Health professionals for Psychosomatic symptoms in Athens

Dimitra Sigala is a Psychologist, a graduate of the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete, a final-year student of the postgraduate program “Forensic Psychiatry” at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and holds a professional license to practice psychology.

She has completed the annual postgraduate seminars in Clinical Psychopathology and Clinical Skills in Psychopathology "Panagiotis Oulis," as well as training in the administration of the Structured Clinical Interview SCID I, organized by the First Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Athens.

In parallel with her studies, she has attended part of the training program in Cognitive Psychotherapies offered by the Hellenic Society of Cognitive Psychotherapies, and she is a trainee Systemic Psychotherapist. Additionally, she has been trained in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy through the Eagala (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model in Staffordshire, England.

Her professional experience has enabled her to work in a clinical setting managing suicidal thoughts and self-destructive behaviors, as well as providing psychotherapy and counseling to adults.

She has gained clinical experience working as a volunteer psychologist in social therapeutic programs within psychiatric facilities, such as the Day Hospital Center of the Research University Mental Health Institute (E.P.I.PSY.), Rethymno Hospital, among others.

Soileme Maria is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and has maintained a private practice in Panormou since 2021. She graduated with honors from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and has specialized in Counseling and Career Guidance at the same university, as well as in Organizational Psychology at the University of Leicester, deepening her knowledge of psychological approaches that support both personal and professional development. Additionally, she has undergone 10 years of training in Systemic Dialectical Multidimensional & Multilevel Perspective and Psychotherapy at the Athens Center for the Study of Human (AKMA).

Since 2022, she has been working as a Psychologist and Employee Counselor for the Athens Center for the Study of Human (AKMA), providing support to professionals and organizations, while simultaneously continuing her therapeutic work in her private practice, offering psychological counseling to adults aimed at empowerment, self-awareness, and the improvement of daily functionality.

Furthermore, she has volunteered at the Family Therapy unit of the early intervention center for psychosis of EPAPSY - Franco Basaglia, working with couples and families and coordinating the Multifamily Therapy group.

She also has experience in family and parental role counseling in specialized treatment centers.

Tragara Elena is a Psychologist and a certified Gestalt Psychotherapist, maintaining a private practice in Ano Patisia. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Panteion University and has been trained in the Gestalt therapeutic approach at the Psychotherapy and Training Center "Gestalt Foundation." As part of her studies, she completed her internship at the 251st General Air Force Hospital, as well as at the Clinical and Research Department of the Institut Curie in Paris, France. Additionally, she has received training in Clinical Psychopathology at Aeginiteio Hospital through the "Panagiotis Oulis" program. Throughout her professional career, she has worked as a Psychologist at the Rehabilitation and Recovery Center "Blocks Rehab Philoktitis," where she collaborated with individuals suffering from chronic conditions, as well as patients requiring psychological support during their rehabilitation and recovery following sudden health issues. Her objective is to create a safe space for individuals seeking to deeply understand themselves and evolve the way they relate to others. Within her practice, Ground Psychotherapy, a multipurpose psychotherapy space operates, founded on the principles of human care and empathy towards people's needs. It is a supportive environment that simultaneously provides the appropriate ground for the emergence of sensations, thoughts, emotions, and needs. Mental health services offered include individual and group psychotherapy, couples therapy, and counseling.

Anastasia Xani is a Psychologist-Psychotherapist conducting online sessions. She holds a BSc degree in Applied Psychology and a master's degree in Clinical Psychology and Counselling (MSc) from the University of Derby. She completed her internship at Roots Wellness Center as a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist, managing a substantial number of cases under clinical supervision. She has collaborated with Specialized Therapy Centers, conducting individual and group psychotherapy sessions with adults, adolescents, and children, as well as offering parental counselling. Currently, she provides online sessions, addressing issues such as anxiety, mood disorders, self-esteem, and confidence. Additionally, she has attended numerous seminars related to psychotherapeutic intervention, focusing primarily on cognitive-behavioral therapy. The main focus of her therapeutic approach is to establish a relationship of safety and trust with the client, aiming to improve their mental health.

Giannis Xristopoulos is a Psychotherapist - Group Psychoanalyst and maintains a private practice in Ampelokipoi, where he provides individual and group psychotherapy.

He studied Sociology and subsequently trained for five years in Group Psychoanalyst Education at the Athens Institute of Group Analysis of the Open Psychotherapeutic Center (E.G.A.T.I.N., National Society of Psychotherapy of Greece), where he remains a collaborator to this day.

He has extensive professional experience as a psychotherapist and has concurrently coordinated numerous therapeutic groups, providing sessions to adults.

He attends and participates in a significant number of conferences, seminars, and educational programs to continuously enrich his professional tools. In his private practice, he offers individual psychotherapeutic sessions to adults and group sessions through Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.

Η Αγάπη Ψαθά BSc, MSc είναι πιστοποιημένη Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια (Άδεια άσκησης επαγγέλματος: 9285/18-06-2020) και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στην Αθήνα, πλησίον μετρό «Αμπελόκηποι». Είναι αριστούχος απόφοιτη Ψυχολογίας του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ) και κάτοχος Μεταπτυχιακού Διπλώματος στην Ψυχοθεραπεία (Τμήμα Ιατρικής, ΕΚΠΑ). Είναι πιστοποιημένη στη Βραχεία Εντατική Δυναμική Ψυχοθεραπεία (ISTDP), με πενταετή κλινική εμπειρία και βρίσκεται στο τελικό στάδιο τετραετούς πιστοποιημένης εκπαίδευσης στη Γνωστική Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία (CBT).

Η εκπαίδευσή της ενισχύεται από εξειδικευμένα σεμινάρια (Psychological First Aid, Johns Hopkins University), συνεχιζόμενες μετεκπαιδεύσεις στην κλινική ψυχοπαθολογία καθώς και στη χορήγηση και αξιολόγηση ψυχομετρικών εργαλείων (SCID-CV, SCID-PD). Επιπλέον, συμμετέχει σε διεθνή προγράμματα εποπτείας και κλινικών εξειδικεύσεων με στόχο τη συνεχή επαγγελματική της εξέλιξη και τη βελτίωση της ποιότητας της κλινικής της πρακτικής. Η διπλή θεραπευτική εξειδίκευση και η συνεχής μετεκπαίδευσή της της επιτρέπουν να επιλέγει τη μέθοδο που ανταποκρίνεται καλύτερα στις ανάγκες κάθε θεραπευόμενου, εξασφαλίζοντας υψηλή αποτελεσματικότητα.

Η επαγγελματική της πορεία περιλαμβάνει εμπειρία σε δημόσιους και ιδιωτικούς φορείς ψυχικής υγείας. Έχει συνεργαστεί με το Αιγινήτειο Νοσοκομείο, το Κέντρο Ψυχικής Υγιεινής Βύρωνα–Καισαριανής, τον Δήμο Ηλιούπολης και το Ελληνικό Δίκτυο Γυναικών Ευρώπης. Έχει εργαστεί σε σχολικές μονάδες ως σχολική ψυχολόγος, καθώς και σε οργανισμούς όπως ο Όμιλος για την UNESCO Πειραιώς και Νήσων. Επιπλέον, έχει αναπτύξει εμπειρία σε ιδιωτικά πλαίσια, παρέχοντας ψυχολογική υποστήριξη, συμβουλευτική και ψυχοθεραπεία. Έχει συνεργαστεί με ενήλικες, εφήβους, οικογένειες και ευάλωτους πληθυσμούς, καλλιεργώντας κλινική ευελιξία και ικανότητα συνεργασίας με διεπιστημονικές ομάδες.

Παράλληλα με την ιδιωτική της πρακτική, συνεργάζεται επιστημονικά με το Τμήμα Θεραπείας Ενηλίκων του Ινστιτούτου Έρευνας και Θεραπείας της Συμπεριφοράς (ΙΕΘΣ), όπου συνεχίζει να ασκεί κλινικό έργο, με εστίαση στη θεραπεία ενηλίκων μέσω των αρχών της Γνωσιακής-Συμπεριφορικής Προσέγγισης.

Συνδυάζοντας την εκτεταμένη ακαδημαϊκή κατάρτιση με την πολυδιάστατη κλινική εμπειρία και συνεχή επαγγελματική εποπτεία, προσφέρει ένα ασφαλές και συνεργατικό θεραπευτικό πλαίσιο. Στόχος της είναι η εις βάθος κατανόηση των δυσκολιών και η υποστήριξη του θεραπευόμενου στην πορεία προς ουσιαστική αποδοχή, αλλαγή και προσωπική ανάπτυξη.

Evangelia Raftopoulou is a Person-Centered Psychotherapist and Focusing practitioner, General Secretary and active member of the Hellenic Network of European Women (HNEW). In her private practice, she offers a safe and accepting space where individuals can connect with themselves, recognize their needs, and find their own pace of change. She has experience supporting women who have experienced gender-based violence, as well as in conflict management and violence prevention in the school environment. Through the therapeutic relationship, she aims to create an atmosphere of trust and empathy, where each person can stand with respect toward their personal history and move towards a more authentic and free life.

Dinka Marilina is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Neo Psychiko. She graduated from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. During her studies, she completed her internship at the Family Therapy Unit of the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica. Subsequently, she completed postgraduate studies in Work and Organizational Psychology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. She then attended a one-year postgraduate training in Clinical Psychopathology at E.P.I.PSY in collaboration with Aiginiteio Hospital. She has completed a four-year specialization program in Systemic Family Psychotherapy at Logo Psihis - Institute for Training and Research in Systemic Psychotherapy. Additionally, she has previously worked in Human Resources departments in corporate environments, gaining experience in managing human relations and organizational issues. In recent years, she has been therapeutically working with children, adolescents, adults, and couples, supporting them in managing their difficulties, cultivating more meaningful relationships, and improving self-understanding. Finally, she regularly participates in scientific conferences and continuing education seminars, considering ongoing training a fundamental part of her professional development.

Sakellariou Marsia is a Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist with studies in Greece and the United Kingdom. She holds a Psychology degree (BSc) from the University of Kent and a master's degree in Mental Health (MSc) from King’s College London. She has been trained in Systemic Psychotherapy at the Athens Center for Human Studies (AKMA) and continues her training at the same center in Group and Family Process, with additional training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

She has extensive experience in various therapeutic and psychosocial settings, such as the neuropsychiatric clinic Panagia i Grigorousa, in child protection and support structures (Penteli Convalescent Home, SOS Children’s Villages), as well as in online counseling sessions. Through these centers, she has supported individuals facing anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and other challenges.

Simultaneously, her experience in multinational companies in London has cultivated her analytical thinking and the ability to understand and connect different aspects of human behavior beyond the clinical setting. 

Her therapeutic approach is based on building a safe and non-judgmental framework characterized mainly by trust, understanding, respect, and the desire to support each client in evolving into the best version of themselves. For her, therapy is a collaborative process aiming to understand the patterns that affect life and to develop new, more functional ways of connecting with oneself and others.

Currently, she provides online sessions in Greek and English until her office in Neo Psychiko becomes operational, where she will also offer in-person services.