Mental Health Counselors

Panitsa Anastasia is a Mental Health Counselor and holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Psychology from the School of Humanities at the University of East London. She has specialized in cognitive psychology, biopsychology, addictions, and counseling through helplines. Additionally, she has experience in anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and couples and family counseling. She provides counseling services for a wide range of cases, aiming at the best individualized support of each client's needs.

Dr. Samaras Apostolos is a Mental Health Counselor with a private practice in Thessaloniki. He holds a degree in Clinical Psychology and Pathology from the University of Paris Paris VIII and possesses an advanced diploma (D.E.A.) in education from the same University. The Mental Health Counselor specializes in communication issues, interpersonal relationships, and has particular expertise in family and marital psychotherapy, anxiety disorders, and behavioral problems. He continuously participates in conferences and seminars to stay updated on developments in his field and has a substantial number of publications in the Greek press. Finally, Dr. Samaras Apostolos is a member of the Hellenic Psychological Society, the World Federation for Mental Health, the International Association of Family Therapy, and the International Society of Psychopathology & Clinical Psychology.

Vamvaka Marina is a Mental Health Counselor and Psychotherapist who maintains a private practice in Kozani, providing compassionate and personalized care to her clients. She holds a degree in Psychotherapy and trained in Gestalt psychotherapy at the Gestalt Foundation of Thessaloniki. She is a Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders and Obesity and is a certified Mindfulness Instructor. She has attended experiential workshops at the Institute of Drama Therapy of Northern Greece and educational seminars in Gestalt psychotherapy, gaining experience in the use of valuable therapeutic tools and techniques. She is a member of HAGT (Hellenic Association for Gestalt Therapy) and EAGT (European Association for Gestalt Therapy). She has collaborated with the YWCA, providing psychological support to women, in parenting schools, with Arsis, and as a coordinator of psychological support groups, with the Cancer Patients Association of Macedonia–Thrace and Ptolemaida, and she is a collaborator of EAP Hellas. She has offered and continues to offer volunteer work related to her specialty.

Papasavva Vilma is an adult and couples psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Neo Psychiko. She has completed postgraduate studies in Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy (MSc) at the American College of Greece, Deree. She holds degrees from the Faculty of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and from the University of Kent in Canterbury (MA) in the United Kingdom. She has completed the Interdepartmental University Clinical Training Program in Group Dynamics in Psychiatric Settings at the Hellenic Society of Psychoanalytic Group Psychotherapy. She has experience working with public institutions (Research University Institute of Mental Health - E.P.I.PSY., 18 ANO, Municipality of Filothei-Psychiko) as well as educational institutions (Counseling Center, Deree). She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). She works in both Greek and English. Her therapeutic approach is psychodynamic. She stays continuously updated in her field through participation in educational seminars of the Hellenic Society of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (EPSPE), conferences, and psychoanalytic supervision. Alongside her clinical work, she contributes articles to Athens Voice. “Anxiety, depression, trauma, difficulties in relating, professional challenges, the emotional imprint of the family, grief, and losses are inscribed in the mind and body, creating confusion and psychological pain, often incomprehensible. My goal is to accompany my patients in an exploration that will gradually lead them to find their own answers to the essential questions of their lives, in a space of empathy and trust. Psychotherapy is a personal investment that yields benefits not only in the present but also in the future.”

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.

Η Μαρία Τσίρμπα είναι Σύμβουλος Ψυχικής Υγείας και Σταδιοδρομίας και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στη Θεσσαλονίκη.

Εκεί υποδέχεται ανθρώπους που θέλουν να διαχειριστούν το άγχος, τον θυμό, τη θλίψη ή βρίσκονται σε αδιέξοδο. Ανθρώπους που έχουν δυσκολίες στις σχέσεις τους αλλά και όσους βρίσκονται σε αναζήτηση κατεύθυνσης στην προσωπική ή επαγγελματική τους ζωή. Μέσα από τη Συνθετική προσέγγιση, βοηθά τον κάθε άνθρωπο να κατανοήσει καλύτερα τον εαυτό του, να ενισχύσει την αυτοπεποίθηση, να βελτιώσει την επικοινωνία και να αποκτήσει μια πιο ισορροπημένη και αυθεντική σχέση με τον εαυτό και τους άλλους.

Παράλληλα, στηρίζει εφήβους και ενήλικες στη διαδικασία επαγγελματικού προσανατολισμού και σχεδιασμού σταδιοδρομίας — από την επιλογή σπουδών μέχρι την επανατοποθέτηση στην αγορά εργασίας — με στόχο την ενδυνάμωση, τη σαφήνεια και τη μείωση του άγχους μπροστά σε σημαντικές αποφάσεις ζωής.

Αρχικά σπούδασε Μάρκετινγκ, όμως η ανάγκη της να κατανοήσει βαθύτερα τον άνθρωπο την οδήγησε στη Συνθετική Συμβουλευτική Ψυχικής Υγείας στο Κέντρο Εφαρμοσμένης Συμβουλευτικής και Ψυχοθεραπείας.

Έκτοτε, έχει εξειδικευτεί στη Συμβουλευτική Επαγγελματικού Προσανατολισμού και στην Εφαρμογή της Συμβουλευτικής Ψυχολογίας στην Εκπαίδευση, τα Παιδιά και τους Εφήβους του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Είναι επίσης εκπαιδευμένη στη χρήση ψυχομετρικών εργαλείων επαγγελματικών ενδιαφερόντων.

Παρακολουθεί συνεχώς επιμορφώσεις και σεμινάρια που αφορούν την ψυχολογία εφήβων και ενηλίκων, ψυχοθεραπευτικές προσεγγίσεις αλλά και τη σταδιοδρομία και τον επαγγελματικό προσανατολισμό, πιστεύοντας ότι η γνώση είναι ένα ταξίδι χωρίς τέλος.

Thodoros Xatzixronoglou is a certified Mental Health Counselor - Psychotherapist specializing in counseling psychotherapy and maintains private practices in Galatsi. He completed his training at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), where he received both theoretical and practical education in contemporary psychological support approaches, with an emphasis on creating a safe therapeutic environment, active listening, and targeted intervention. His professional trajectory is characterized by a strong focus on the stability of the therapeutic framework, placing particular emphasis on building a relationship of trust and respect, individualized approaches to the person, and gradual empowerment and self-awareness. His experience in both organized institutions and private practice in Greece and abroad, as well as managing a variety of requests with consistency and responsibility, has endowed him with therapeutic flexibility and the ability to deeply understand individual experiences, allowing him to focus not only on symptoms but also on the meaning they acquire within each person's personal history. He believes that change does not arise from “ready-made solutions” but from the gradual understanding and deep processing of subjective experience. Concurrently, he is engaged in continuous professional development and supervision, considering that professional responsibility requires ongoing growth and scientific updating. His consistent goal is to create a space where individuals can speak honestly without the anxiety of judgment, gain deeper self-understanding, and develop more functional ways to manage their difficulties.

Vasilopoulou Evelina is a Mental Health Counselor - Systemic - Family Therapist with a private practice in Piraeus. She is a recognized Psychotherapist by the Hellenic Society of Systemic Therapy (EL.E.SY.TH.) and holds the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) from the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP). Additionally, she is a certified Mental Health Counselor from the Hellenic Society of Counseling, having obtained a diploma in Mental Health Counseling from the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling. She has received further training in Systemic Family Counseling and Psychotherapy at the Laboratory for the Investigation of Human Relationships. Moreover, she holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of East London. Beyond these studies, she has obtained certificates mainly in Special Education and Learning Disabilities, as well as in Child Psychology. Furthermore, in 2021, she attended a seminar on psychosomatic diseases to enhance her expertise in this field. Since 2019, she has maintained a private practice in Piraeus and has previously worked as a Counselor for Children, Adolescents, and Parents at a Center for Special Therapies, as well as a Coordinator of Self-awareness and Emotion Management Groups for adolescents. She also possesses significant experience in interpersonal relationships, individual psychotherapy, and systemic counseling. Finally, she holds a degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Political Science and Public Administration.

Alatsi Xristina is a certified Mental Health Counselor, Psychotherapist, and Hypnotherapist. Additionally, she provides alternative therapies which, combined with Integrative Psychotherapy, constitute a holistic approach to addressing various issues. She completed her studies with Excellent distinction in Integrative Counseling and Psychology as well as Clinical Hypnosis - Hypnotherapy at OLON Education - KDBM1, Institute of Academic and Professional Studies. She holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy from Amsterdam International College with Excellent distinction. Within the framework of alternative therapies, she has also attended and passed with Excellent distinction the annual seminar on Anatomy - Physiology - Pathology with a Holistic approach. Furthermore, she has been trained in Bach Flower Remedies, Auricular Neuroreflexology Method, and Gua Sha. Since 2024, she has been active in the adult education of mental health counselors and psychotherapists. She is a member of the charitable association Agkalia and the Social Solidarity Network - Syn-Yparxi.

Cholakian Narineh is a Mental Health Counselor and maintains a private practice in Nea Smyrni. She completed her studies in Psychology at the American College of Greece, Deree. She has experience and concurrently works at the Counseling and Psychotherapy Center "Eunike," the Center for Special Education "Evrimateia," and the Special Mental Health Unit "Oselotos." Sessions can be conducted in Greek, English, and Armenian.

Giannakis Paulos is a Psychotherapist who maintains a private practice in Ioannina. He completed his primary studies in Psychology and specialized in individual and group adult Psychotherapy. He has also received further training in Psychoanalysis and Substance Addiction. He worked for a decade within the National Health System of England in severe mental illness units and for the past 15 years as a private practitioner, providing therapy to adults and supervision to therapists. Additionally, he has participated in Greek and European conferences.

Η Νατάσσα Αποστολάκη είναι Ψυχοθεραπεύτρια - Δραματοθεραπεύτρια - Εκφραστική θεραπεύτρια μέσω Τέχνης και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στον Άλιμο, με ειδίκευση στην δραματοθεραπεία και στην ομαδική ανάλυση, προσφέροντας ατομική/ ομαδική ψυχοθεραπεία. Παράλληλα, συνεργάζεται με το ΙΨΥΑ, ως συντονίστρια ομάδων δραματοθεραπείας και ομαδικής ανάλυσης ενηλίκων και με την ATYPICAL GROUP, με παιδιά & εφήβους.

Εκπαιδεύτηκε στη Δραματοθεραπεία από το Ινστιτούτο Δραματοθεραπείας στο 5ετές πρόγραμμά του, καθώς και στις «Εκφραστικές Θεραπείες μέσω Τέχνης», από το Ινστιτούτο «Αιών» ολοκληρώνοντας το διετές πρόγραμμα εκπαίδευσης του. Επόπτρια μέσω Τέχνης λαμβάνοντας ειδική εκπαίδευση, επίσης, στο Ινστιτούτο Δραματοθεραπείας «Αιών», ολοκληρώνοντας  το διετές πρόγραμμα εκπαίδευσης στη "Δημιουργική Εποπτεία  Ψυχοθεραπευτών μέσω Τέχνης". Είναι απόφοιτος της Δραματικής Σχολής του Ωδείου Αθηνών και του τμήματος γραφιστικής της σχολής Βακαλό.

Έχει παρακολουθήσει τα ετήσια μετεκπαιδευτικά σεμινάρια στις συναισθηματικές και σεξουαλικές διαταραχές ενηλίκων της ψυχιατρικής κλινικής ενηλίκων του Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Αθηνών "Σισμανόγλειο".

Για τον εμπλουτισμό της δραματοθεραπευτικής τεχνικής, έχει παρακολουθήσει διαφορετικές θεραπευτικές προσεγγίσεις, όπως Ομαδική Ανάλυση από το Ελληνικό Δίκτυο Ομαδικών Αναλυτών, Ψυχόδραμα, Gestalt, «playback theatre», μεξικάνικες θεραπείες με τη φιλόσοφο Miahuatzin Buendia Sanchez -θεραπεύτρια αρχαίων σαμανικών πρακτικών των προκολομβιανών θεραπειών-, παραδοσιακή γιόγκα κ.α. Έχει εκπαιδευτεί σε διάφορες θεατρικές μεθόδους (Στανισλάφσκι, Μπρεχτ, Μάμετ, σωματικό και αφηγηματικό θέατρο κλπ.). Παρακολουθεί και συμμετέχει σε εκπαιδευτικά σεμινάρια σε πανελλήνια και παγκόσμια συνέδρια σχετικά με την ψυχική υγεία και την ψυχοθεραπεία.

Την τρέχουσα περίοδο, ολοκληρώνει την εκπαίδευση της ως Ομαδική Αναλύτρια στο 5ετές πρόγραμμα "Εκπαίδευσης Ομαδικών Αναλυτών" από το επιστημονικό Σωματείο "Ελληνικό Δίκτυο Ομαδικών Αναλυτών" (ΕΔΟΑ). Παράλληλα, συμμετέχει στην Οργανωτική Επιτροπή του Εισαγωγικού Σεμιναρίου του ΕΔΟΑ.

Έχει συνεργαστεί εθελοντικά σε διάφορα πλαίσια ειδικών θεραπειών, όπως: θεατρική ομάδα με παράσταση ενηλίκων με νοητική υστέρηση και ψυχική νόσο (οικοτροφείο “Αίολος”), βιωματικά εργαστήρια δραματοθεραπείας ενηλίκων σε διάφορα πλαίσια (Δήμο Αλίμου κ.α.), ληπτών ψυχικής υγείας στο Κέντρο Ψυχικής Υγιεινής Ζωγράφου, εξαρτήσεων στο ΚΕΘΕΑ Α, υποστήριξης γονέων ογκολογικών παιδιών στο σύλλογο «Πίστη», αστέγων στον κοινωνικό ξενώνα ενηλίκων Δήμου Βάρης- Βούλας – Βουλιαγμένης. Έχει συνεργαστεί με το ΚΕΠΕΑ ΟΡΙΖΟΝΤΕΣ με δημιουργία θεατρικής ομάδας με παράσταση ενηλίκων με διάχυτες αναπτυξιακές διαταραχές. Σήμερα, συντονίζει εθελοντικά ομάδα δραματοθεραπείας ογκολογικών γυναικών στο Manaorg.