Health professionals for Obesity

Kourkouti Chrysoula is an endocrinologist and runs her private practice in Markopoulo. She graduated from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and completed further training in the Pituitary Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the UK. During her residency, she served at Lamia General Hospital and Agia Sofia General Hospital, and has also worked at the Health Center of Markopoulo and AEMY Kera-tea. In her private practice, she addresses a wide range of cases within her specialty, always focusing on providing the best possible care tailored to the individual needs of each patient.

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.

Galazoula Georgia is a Psychologist and a certified Gestalt Psychotherapist, specializing in individual psychotherapy for adults and adolescents. Through the therapeutic relationship, she provides space for individuals to express themselves, gain greater self-awareness, and be empowered to approach their personal choices and challenges with increased clarity and freedom. Throughout her therapeutic practice, she has supported individuals facing anxiety, panic attacks, self-esteem issues, psychosomatic difficulties, relational challenges, as well as periods of existential searching or personal transitions. In her professional journey, she regularly participates in individual and group supervision to ensure the quality and ethical integrity of the therapeutic process. Concurrently, she herself engages in individual and group psychotherapy, viewing continuous personal work as a fundamental pillar for her development and authenticity as a psychotherapist. Her approach is experiential and focused on the here and now, emphasizing authentic contact and respecting the pace of each client. Her goal is to cultivate a therapeutic relationship founded on trust, where the individual can feel acceptance and safety, enabling a deeper connection with the self and fostering new ways of understanding and managing their life.

Eustratiou Amalia BSc, MSc is a Psychologist who maintains a private practice in Nea Erythraia. She holds a postgraduate degree in Mental Health and Psychological Therapies from the Medical School of Queen Mary University and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The Open University in London. She has specialized in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy for adults and adolescents, as well as in Systemic Psychodrama at the Center for Applied Counseling and Psychotherapy (KE.PSY.SY). Additionally, she has specialized in Clinical Hypnosis (Biothymic Psychotherapy). Finally, as part of her lifelong learning, the Psychologist has attended numerous seminars in Greece and abroad focusing on Psychology.

Dr. Theodoros Lagarias is a seasoned physician with extensive experience in Primary Health Care and medical education. He began his medical career as a resident physician at the General Hospital of Chania, serving from 2007 to 2011. Subsequently, he held the position of General Practitioner at the Health Center of Agia, Larissa, advancing to the rank of Senior Registrar (Grade A) from 2011 until 2024.​

Between 2017 and 2024, Dr. Lagarias served as the coordinator for the training of resident physicians in General/Family Medicine at the General Hospital of Larissa, playing a pivotal role in their clinical and scientific development. Concurrently, he contributed to undergraduate medical education by participating as an instructor during educational visits of medical students from the School of Medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to Primary Health Care units.​

Dr. Lagarias holds certifications in emergency pre-hospital care and in the early detection and prevention of mental disorders, the latter obtained through the Vocational Training Center of the Mental Health Center in Chania. He has actively participated in numerous educational activities, both as a trainee and as a lecturer, including seminars, conferences, and training workshops.​

Ariadni Kozyraki is a Specialist Endocrinologist - Diabetologist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. Simultaneously, she is responsible for the endocrinology outpatient clinic at T.Y.P.E.T. (Health Fund for National Bank Employees). She holds a medical degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School and is a candidate for the English-taught postgraduate diploma in Human Reproduction from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She specialized in Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism at the University Hospital Münster, Klinikum Dortmund, and at the University Hospital Duisburg-Essen, EvK Herne in Germany. She has worked as a specialist Endocrinologist - Diabetologist at the endocrinology-diabetology center of Dortmund MVZ Eberhard, as well as at the University Hospital Münster, Klinikum Dortmund. Additionally, she holds specializations related to her field, specifically in Osteoporosis Treatment, Lipidology, and Ultrasound of the thyroid and parathyroid glands (including elastography).

Karampasiadou Zoi is a licensed Psychologist and graduate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a specialization in Clinical Psychology as well as School and Developmental Psychology. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from the Hellenic Management Association (EEDE).Her passion for Psychology led her to pursue further training in Psychotherapy through IAOTH, while her interest in the corporate sector motivated her to undertake additional studies in business administration, communication, and economics (EEDE).

She is a licensed Psychologist and is currently further training at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Stress Management and Health Promotion.She completed her internship at the Junior High School and High School for the Deaf of Thessaloniki, providing individual and group psychological support to children, adolescents, and their families. She has also offered psychological support services to vulnerable social groups within European Union programs for the long-term unemployed and has managed awareness and prevention programs for children, adolescents, and adults at both national and European levels.Over the past four years, she has been training executives and individuals in psychology-related topics focusing on motivation in physical activity, aiming at a holistic approach to well-being and quality of life. She actively participates in conferences and workshops on stress management, bullying prevention and intervention, and the prevention and management of burnout.She collaborates scientifically as a Psychologist with the Panhellenic Association for the Support of Individuals with Obesity “Imeroeessa” and the Scientific Group “Opsometha eis Philippous.”For the past fifteen years, she has also been active in communication and Human Resource Management roles within multinational companies, managing projects both in Greece and abroad.In parallel, she provides private psychological services through individual and group sessions, addressing a wide range of needs.As a Business Consultant, she specializes in recruitment and assessment, the implementation of assessment and development centers, and career transition support (outplacement).As a Psychologist, she provides support in confidence building and personal development, stress and anxiety management, individual and group interventions, couples therapy, smoking cessation support, as well as CV writing and job interview preparation.Her practice is located in the center of Thessaloniki, and all services are also available online through modern digital platforms.

Aleksaki Sofia is an Endocrinologist - Diabetologist and a PhD candidate at École des Ponts ParisTech in France, with a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. She specialized in Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus, and Metabolism at Venizeleio General Hospital of Heraklion, where she further specialized in Diabetology. She also has many years of clinical and research experience in Greece, the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium.

Mastorantonakis Stylianos is a Pathologist - Hypertension Specialist with a private practice in the Ampelokipoi area. He holds a PhD from the University of Athens focusing on morning blood pressure increase, graduated from the Medical School of the University of Crete, and specialized in Pathology at the 3rd University Pathology Clinic in Athens. He has expertise in hypertension, following training initially at the STRIDE Hellas-7 Hypertension Center of the 3rd University Pathology Clinic at the General Chest Diseases Hospital of Athens "Sotiria," and subsequently at the clinical and research International Circulatory Health Center (ICCH) of Imperial College London. In recent years, he has collaborated with Hygeia Hospital as a pathologist for patient hospitalization. He sees patients in his practice for pathology issues, with a special interest in the diagnosis of arterial hypertension, investigation of secondary hypertension, accurate blood pressure measurements, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, monitoring, and therapeutic management of blood pressure. Finally, the doctor is a member of the European Society of Hypertension and has served as secretary of the Hellenic Society of Cardiovascular Health.

Mpourelakis Stauros is a General Practitioner with a private clinic in Patras. He specializes in managing issues related to Diabetes as well as autoimmune diseases in general. He possesses extensive experience in handling a variety of cases.

Eftexar Samira-Vasiliki is a Psychologist-Psychotherapist (professional license number 6851/2015) and maintains a private practice in the Ilisia area, near the "Megaro Mousikis" metro station. As a Psychotherapist, she specializes in the Cognitive-Behavioral model, which forms the main axis of her therapeutic practice. In accordance with the individualized needs of each patient, she integrates tools and interventions from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy into this model. These constitute the "third generation" of Cognitive-Behavioral therapies, for which she has received relevant training. She has worked as an external scientific collaborator at the Eating Disorders Unit of the 1st Psychiatric Clinic of Aeginiteio Hospital, as part of her two-year postgraduate training in the treatment of Eating Disorders. She provides specialized therapeutic support to adults experiencing difficulties related to anxiety (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, health anxiety, phobias), eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder), depression, as well as life transitions, interpersonal relationship issues, communication challenges, low self-esteem, boundary issues, anger, procrastination, and more.

Kouna Eleutheria is a Dietitian - Nutritionist with a private practice in Galatsi. She is a graduate of the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, and holds a postgraduate degree in Clinical Nutrition with a specialization in the Nutritional and Psychological Management of Eating Disorders and Obesity. She has extensive experience, having successfully managed numerous cases of bulimia nervosa and anorexia, binge eating disorder, psychogenic obesity, as well as childhood obesity. The dietitian keeps up-to-date with current medical developments by participating in national and international conferences and seminars on nutrition and obesity. She is also a member of the Hellenic Association of Dietitians - Nutritionists. Her private practice offers specialized services with respect for the client.

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

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.

H Δρ. Κολομβότσου Αναστασία είναι πτυχιούχος Διαιτολόγος - Διατροφολόγος, μέλος του Πανελλήνιου Συλλόγου Διαιτολόγων - Διατροφολόγων, με ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Νέο Ψυχικό. Κάτοχος μεταπτυχιακού διπλώματος M(Med)Sc στη Διατροφή με εξειδίκευση στη Δημόσια Υγεία στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Γλασκώβης, Μεγάλης Βρετανίας και διδακτορικού τίτλου με εξειδίκευση σε καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα και μεταβολικό σύνδρομο από το Τμήμα Επιστήμης Τροφίμων και Διατροφής του Ανθρώπου, Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών. Εν συνεχεία, με βάση το ενδιαφέρον της στην υγεία πληθυσμών σε κίνδυνο, ολοκλήρωσε το δεύτερο μεταπτυχιακό στη διαχείριση κρίσεων και τη διεθνή ιατρική στο Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών. Διαθέτει σπουδαίο και αναγνωρισμένο ερευνητικό έργο με την συμμετοχή σε διάφορες μελέτες, τη συγγραφή επιστημονικών άρθρων σε περιοδικά παγκόσμιας απήχησης, όπως το Am J Clin Nutr, Epidemiologia, κεφαλαίων σε βιβλία διατροφής και μεταφράσεις. Με στόχο την διαρκή ενημέρωση και εξειδίκευση, παρακολουθεί ετησίως συνέδρια και έχει υπάρξει η ίδια ομιλήτρια σε επιστημονικά συνέδρια, σε σχολεία και σε πληθυσμιακές ομάδες ακριτικών περιοχών ως μέλος των Κινητών Ιατρικών Μονάδων. Διαθέτει κλινική εμπειρία έχοντας εργαστεί σε ως Κλινική Διαιτολόγος - Διατροφολόγος στο Νοσοκομείο "Υγεία" και στην Πολυκλινική Ολυμπιακού Χωριού. Ακόμη, εξειδικεύεται σε καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα, υπέρταση και μεταβολικό σύνδρομο, στο σακχαρώδη διαβήτη και στην απώλεια σωματικού βάρους. Αναλαμβάνει και έχει σημαντική εμπειρία σε διατροφική αντιμετώπιση ΙΦΝΕ (Ιδιοπαθείς Φλεγμονώδεις Νόσοι του Εντέρου) σε παιδιά και ενήλικες, σε διατροφή εγκύων και ατόμων μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας των 65 ετών. Επίσης αξιολογεί (αναλύσεις διατροφικού ιστορικού και εξετάσεις) και συμβουλεύει σε υιοθέτηση υγιεινής διατροφής. Εστιάζει στην εξατομίκευση των προγραμμάτων διατροφής με σεβασμό στις ιδιαιτερότητες του κάθε ατόμου/ασθενούς (ιδιαίτερες γευστικές προτιμήσεις, vegan, vegetarian), στις οικογενειακές συνήθειες, με λύσεις πρακτικές, έτσι που να μπορούν να πετύχουν το στόχο τους και την θεραπεία τους, βελτιώνοντας την υγεία τους υγιεινοδιαιτητικά, χωρίς φαρμακευτική αγωγή όπως και την εικόνα σώματός τους. Πετυχαίνουν τους στόχους τους άτομα πολυάσχολα, με απαιτητική καθημερινότητα, ιδιαίτερες συνήθειες και ανάγκες ακόμη και απογοητευμένα άτομα, μετά από πολυάριθμες προσπάθειες απώλειας βάρους. Παρέχει και διαδικτυακή παρακολούθηση σε Ελλάδα και εξωτερικό.

   Ονομάζομαι Γιώργος Βαφειάδης και εργάζομαι ως ψυχαναλυτικός ψυχοθεραπευτής στην Κατερίνη, όπου διατηρώ ιδιωτικό γραφείο από το 2024, ενώ δέχομαι θεραπευόμενους ιδιωτικά από το 2020.

  Είμαι απόφοιτος του Τμήματος Κοινωνικής Διοίκησης του Δημοκρίτειου Πανεπιστημίου Θράκης και εργάστηκα για περίπου τρία χρόνια ως στον Διεθνή Οργανισμό Μετανάστευσης. Εκεί απέκτησα σημαντική κλινική εμπειρία εργαζόμενος με ευάλωτες ομάδες και κυρίως με ψυχιατρικά περιστατικά, σε συνθήκες που μου έδωσαν βαθιά κατανόηση της ανθρώπινης δυσκολίας και ανθεκτικότητας.

  Στη συνέχεια ολοκλήρωσα το μεταπτυχιακό πρόγραμμα στη Συμβουλευτική Ψυχολογία και τη Συνθετική Ψυχοθεραπεία στο University of East London (UEL), όπου εκπαιδεύτηκα σε διαφορετικά ψυχοθεραπευτικά μοντέλα, όπως η γνωστική–συμπεριφορική, η προσωποκεντρική, η ψυχαναλυτική και η συστημική προσέγγιση. Η εκπαίδευση αυτή μου έδωσε τη δυνατότητα να εργάζομαι συνθετικά και να προσαρμόζω τη θεραπεία στις ανάγκες κάθε ανθρώπου. Στο πλαίσιο του μεταπτυχιακού πραγματοποίησα κλινική πρακτική ατομικής ψυχοθεραπείας υπό εποπτεία.

  Η βασική μου εκπαίδευση είναι στην ψυχαναλυτική ψυχοθεραπεία, την οποία ακολούθησα μέσα από την πενταετή εκπαίδευσή μου στην Ελληνική Εταιρεία Αναλυτικής Ομαδικής και Οικογενειακής Ψυχοθεραπείας. Η εκπαίδευση περιλάμβανε θεωρητική κατάρτιση στην ψυχανάλυση και στις αντικειμενότροπες σχέσεις, προσωπική ψυχοθεραπεία, εποπτεία περιστατικών και κλινική εμπειρία σε ψυχιατρικό πλαίσιο.

  Η ψυχαναλυτική προσέγγιση αποτελεί τον βασικό άξονα της δουλειάς μου, καθώς εστιάζει στην κατανόηση των βαθύτερων αιτίων των δυσκολιών και όχι μόνο στην αντιμετώπιση των συμπτωμάτων. Παράλληλα αξιοποιώ στοιχεία και από άλλες προσεγγίσεις, όταν αυτό κρίνεται χρήσιμο για τον θεραπευόμενο.

  Στο γραφείο μου εργάζομαι με ενήλικες, ζευγάρια και οικογένειες, καλύπτοντας ένα ευρύ φάσμα δυσκολιών. Παιδιά κάτω των 13 ετών βλέπω μόνο στο πλαίσιο οικογενειακής θεραπείας, όπου συνδυάζω ψυχαναλυτική και συστημική προσέγγιση.

  Στη θεραπεία δίνω ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στη δημιουργία ενός ασφαλούς χώρου όπου ο άνθρωπος μπορεί να μιλήσει ελεύθερα χωρίς φόβο κριτικής. Μέσα από τη θεραπευτική διαδικασία επιδιώκω ο θεραπευόμενος να κατανοήσει σε βάθος τον εαυτό του και τις σχέσεις του, να αποκτήσει μεγαλύτερη εσωτερική ηρεμία και να μπορέσει να προχωρήσει σε ουσιαστικές αλλαγές στη ζωή του.

  Πιστεύω ότι μέσα από τη βαθύτερη κατανόηση του εαυτού, κάποια από τα προβλήματα που μας απασχολούν υποχωρούν, κάποια άλλα μειώνονται, ενώ ορισμένα χρειάζεται να τα αποδεχτούμε ως κομμάτι του εαυτού μας. Η θεραπεία οδηγεί σταδιακά σε πιο ουσιαστικές σχέσεις, μεγαλύτερη συναισθηματική ισορροπία και πιο ώριμες αποφάσεις.

  Το ενδιαφέρον μου για την κατανόηση του ανθρώπου ξεκίνησε από νωρίς και συνδέεται με μια γενικότερη ανάγκη να εμβαθύνω στη φύση του ανθρώπου και των σχέσεων. Από νεαρή ηλικία με απασχολούσαν ζητήματα ψυχολογίας, φιλοσοφίας και ιστορίας, ενώ η πρώτη μου επαφή με την ψυχαναλυτική σκέψη έγινε ήδη από την εφηβεία. Η αναζήτηση αυτή συνεχίζεται μέχρι σήμερα και αποτελεί βασικό στοιχείο τόσο της προσωπικής όσο και της επαγγελματικής μου πορείας.

  Παράλληλα έχω παρακολουθήσει πλήθος σεμιναρίων σχετικών με την ψυχοπαθολογία, τις ανθρώπινες σχέσεις, τη γονεϊκότητα και τη διαχείριση του άγχους, ενώ συνεχίζω την εκπαίδευσή μου στο αντικείμενο της ψυχολογίας.

Iliopoulos Dimitrios MD, PhD is a Specialist Internist - Diabetologist with a private practice in Marousi. He holds a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Crete. He has specialized training in diabetology and serves as a scientific collaborator at the diabetology center of the 2nd University Clinic at the General Hospital of Athens "Hippocratio". He is also an associate internist at the "Mitera" Hospital. His primary goal is a patient-friendly approach, thorough clinical examination, and timely diagnosis and management of medical issues. In a simple and explanatory manner, the patient will fully understand their condition, receive updates on the latest medical data, and have any questions addressed. The practice manages a wide range of conditions, including infections, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and hyperlipidemia (cholesterol). Preventive screening is also performed, including clinical examination and prescription of laboratory and imaging tests. Finally, the physician also provides health certificates for sports and work, as well as medical reports for use in the KEPA committees.