hellenic Association of Dietitians-Nutritionists.

Garzonis Spyros is an Internist - Diabetologist and maintains a private practice in Cholargos. He graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and specialized in Internal Medicine at the General Hospital for Chest Diseases of Athens "Sotiria". Additionally, he received further training in Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Foot at the Diabetology Center of the General Hospital of Athens "Laiko," where he remained as a collaborator for over 10 years. He holds official specialization in Diabetes Mellitus. He has a particular interest and involvement in diabetes technology and insulin pumps. He has participated as a volunteer physician in a Doctors Without Borders - Greece mission in Zambia and in programs within Greece. Finally, he is a member of the Hellenic Diabetological Association, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, the Hellenic Society for the Study of Diabetic Foot Disorders, the Hellenic Society of Internal Medicine, and Doctors Without Borders - Greece.

Florou Athina is a Dietitian - Nutritionist and maintains a private practice in the Zografou area. She graduated from the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Science at Harokopio University of Athens in 2022, successfully completing her undergraduate studies. During her internship at the 251 General Airforce Hospital, she gained valuable knowledge and experience in nutrition support, designing personalized diet plans, nutritional counseling, and assessing patients' nutritional status. She continued her studies at University College London (UCL), where she obtained a master's degree in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition with distinction. As part of her postgraduate education, she worked at St Ann’s Hospital/Eating Disorder Service, making a significant contribution to the rehabilitation of patients with eating disorders. Athina is a member of the Panhellenic Association of Dietitians-Nutritionists (PSDΔD), the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), and the Association for Nutrition (AfN) in the UK. She has experience in managing clinical cases through collaboration with physicians of various specialties in both hospital and private settings. She applies individualized nutritional interventions based on scientific evidence, aiming for the holistic support of health.

As part of her active involvement in international scientific networks, she participates as a member of the Working Group of the European project HEALTH UP! of EFAD (European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians), contributing to the scientifically substantiated evaluation and updating of the Guide on Eating Disorders, aiming to enhance dietetic care practice at the European level.

Ο Φλώρος Χρήστος MSc είναι Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπευτής και διατηρεί το γραφείο του στου Ζωγράφου (Γουδή - Αμπελόκηποι), προσφέρει υψηλού επιπέδου υπηρεσίες ψυχοθεραπείας, με απόλυτη εχεμύθεια και επαγγελματισμό. Βασισμένος στη γνώση και τη μεγάλη εμπειρία και εξειδίκευσή του, ο κ. Φλώρος Θ. Χρήστος μπορεί να συνεργαστεί μαζί σας για την αποτελεσματική αντιμετώπιση διαφόρων θεμάτων ψυχολογικής φύσεως, που δυσχεραίνουν την καθημερινότητά σας. Ο κ. Χρήστος Φλώρος ξεκίνησε τις σπουδές του στο Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο και συνέχισε τις σπουδές του στην Ψυχολογία, με μεταπτυχιακούς τίτλους σπουδών στην ψυχολογία της υγείας (MSc in Health Psychology) με διάκριση από το Πανεπιστήμιο Cardiif και UH Hatfield του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου, ενώ είναι καταχωρημένος ως MSc Ψυχολόγος και κάτοχος άδειας ασκήσεως επαγγέλματος ψυχολόγου στην Ελλάδα. Είναι μετεκπαιδευθείς στη Γνωσιακή Συμπεριφορική Ψυχοθεραπεία στο Κέντρο Εφαρμοσμένης Ψυχοθεραπείας και Συμβουλευτικής (μέλος του British Association for counseling and psychotherapy), καθώς και στη Κλινική Ψυχοπαθολογία στο Αιγινήτειο Νοσοκομείο και την Ελληνική ψυχιατρική εταιρεία (Basic and Advanced) με διάκριση. Επιπροσθέτως, αποπεράτωσε με άριστα το μετεκπαιδευτικό πρόγραμμα εξειδίκευσης του Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστήμιου Αθηνών «Ιατρική Ψυχολογία», ενώ έχει συμμετάσχει σε πιστοποιημένα εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα που αφορούν στην διαχείριση διαζυγίου γονέων-παιδιών καθώς και στην προσωπική συμβουλευτική και τη συμβουλευτική γονέων. Μιλάει τρεις γλώσσες , αγγλικά γαλλικά και ιταλικά. Επιπλέον, έχει παρακολουθήσει εκπαίδευση από το Medical University of South Carolina πάνω στο μετατραυματικό στρες και τη γνωσιακή συμπεριφορική θεραπεία. Ακόμη, έχει παρακολουθήσει και εκπαιδευτεί στο ΗΜΙ (hypnosis motivational institute) της California USA, στο προκαταρκτικό πρόγραμμα σπουδών της κλινικής ύπνωσης. Έχει συμμετάσχει σε αρκετά επιστημονικά σεμινάρια και συνέδρια στην Ελλάδα και στο εξωτερικό. Στο βιογραφικό του περιλαμβάνεται το Σισμανόγλειο Νοσοκομείο Αμαλία Φλέμινγκ, το Αιγινήτειο Νοσοκομείο, το εξειδικευμένο κέντρο ημέρας και κοινωνικού διαλόγου (ΠΕΨΑΕΕ), η ΜΚΟ "μαζί για το παιδί", το ιδιωτικό κέντρο υγείας και ευεξίας AURUM, κ.α. Ο Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπευτής κ. Φλώρος Θ. Χρήστος σάς περιμένει σε ένα φιλικό και ζεστό χώρο στην περιοχή του Ζωγράφου (Γουδή - Αμπελόκηποι), (και διαδικτυακά για όσους η απόσταση, η μετοίκηση σε άλλη χώρα η έλλειψη χρόνου ή οι επαγγελματικές υποχρεώσεις δεν επιτρέπουν τις δια ζώσης συνεδρίες), όπου προσφέρει υπηρεσίες ψυχοθεραπείας, με ενσυναίσθηση και σεβασμό για κάθε έναν από εσάς. Ειδικές τιμές είναι δυνατόν να γίνουν για φοιτητές και ευπαθείς ομάδες.

Maurandrea Nota is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist, PhD Candidate at the Medical School of the University of Athens, and maintains a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. She works with adults and adolescents facing mental health challenges such as eating disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictions, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, low self-esteem, and others. Additionally, she supports parents in strengthening their role. Her approach is based on developing a therapeutic relationship in which the patient can safely and confidently understand and connect with themselves. Regarding her education, she is a graduate of the Psychology Department of the University of Crete with postgraduate studies in Addiction Treatment. She is specialized in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy and concurrently specializes in the Treatment of Eating Disorders at Aeginiteio Hospital, where she also serves as a Scientific Collaborator in the respective Unit.

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.

Welcome.

As the founder and lead physician of a private practice, my goal is to provide comprehensive medical care that combines rigorous scientific evidence with a patient-centered approach.

Education & Specialization: I am a member of the Swiss Medical Association and a graduate of Medicine with a Master of Science (MSc) in Social-Preventive Medicine and Quality in Healthcare from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. My clinical experience is multidimensional, having served in critical departments such as Internal Medicine, High Dependency Units (HDU), COVID-19 wards, and Emergency Departments (ER). Additionally, I hold International Certifications in Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) from the National Health Care Provider Solutions (NHCPS) in the USA.

Clinical Focus: Respiratory & Urinary Tract Infections, Metabolic Diseases & Obesity:

With extensive experience in treating obesity, I specialize in the management of patients with cardiometabolic risk factors. At our practice, we treat cases of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections, as well as urinary tract infections. We also manage patients across the full spectrum of cardiometabolic diseases and Chronic Condition Management, including: Arterial Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Dyslipidemia (High Cholesterol Levels), Obesity. We offer personalized treatment plans that target the root of metabolic disorders, based on scientific evidence and a patient-centered approach.

Scientific Work & International Recognition: My commitment to medical science is reflected in my active participation in the international research community:

·       Medical Associations: Member of the Hellenic Medical Association, the European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM), and a member of the Swiss Medical Association (MEBEKO).

·       Research Activity: Author of over 60 publications and presentations at top-tier conferences, including the European Congress of Internal Medicine (ECIM).

·       Collaborations: Scientific Collaborator for the international AlliGatOr study (appendectomy outcomes) and Guest Editor for the American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research.

Elena Papathanasopoulou MSW, Dip Psych (Hons) is a Psychotherapist - Mental Health Counselor with a private practice in Cholargos. She studied Psychology in the Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology at the University of Ioannina and subsequently at the Open University in the UK (Diploma in Psychology). Additionally, she completed postgraduate studies in the USA at the Smith College School for Social Work (Massachusetts) with a Fulbright scholarship. Upon returning to Greece, she continued her training at the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society. She has worked as a therapist in psychotherapeutic centers in the USA and Athens. She possesses extensive teaching experience (in psychodynamic counseling seminars for mental health professionals and at the Technological Educational Institute of Patras). She has also worked in parent training schools and on various research projects. She has numerous presentations at conferences and educational and continuing education programs abroad and in Greece, as well as publications in scientific journals in Greece. She is a member of the British Psychological Society, the Hellenic Association of Social Workers, and the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society. In her private practice, she treats a wide range of conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, self-awareness, generalized anxiety disorder, interpersonal difficulties, mood disorders, using psychodynamic psychotherapy and counseling as her primary therapeutic modalities.

Restart Coaching & Psychological Solutions was founded by Katia Petrocheilou and Evangelia Bakola and is based in Agia Paraskevi. The life issues they address concern common problems or crises that occur in ordinary people living ordinary lives. The creation of healthy and functional relationships, child-rearing, self-care and self-esteem, and career development are such life matters. To these are added less common life challenges, such as managing a chronic medical condition, handling a psychiatric diagnosis, or coping with a disability, which result in a complete and radical disruption of daily life. The scientific team at Restart is committed to providing the tools and techniques you need to successfully address both common and uncommon problems at every stage of life. Utilizing many contemporary as well as traditional proven methods (coaching, psychotherapy, EMDR, etc.), they offer you over 30 years of experience and a holistic approach that combines coaching, psychotherapy, EMDR, nutrition, and physical fitness improvement, ensuring that no issue remains unsolvable.

Trigonis Sotirios is a General Practitioner with a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. He graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, holds a postgraduate degree in Public Health from the National School of Public Health, and a postgraduate diploma from EKAB in Emergency Prehospital Medicine. He has extensive experience in managing emergency cases, home care, and treating patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity, while also implementing the Eurodiet medical weight management method. In addition to his private practice, he serves as an emergency and chronic disease management physician at the modern polyclinic of Alimos. Previously, he was the head of emergency cases at the Polyclinic of the Olympic Village and served as Scientific Director at the Health Center of Keratea. Furthermore, he continues to collaborate with numerous private clinics to date.

Pappa Lina is an Acupuncturist who operates a private clinic specializing in Acupuncture and Aesthetic Medicine in Agia Paraskevi. She holds a medical degree from the G. D'Annunzio Medical School in Chieti, Italy, with postgraduate training at the International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART) and at the European Cosmetic Academy of Chinese Acupuncture (Dr. Radha Thambirajah). The physician has extensive experience in pain management and aesthetic medicine and has also obtained relevant certification from the Italian School of Mesotherapy. Additionally, she is a member of the Athens Medical Association, the Hellenic Medical Acupuncture Society, and a founding member of the Hellenic Medical Mesotherapy Society.