Health professionals for Phobias near Stavroupoli

Η Μαρία Σαββίδου είναι Ψυχολόγος, Κλινικής - Κοινωνικής κατεύθυνσης και κάτοχος Άδειας Ασκήσεως Επαγγέλματος Ψυχολόγου. Αποφοίτησε από το Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης (2009), ενώ έλαβε υποτροφία από το University of Groningen της Ολλανδίας. Από το 2016, διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο κέντρο της Θεσσαλονίκης, όπου παρέχει υπηρεσίες ψυχολογικής υποστήριξης σε ενήλικες, εφήβους και παιδιά.

Εξειδικεύτηκε στην Μουσικοθεραπεία (ΜΑ) στο τμήμα Μουσικής και Κοινωνίας του Πανεπιστημίου Μακεδονίας και η θεραπευτική της προσέγγιση βασίζεται στο ανθρωπιστικό μοντέλο, με κεντρικούς άξονες την αποδοχή, την ενσυναίσθηση και την αυθεντική θεραπευτική σχέση. Παράλληλα, αξιοποιεί και στοιχεία από διαφορετικές θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις, όπως είναι η Ψυχανάλυση, η Γνωστική - συμπεριφορική θεραπεία (CBT) και η Νευροψυχολογία, ανάλογα με το εξατομικευμένο πλάνο και το θεραπευτικό αίτημα. Ακόμη, μέσα από την κλινική της εμπειρία, εξειδικεύτηκε στις μαθησιακές δυσκολίες, την κατάθλιψη και τις διαταραχές άγχους.

Σημαντικό σταθμό στην πορεία της αποτελεί η κλινική της άσκηση στην Παιδοψυχιατρική Κλινική του Νοσοκομείου Παπανικολάου Θεσσαλονίκης, όπου εργάστηκε ως Μουσικοθεραπεύτρια και συνέβαλε στη διαμόρφωση και εφαρμογή καινοτόμων θεραπευτικών παρεμβάσεων σε πανελλήνιο επίπεδο.

Επέλεξε επίσης να εξειδικευτεί και στη Συμβουλευτική Σταδιοδρομίας, καθώς πιστεύει ότι η επαγγελματική ζωή είναι πολύ σημαντική και δύναται να επηρεάσει την ψυχικής μας υγεία. Η δυνατότητα να υποστηρίζει εφήβους και ενήλικες σε κρίσιμες αποφάσεις ζωής και να τους βοηθάει να ενισχύσουν την αυτογνωσία τους, αλλά και να ευθυγραμμίσουν τις επιλογές με τις αξίες τους και τις δυνατότητές τους, αποτέλεσε για εκείνη μια προέκταση του θεραπευτικού της έργου.

Επιπλέον, έχει εργαστεί στο Συμβουλευτικό Σταθμό Νέων Ν. Κοζάνης, στο Πρόγραμμα Προαγωγής Αυτοβοήθειας (ΑΠΘ), στο Κέντρο Πρόληψης και Συμβουλευτικής Θεσσαλονίκης και σε άλλες εθελοντικές, δημόσιες και ιδιωτικές δομές.

Η επιλογή της επιστήμης της Ψυχολογίας ήταν μια συνειδητή απόφαση από νεαρή ηλικία, καθώς είχε έντονο ενδιαφέρον για την ανθρώπινη επικοινωνία, τη συναισθηματική κατανόηση και τις διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις. Μέχρι και σήμερα, συνεχίζει να επιμορφώνεται και να είναι ενεργή στο ερευνητικό πεδίο, με σκοπό να κατανοεί σε μεγαλύτερο βάθος τον άνθρωπο - τις σκέψεις, τα συναισθήματα και τις σχέσεις του, αλλά και το πως αυτά επηρεάζονται από το εκάστοτε κοινωνικό και πολιτισμικό πλαίσιο.

Για εκείνη, η ψυχολογία δεν είναι απλά μια επαγγελματική επιλογή, αλλά μια διαρκής πορεία γνώσης και ουσιαστικής ανθρώπινης σύνδεσης. Αντιλαμβάνεται τη θεραπευτική διαδικασία ως ένα ζωντανό χώρο συνάντησης, όπου η δυσκολία μπορεί να ειπωθεί με ασφάλεια και ο άνθρωπος να ξαναβρεί τη σχέση με τον εαυτό του σε ένα πλαίσιο αποδοχής, σεβασμού και ουσιαστικής παρουσίας.

Xristou Xaris is a Counseling Psychologist with a private practice in Thessaloniki. He studied Psychology (BSc) at the University of Sheffield. He continued his studies at the University of York, where he completed a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology (Master of Arts). He has worked at the Hellenic Myasthenia Gravis Association, providing psychological support to patients with Myasthenia Gravis. His experience includes internships at the Child and Adolescent Center and the General Hospital of Thessaloniki "G. Papanikolaou", in the Child and Adolescent Department, as well as volunteer work at the KETHEA ITHAKI Counseling Center and ARSIS (Social Organization for Youth Support), offering counseling support. Additionally, he has taught Psychology courses at a Private Vocational Training Institute in Thessaloniki. He continues his professional development through ongoing supervision and personal therapy, which helps him maintain a high level of knowledge and skills. Finally, he provides individual psychotherapy sessions for Adults and Adolescents, addressing a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, anger management, eating disorders, interpersonal relationship management, and others.

Sarikoudis Apostolos is a Mental Health Counselor - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. He has completed studies as a Mental Health Counselor with full qualification and certification of a three-year training program at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling, as well as his three-year training at the same center as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Psychotherapist. Concurrently, he is pursuing additional training in new therapeutic approaches. He has been professionally involved in psychological support and parental counseling for the municipality of Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki. During his internship, he served as a coordinator in groups for individuals with addictions at the rehabilitation center "Change of Life" and as a research observer in a personal development and self-awareness group at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling. He is a registered full member of the Hellenic Counseling Society (HCS) and a recognized registered member of the European Association for Counseling (EAC). In his private practice, he handles a wide range of cases and notably offers the option for online sessions.

Athanasiou–Diamantopoulou Sofia is a Psychologist – Systemic Family Psychotherapist and runs a private practice in the center of Thessaloniki. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a License to Practice as a Psychologist (Protocol Number 206602/4509). Wanting to further expand her knowledge and strengthen her professional tools, she specialized in Systemic & Family Psychotherapy, completing the four-year program at the Institute of Systemic Approach & Family Therapy.

Her main goal is to provide services on an individual level, as well as to systems such as couples, families, and organizations. Since she believes that knowledge should be continuous and multifaceted, she chose to deepen her expertise in Human Rights issues and obtained her Master’s degree in Human Rights & Migration Studies from the University of Macedonia.

Through her professional experience, she has worked with trauma, grief and loss management, depression, anxiety disorders, as well as relationship issues. During 2016–2017, she volunteered at the Child Psychiatry Department of the Community Mental Health Center of Eastern Thessaloniki, as well as at the Municipal Nursery “Agios Stylianos,” where she worked with children and families, while also participating in coordinating groups for teachers.

Since 2017, she has worked in various settings, providing Mental Health services to socially vulnerable groups, both in local and international NGOs, as well as international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration. Since 2023, she has been working as a Mental Health Specialist in corporate environments, with a focus on trauma, burnout, and everyday challenges, aiming to enhance resilience and employees’ well-being, alongside maintaining her private practice.

Kasidou Pasxalia is a multifaceted professional specializing in Gestalt Psychotherapy, conscious breathing techniques, and therapeutic yoga. Her career is marked by continuous experiential and scientific education and inquiry, personal development, and therapy, aiming for a holistic therapeutic approach to the individual.

Core skills and specializations: Gestalt Psychotherapy: She completed her training at Gestalt Foundation Thessaloniki. She works with individual appointments and group coordination at her private practice.

Conscious Breathing (breathwork): Since 2007, she has been involved with conscious breathing, actively participating in numerous workshops and educational seminars on Conscious Breathing techniques in Greece and abroad. She has been facilitating breathing technique seminars from 2012 to the present and supports individual conscious breathing sessions.

Yoga: Certified instructor with over 1000 hours of training. She specializes in therapeutic yoga and also coordinates yoga teacher trainings (500h).

Alternative philosophies: She has deepened her knowledge in Hatha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Vipassana Meditation, integrating applied philosophies of Buddhism and Hinduism with contemporary psychotherapeutic methods.

Gkountoni Anna is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, holding a professional practice license and operates her own office in the center of Thessaloniki. She has obtained a postgraduate degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Additionally, she is undergoing training in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy at the Hellenic Association of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy (HACBP).

Aria Stathi is a Psychologist and Psychotherapist, holding a degree in Psychology from the University of East London. She is trained in the integrative model of Cognitive Behavioral and Person-Centered Psychotherapy and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki.

She has completed a one-year postgraduate training in Child Psychology and has undertaken a six-month internship at the Hellenic Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association Day Center "Agia Eleni". Additionally, she served as a Psychologist for two years at the counseling center of the Metropolitan College.

In her private practice, she addresses a wide range of cases, with extensive experience in anxiety disorders, life transition periods, panic attacks, grief, self-esteem, communication skills, and more.

Kalafati Eui is a Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist. She studied at the Department of Psychology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in Clinical and Cognitive Psychology, and holds a Licensed Psychologist Professional License.

She has specialized in Systemic Psychotherapy through the four-year Training Program at the Center for Systemic Study and Therapy of Thessaloniki - Ke.S.Me.Th.Th. She also specialized in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Parent Counseling at the Laboratory of Systemic Ideas, Research and Intervention - Entropy.

Since 2016, she has worked as a Psychologist in International Organizations and Agencies, with experience in both adult and minor populations, particularly in managing and supporting cases of child protection, gender-based violence, victims of human trafficking, etc.

Since January 2023, she has maintained a private practice, where she provides individual, family psychotherapy services as well as couple and child therapy.

Valla Faii is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki at 10 Tsimiski Street. She has completed undergraduate studies in Psychology and postgraduate studies in Neuroscience, focusing on the integration of basic research with clinical application at the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her thesis concerns the functional connectivity of the brain in patients with Schizophrenia. Among other qualifications, she has attended the introductory lecture series in Psychoanalysis by the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society and has participated in activities of the Northern Greece Psychoanalytic Society. She has gained valuable experience through her collaboration with an institution for individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as through her work in a mental health facility serving patients with psychiatric disorders. Throughout her career, she has engaged with the pediatric population, collaborating with specialized therapy centers for children and adolescents and providing parental counseling sessions. Additionally, she worked as an evaluating psychologist in the "Personal Assistant" program for people with disabilities, offering supportive services. Concurrently, she is a trainee member at the European Institute of Counseling and Psychotherapy of Chania, specializing in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. She receives continuous supervision and personal analysis.

Η Κουκουρίκη Χριστίνα είναι Ψυχολόγος και Συστημική Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο κέντρο της Θεσσαλονίκης, προσφέροντας υπηρεσίες ατομικής, ζεύγους και οικογενειακής ψυχοθεραπείας και συμβουλευτικής. Είναι πτυχιούχος Ψυχολογίας από το Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης με μεταπτυχιακό στο Πανεπιστήμιο Αιγαίου με θέμα Κοινωνική Πολιτική και Πολιτισμικές Διαστάσεις και εξειδίκευση στη Συμβουλευτική και τον Προσανατολισμό (ΑΣΠΑΙΤΕ). Διαθέτει πρόσθετη επιμόρφωση στην Συμβουλευτική Σταδιοδρομίας και στην Εκπαίδευση Ενηλίκων και είναι πιστοποιημένη Εκπαιδεύτρια Ενηλίκων. Έχει ολοκληρωμένη εκπαίδευση και επιμορφώσεις στη Συστημική Οικογενειακή Ψυχοθεραπεία και Συμβουλευτική και ως Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια είναι μέλος της Συστημικής Εταιρείας Βορείου Ελλάδος και Ευρωπαϊκής Εταιρείας Οικογενειακής Θεραπείας (EFTA-CIM). Για 12 χρόνια έχει υπάρξει ενεργό μέλος και για ένα διάστημα πρόεδρος του Παρατηρητηρίου για τα Δικαιώματα στο χώρο της Ψυχικής Υγείας. Διαθέτει εικοσαετή εργασιακή εμπειρία σε διάφορα πλαίσια. Εργάζεται ως Ψυχολόγος σε Δήμο, όπου παρέχει υπηρεσίες ψυχο-κοινωνικής στήριξης, συμβουλευτικής και ψυχοθεραπείας σε άτομα και οικογένειες. Κύρια έμφαση της δουλειάς της είναι οι δυσκολίες σε θέματα ψυχικής υγείας, όπως κατάθλιψη, στρες, ψυχοσωματικά συμπτώματα, απώλειες, ψυχώσεις κλπ αλλά και τα γενικότερα προβλήματα που προκύπτουν από αναπηρίες, ασθένειες και άλλα δύσκολα γεγονότα ζωής. Επί σειρά ετών εργάστηκε ως Σύμβουλος Σταδιοδρομίας σε Σχολεία Δεύτερης Ευκαιρίας και σε προγράμματα Συμβουλευτικής Ανέργων, ως υπεύθυνη και εκπαιδεύτρια των Σχολών Γονέων. Από το 2007 έχει διεξάγει σεμινάρια ως Εκπαιδεύτρια Ενηλίκων κυρίως σε ομάδες γονέων, εργαζομένων, επαγγελματιών και σε άλλες ομάδες ενηλίκων. Ακόμη, υπήρξε συντονίστρια ομάδας για την κατάθλιψη για δέκα χρόνια. Τέλος, απέκτησε πολύτιμη κλινική εμπειρία ασκούμενη σε δημόσιες και μη δομές ψυχικής υγείας και σε μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις, όπως το Παιδοψυχιατρικό του Ιπποκράτειου νοσοκομείου, το Ιατροπαιδαγωγικό Ψυχιατρικό Νοσοκομείο Θεσσαλονίκης, τα Κέντρα Ψυχικής Υγείας κεντρικού και δυτικού (Αμπελοκήπων) τομέα, το Ψυχιατρικό Νοσοκομείο Θεσσαλονίκης, το Κρατικό Θεραπευτήριο Λέρου, το Πολυϊατρείο PRAKSIS, το Πολύκεντρο Δήμου Μυτιλήνης, την Εταιρεία Σπαστικών Βορείου Ελλάδος, την ΑΡΣΙΣ, την Εθελοντική Εργασία κλπ.

Stergiou - Stamou Stella is a Psychologist - Systemic Psychotherapist, maintaining a private practice in Thessaloniki, providing psychotherapeutic and counseling services to adults, couples, and families. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a focus on social-clinical psychology. She participated in the clinical training program of the 1st University Psychiatric Clinic of Papageorgiou Hospital. Subsequently, she completed her three-year training in systemic psychotherapy and counseling at the Systemic Institute of Thessaloniki. She is a member of the Greek Psychologists Association with registration number 2692, as well as the Systemic Society of Northern Greece. She holds a professional license to practice psychology throughout Greece since 2013. She has maintained a private practice in the center of Thessaloniki since 2016 and has also offered her services voluntarily at various institutions, such as the Mental Health Center of the Western Sector and the Thessaloniki Social Clinic. Additionally, the specialist has been trained and has a particular interest in issues such as depression, phobias, anxiety - panic attacks, psychosomatic disorders, trauma and post-traumatic stress, personality disorders, among others. She also deals with problems arising in the context of family and work, as well as couple-related issues. Finally, she has participated and continues to participate in psychology and psychotherapy workshops and conferences, aiming to stay continuously updated with developments in the mental health field.

Eugenidou Christina is a Psychologist specializing in adolescents and adults and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Sheffield, UK, and two postgraduate degrees from Vrije Universiteit and University College London, respectively. Her experience over the past 10 years includes working with adolescents (both Greek and those with refugee or immigrant backgrounds), women victims of domestic violence, as well as adults. She accepts cases either online or in person.

Andromaxi Sdoukou is a Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist practicing privately in Thessaloniki. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has completed her postgraduate degree in Systemic Psychotherapy at the University of Central Lancashire (UClan), in collaboration with the College of Humanities ICPS. She has completed training programs in Postmodern Systemic Approaches to Psychotherapy (Solution-Focused, Narrative, Collaborative Approach) at the Bienestar center, as well as in Systemic and Family Therapy at the Mental Health Center (KPSY) of the Western Sector of Thessaloniki. Additionally, she has completed training in Grief Support and Counseling at Merimna Thessaloniki and in Cinematherapy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. As part of her training, she has gained clinical experience in public mental health structures and non-governmental organizations in Thessaloniki, specifically in the Alternative Therapy Program for Dependent Individuals "ARGO," at the Mental Health Center of the Western Sector of Thessaloniki, and in the Social Service of ARSIS. From 2020 to 2021, she provided voluntary psychotherapeutic and counseling services in the Short-Term Psychological Support Group in days of Covid-19, a solidarity initiative she co-created with other Solution-Focused psychotherapists. She has volunteered at the Cinematherapy Festival, the world’s first Cinematherapy Festival, and since 2020 she has been writing articles on cinema and psychology. Currently, she provides psychotherapeutic services to adults, families, and couples through face-to-face or online sessions.