Health professionals for Sadness and distress near Dafni

Vallianatou Danai is a mental health counsellor. Her private practice is located in Ymittos. She holds Bachelor Degree in Psychology, by the American College of Greece, Post-graduate Diploma in Person Centered Approach by the Counselling Department of University of Strathclyde, Glasgow as well as training in Person – Centered Psychotherapy through the European Association of Psychotherapy. She has worked as an HR Manager as well as Coordinator of humanitarian programs in PRAKSIS NGO. She provides individual counseling and psychotherapy services for adults, group parenting counseling and group personal development counseling She has particular expertise in anxiety, self-esteem, depression, loss and bereavement, sexual orientation, gender identity, relationship difficulties and parenting difficulties. Sessions can also be held in English

Gesthimani Pantelidou is a Mental Health Counselor - Psychotherapist and has been running the Mental Health Center - "aniGma" in Nea Smyrni for the past 7 years. She deals with issues related to personal anxieties, difficulties and dilemmas, family matters, issues and challenges concerning adolescents and the elderly, as well as emotional, psychosomatic, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress, and the management of loss and grief. Additionally, as a personal coach with extensive experience in the business sector, she supports the encouragement of change, motivation, utilization of personal potential, enhancement of self-confidence and self-esteem, management of indecisiveness, as well as goal setting and achievement. Based on the Synthetic Approach, she combines techniques from Person-Centered, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Psychodynamic therapies, as well as personal coaching techniques, to flexibly adapt to the needs and personality of each client. In today’s era of general disorientation and loneliness, the human individual strives to cope with pain, fear, and anxiety arising from the ambiguity of their constantly changing life. Psychological support and counseling sessions aim to reveal the distinctly personal functional adaptation method of the individual to the present and future of their life, discovering the unused potentials of their soul in conjunction with the ongoing cultivation of their communication skills with their environment.

“...I am not entirely guilty for the life I lead, since I did not choose it, nor am I entirely innocent from the moment I continue it...”

Skaltsas Mixail is a Psychologist who maintains a private practice in Neos Kosmos, where he provides services on both an individual and group basis. He studied Psychology at the University of Crete and subsequently moved to the United Kingdom to specialize in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology, obtaining a master's degree (M.Sc.) from Swansea University in Wales. Following this, as part of the further continuation of his psychotherapeutic training, he enrolled in the four-year training program at the Institute of Group Analysis "S.H. FOULKES." In the past, he has worked at a counseling center for children, adolescents, and families, as well as at pre-departure detention centers for foreigners. He also has many years of experience as a psychologist in psychosocial rehabilitation units. His interests focus on individual psychodynamic psychotherapy, group analytic psychotherapy, psychoeducation, coordination of training for professionals working in mental health settings, as well as the study of psychoanalytic texts.

Anna Xanioti is a Mental Health Counselor and Psychotherapist specializing in the Person-Centered Approach. She trained in the 4-year experiential program "Person-Centered Roots" at the College of Humanistic Studies ICPS in Athens. She is a certified Psychotherapist accredited by the European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP) and holds the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP). She ensures her professional development through continuous supervision, therapy, and participation in seminars and conferences. Her areas of interest include the integration of contemporary neuroscience with psychotherapy, developmental trauma and its impact on personal relationships, psychoemotional care of women during menopause, and encounter and personal development groups.

Malamatou Kelly is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist who maintains a private practice in Nea Smyrni. Motivated by the need to gain a deeper understanding of herself, life, and human relationships, she was led to study psychology. In 2004, she obtained her degree from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete, as well as her professional practice license. Subsequently, she embarked on a significant journey to acquire valuable experience through various professional and educational settings. She has completed, among other programs, a clinical training program in adult individual psychodynamic psychotherapy, seminars in systemic psychotherapy, and workshops in art therapy. Professionally, she has supported elderly individuals in the “Help at Home” Program, parents in Parent Schools, trainees in Second Chance Schools, employees at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, immigrants and refugees, women trainees in vocational counseling contexts, as well as children and parents at two schools and two specialized therapy centers.

Currently, she offers psychological support, counseling, and psychotherapy services for adults in her private practice, utilizing a psychodynamic approach in which she continues to deepen her expertise. Her personal need for understanding and development remains as strong as her desire to meet and assist others. Her primary concern is the creation of a safe and stable therapeutic environment characterized by acceptance, empathy, genuine interest, and adherence to ethical standards, so that individuals who approach her can share their feelings, difficulties, and any concerns they may have.

Ariadni Karatzeni is a graduate of the School of Social Work. She studied at the University of West Attica, specializing in Counseling Psychotherapy and Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. As an active member of the Hellenic Association of Social Workers, she is committed to promoting social change, resolving interpersonal issues, and empowering individuals to enhance their well-being. Guided by the principles of social work, she applies theories of human behavior and social systems to intervene at points where individuals interact with their environment. The principles of human rights and social justice, along with respect for these rights, are fundamental. Her primary objective is to facilitate the social integration of marginalized, excluded, and vulnerable social groups experiencing high-risk situations. Intervention using specific scientific approaches in dysfunctional social situations and crises empowers individuals, groups, and communities to resolve biopsychosocial problems and promote their social adaptation and well-being.

Danai Loukopoulou is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist maintaining a private practice in Ymittos, with a primary focus on Group Analysis. She is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and has completed a four-year training in Diagnostic Psychology at the Institute of Diagnostic Psychology of the Open Psychotherapeutic Center. Concurrently, she is training as a Group Analyst / Group Psychotherapist at the Athens Institute of Group Analysis, as part of a five-year training program.

Her therapeutic approach is based on group dynamics, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relationships and the understanding of the self through relationships with others. Within this framework, she facilitates psychotherapeutic groups, offering a safe space for expression and personal development.

From 2020 to 2024, she worked as a Psychologist in Centers for Special Therapies, where she provided parent counseling and conducted individual and group sessions with children and adolescents, as well as psychological assessments. In parallel, she performs psychological evaluations of adults as part of the therapeutic process.

In her private practice, she works with adults both individually and in groups, focusing on issues related to anxiety and mood, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.

Mata Eirini BSc is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist with a private practice in Kolonaki. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a professional license to practice. She is currently undertaking postgraduate training in Relational Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the Institute of Relational and Group Psychotherapy (ISOP). She has been in personal therapy since 2010 and under supervision since 2023. She is a member of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (IARPP) and the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). As part of her personal development and professional training, she participates in conferences, workshops, and educational seminars. Her aim is to enhance psychological resilience, facilitate the patient’s adaptation to new challenges and situations with flexibility and confidence, and ultimately, to promote self-awareness and personal integration.

A Step Beyond is a center for Counseling, Psychotherapy, Personal Development, Wellness, and Prosperity Growth. It was established by Kentro Psyxikis Ygeias Kai Euimerias A Step Beyond - Katranis Konstantinos Kai Synergates with the aim of providing therapies to individuals who wish to overcome their problems, to make their lives fuller and more beautiful, and to be guided towards wellness and prosperity through the necessary and appropriate means. The center’s specialists act as allies and companions for those who seek to discover new strategies and apply them, to enhance and utilize their internal resources, to learn new things or to view old matters from new perspectives, to heal traumas, to acquire new skills, to overcome fears and phobias, to eliminate chronic stress, and to live mindfully in the present moment, setting goals and achieving them. At A Step Beyond, the individual’s needs are addressed by selecting the appropriate specialist from among the trained Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Mental Health Professionals, or Personal Development Counselors to design a flexible and tailored evolution plan for each person.

Semeli Balta-Messari is a Psychologist and Dance Therapist who maintains a private practice in Neos Kosmos. She graduated from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete (2018). She holds a specialization in Jungian – Psychodynamic Counseling through Dance Therapy under the supervision of the Hellenic Center for Training – Psychotherapy through the Arts (Hellenic-British College of Athens), which she successfully completed in 2022. She has been trained in the Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) system and the Authentic Movement technique. The therapeutic model she follows combines Counseling Psychology techniques with the analysis of symbols and dreams, the approach to archetypes through creative methods, the Authentic Movement technique, and the Active Imagination technique. She has worked as a psychologist and dance therapist in both private and public institutions, providing psychological and counseling support to children, adolescents, and families, as well as populations with increased social and psycho-emotional needs. Currently, she is coordinating auxiliary work, as a specialist scientist, for the “Women InterACT” group at Restart Theater Athens, within the framework of a European program addressing the dual exclusion of women.

Mpani Vanesa is a graduate of the Psychology Department at Panteion University and specialized in the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Adult Therapy through the Society for Cognitive and Behavioral Studies. She is currently furthering her specialization in Schema Therapy at the Hellenic Society of Schema Therapy. Her research work has been presented at Panteion University and at the Institute for Research and Therapy of Behavior. Previously, she has collaborated with the mental health services center "Arsi," the rehabilitation and recovery center "Medical Exercise," and the supported living residence "To Petagma." Since 2019, she has maintained a private practice in Koukaki.

Η Δήμητρα Μουσιώνη είναι Προσωποκεντρική Σύμβουλος Ψυχικής Υγείας και βιωματική/ Focusing ψυχοθεραπεύτρια σε διαδικασία πιστοποίησης, πιστοποιημένη εκπαιδεύτρια γονέων (Attached at the Heart Parent Educator) από το Attachment Parenting Hellas. Διατηρεί το ιδιωτικό της γραφείο στη Νέα Σμύρνη. Σπούδασε Επικοινωνία, Μέσα και Πολιτισμό (κατεύθυνση Δημοσιογραφίας) στο Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο και εργάστηκε ως δημοσιογράφος (διεθνή, ελεύθερο και εκπαιδευτικό ρεπορτάζ) στην ΕΡΤ και την Ελευθεροτυπία. Η γέννηση του παιδιού της σήμανε την έναρξη ενός κύκλου αναζήτησης, θεραπείας και προσωπικής ανάπτυξης. Ακολούθησαν πολλές εκπαιδεύσεις και σεμινάρια σχετικά με τη γονεϊκότητα, την εκπαίδευση, την ανάπτυξη του παιδιού, τη σημασία του παιχνιδιού και το τραύμα, τις οποίες συνεχίζει έως σήμερα. 

Έχει εργαστεί εθελοντικά στο Ελληνικό Δίκτυο Γυναικών Ευρώπης, στη Γραμμή ΣΟΣ Δίπλα σου για την πρόληψη και αντιμετώπιση της έμφυλης βίας και στο Τμήμα Συμβουλευτικής και Ψυχοθεραπείας του Ελληνικού Κέντρου Focusing, παρέχοντας συνεδρίες σε ενήλικες με ΔΕΠΥ. 

Έχει πραγματοποιήσει περισσότερες από 200 ώρες ατομικής θεραπείας και βρίσκεται σε σταθερό εποπτικό πλαίσιο. Επιπλέον, έχει παρακολουθήσει τουλάχιστον 160 ώρες επιμορφώσεων και σεμιναρίων, καθώς και πολυάριθμα διεθνή και εγχώρια συνέδρια.

Είναι απλό τακτικό μέλος της Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Συμβουλευτικής, trainee member του International Focusing Institute της Νέας Υόρκης (TIFI), student member του World Association for Person–Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling, δόκιμο μέλος της Ελληνικής Προσωποκεντρικής και Βιωματικής Εταιρείας (ΕΠΒΕ) και μέλος του Συλλόγου Messy Play Greece & Cyprus.

Επέλεξε την Προσωποκεντρική καθώς είναι από τις λίγες θεραπευτικές προσεγγίσεις όπου η θεραπεύτρια δεν μπαίνει με την ταμπέλα της ειδικού στη θεραπευτική σχέση. Αντίθετα, αναγνωρίζοντας τα προνόμια και τις ευθύνες του ρόλου της, υποστηρίζει, διευκολύνει και συνοδεύει τα θεραπευόμενα στη δική τους μοναδική διαδικασία. Παράλληλα, πιστεύει ότι ο ενσυναισθητικός, με αποδοχή και αυθεντικότητα τρόπος συνοδείας των ανθρώπων αποτελεί τη βάση κάθε συμβουλευτικής και θεραπευτικής σχέσης.

Εμπιστεύεται και έχει βιώσει τη μεταμορφωτική δύναμη της διαδικασίας εστίασης (Focusing), μέσω της επαφής με τη βιωμένη αίσθηση, το άνοιγμα του εσωτερικού χώρου και τη δημιουργία σχέσης ασφάλειας και εμπιστοσύνης με το αισθητηριακό σώμα. 

Η προσέγγισή της εστιάζει στη σημασία της σχέσης και του ασφαλούς συναισθηματικού δεσμού, του τραύματος και της λειτουργίας του αυτόνομου νευρικού συστήματος. Επιπλέον, αναγνωρίζει τη σημασία της επιβεβαιωτικής στάσης ως προς τη νευροποικιλότητα, τα φύλα και τις σεξουαλικότητες.

Αγαπά το διάβασμα, το παιχνίδι, τον χορό, τα ταξίδια και κυρίως το να ξεμαθαίνει και να μαθαίνει συνεχώς.

Katsimiga Ioanna is a Psychotherapist - Mental Health Counselor and has maintained a private practice in Vyronas since 2015. She holds a Counseling Psychology certification and a Specialization Diploma in Coaching with elements of Counseling, as well as a Counseling & Life Coaching Diploma from the University of the Aegean, and a degree in Social Theology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. As a mental health counselor, through individual and group sessions, she contributes to improving the quality of life for those who trust her, addressing issues that challenge them in daily life and their relationships with others. Additionally, she assists with matters related to relationship management, marriage, separation, divorce, and achieving specific goals for personal and professional development. As a theologian, she has an in-depth understanding of existing religions concerning the soul and its deeper needs, aiming to help individuals find peace, meaning, and tranquility in their lives.

Maria Mpogdanou is a counseling psychologist based in Athens, licensed to practice professionally. She offers face-to-face and online sessions at her private office in Kareas.

She graduated with honors from Cardiff Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. She has three years of clinical experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has also been trained in the application of counseling techniques through her practice at the Alzheimer Center of Athens.

Additionally, she has completed specialized programs in Counseling and couples and family therapy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is also certified in positive psychology counseling.

She regularly participates in continuing education and is under consistent professional supervision. This ensures the continuous updating of her knowledge and the provision of high-quality services. She places particular emphasis on mental health, empathy, and scientific evidence-based practice.

Anna Vrettou is a Mental Health Consultant - Psychotherapist - Psychoeducator - Facilitator and maintains a private practice in Ilioupoli. Additionally, she collaborates with the Therapeutic Counseling Center (KE.THESY) in Chalandri, Attica as a psychoeducator for students.

Her theoretical approaches are based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Integrative Psychotherapy, and Gestalt, utilizing methods such as play therapy, art therapy, and drama therapy. She has completed a 4-year program in Mental Health Counseling and Couple Counseling, and continues to pursue training in Psychology at a private university as well as in Group Facilitation.

H Μαρία Ηλιάδη είναι Ψυχολόγος MSc. ψυχαναλυτικής κατεύθυνσης και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Κουκάκι. Είναι απόφοιτη του Τμήματος Ψυχολογίας Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης και του Παντείου Πανεπιστημίου, όπου ολοκλήρωσε μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές ερευνώντας συνδέσεις της Ψυχανάλυσης με την Κοινωνική Θεωρία και τη Φιλοσοφία. Έλαβε πολυετή κλινική εκπαίδευση σε ψυχαναλυτικούς θεσμούς και είναι Μέλος του Φόρουμ Ψυχανάλυσης  του Λακανικού Πεδίου της Σχολής Ψυχανάλυσης ΙF- EPFCL. Επιπλέον έχει μετεκπαιδευθεί στην διαθεματική προσέγγιση στην ψυχοθεραπεία, καθώς και σε κλινικά πλαίσια στην ψυχοπαθολογία ενηλίκων. Εργάστηκε επί σειρά ετών σε θεσμούς ψυχικής υγείας στον τομέα της Κοινοτικής Ψυχιατρικής προσφέροντας υπηρεσίες ψυχοθεραπείας και ψυχοκοινωνικής υποστήριξης. Έχει συμμετάσχει στην υλοποίηση προγραμμάτων ψυχικής υγείας που αξιοποιούν τις θεραπευτικές διαστάσεις της τέχνης (art as therapy) καθώς και προγραμμάτων για την ψυχοκοινωνική ενδυνάμωση ατόμων με εμπειρίες κοινωνικού στίγματος και διακρίσεων. Ακόμα έχει λάβει μέρος ως εισηγήτρια και συντονίστρια σε διοργανώσεις εκπαίδευσης και ενημέρωσης σε θέματα ψυχικής υγείας. Στο ιδιωτικό γραφείο της υποδέχεται ενήλικες σε ατομικές συνεδρίες.