Psychotherapists in Heraklion

Zaxaropoulou Eleni is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Heraklion, Crete. She is a graduate of Luton University in England, specializing in Psychology with Health Studies, and holds a Master’s degree from Derby University in England in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (MSc Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy). Since 2017, she has been a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She possesses extensive and broad-ranging experience, having worked with organizations such as NELE as a public trainer, in KAPI (Open Care Centers for the Elderly), KIFI (Centers for the Care of the Elderly with Disabilities), and municipalities in the Heraklion Prefecture. She has served as a coordinator for parent schools in many schools in the city of Heraklion as well as in rural areas. Additionally, she has previously collaborated with various social structures, such as the Child Protection Center of Heraklion, providing counseling and psychological support to children, adolescents, and young girls who have been removed from their family environments. She has also worked in private and municipal kindergartens (KEPA), in the Creative Occupation Center (KDAP) of the Gorgolaini municipality, the CALCETTO football academy, and in elderly care units (Libyan and Friendly Hearth). She specializes in the integrative counseling and psychotherapy model, trauma therapy, and couples counseling. Since 1995, she has maintained a private practice in Heraklion, Crete, and understanding the demands of the modern era, she also conducts sessions via Skype. She works with adults, adolescents, and children, specializing in relationship problems, divorce, grief, anxiety, phobias, depression, self-awareness, self-improvement, obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic attacks, and psychosomatic issues. In parallel, she is active in individual counseling as well as marriage and family counseling.

Sfakianakis Georgios BSc, MSc is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist and maintains a private practice in Heraklion, Crete. He holds a degree from the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete and a master's degree in "Integrative Psychotherapy and Counseling" from Mediterranean College, a branch of the University of Derby, UK. The integrative model he practices combines cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, and psychoanalytic approaches (with an emphasis on attachment theory). Since 2024, he has also been attending the training seminar at the University of Crete in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

He has completed his practical training in various settings. Initially, at the Psychiatric Clinic "Agios Charalampos" during his undergraduate studies, followed by placements at the General Hospital of Heraklion "Venizeleio - Pananio," the Heraklion Community Center, MITERA Hospital in Athens, and the 2nd & 5th Primary Schools of Nea Alikarnassos as part of his postgraduate degree. Additionally, he served as a Psychologist during his 9-month military service, participating in all related activities and responsibilities.

He provides psychotherapy sessions to individuals over 16 years old, either in person or online. The first session is offered free of charge, as it primarily serves as an introductory meeting.

Soumpasi Nikoleta MA is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist offering specialized psychological support services through online sessions. She is a graduate of Psychology and holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy from the University of East London. Her specialization focuses on the Integrative Psychotherapy Model, which combines Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, and Psychodynamic approaches. Her continuous professional development through workshops, conferences, and training programs ensures the application of the most current methods in the field of mental health.

She has gained valuable experience working in significant institutions such as the Care Unit for Elderly with Dementia and Alzheimer’s “Aktios,” the psychotherapeutic center Roots Wellness CENTER, and the Association for the Protection of Children and Persons with Disabilities. Additionally, she has worked as a Psychologist in public schools, providing psychosocial support to children with neurodevelopmental disorders, contributing to their smooth integration and development within the educational and social environment.

Since 2021, she has been practicing privately, providing psychological support for issues including anxiety and stress, panic attacks, grief, depression, anger management, and more. Through the Integrative Psychotherapy Model, she adjusts her approach to the needs of each client, aiming at meaningful support and improvement of their quality of life.

Panagiota Seferai is a licensed Psychologist - Psychotherapist specializing in Clinical Counseling, with experience in providing psychological support to children, adolescents, and adults, and conducts Online Psychotherapy sessions. She studied Psychology at the University of Derby (United Kingdom), where she completed both her undergraduate studies in Psychology and her postgraduate degree in Applied Clinical Counseling Psychology. She works in psychopedagogical settings, providing sessions for children and adolescents with autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and other emotional or developmental disorders, as well as offering parent counseling. Concurrently, she works on an adult psychotherapy platform, offering support for anxiety disorders, enhancing self-regulation skills and mental resilience, applying cognitive-behavioral approaches and mindfulness techniques. Additionally, she has substantial experience in social institutions, where she provided psychological support, organized empowerment groups, and promoted social inclusion of vulnerable populations. She has been trained in specialized seminars on psychotherapy for autism, selective mutism, and the Marte Meo approach. The specialist approaches each therapeutic relationship with empathy and professionalism, tailoring interventions to the needs of each individual.

Ο Λευτέρης Κογεράκης είναι αδειούχος Ψυχολόγος και διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Ηράκλειο Κρήτης. Είναι απόφοιτος Ψυχολογίας του University of Nicosia και διαθέτει μεγάλη επαγγελματική εμπειρία καθώς έχει εργαστεί ως Ψυχολόγος στο Mentor Programme στην Κύπρο, στον Οίκο Αγίας Αικατερίνης, στο Γενικό Νοσοκομείο Ηρακλείου Κρήτης, στο Ψυχιατρικό Τμήμα του Γενικού Νοσοκομείου "Βενιζελείο", στο "Δικαίωμα στη Ζωή" και στην Κοινωνική Υπηρεσία του Δήμου Ανωγείων. Έχει εμπειρία σε διάφορες θεραπευτικές μεθόδους, όπως η γνωσιακή-συμπεριφορική θεραπεία και οι οικογενειακές παρεμβάσεις και προσφέρει εξατομικευμένη φροντίδα για ένα ευρύ φάσμα θεμάτων ψυχικής υγείας. Παρέχει υποστήριξη σε άτομα που αντιμετωπίζουν καταστάσεις όπως κατάθλιψη, επαγγελματική εξουθένωση, τραύματα και εθισμούς – είτε πρόκειται για εθισμό σε ουσίες, είτε σε παιχνίδια ή τεχνολογία. Στόχος του είναι να βοηθήσει τους πελάτες να αναπτύξουν ανθεκτικότητα και να βρουν ισορροπία στη ζωή τους. Αναλαμβάνει επίσης ζευγάρια και οικογένειες για να βελτιώσουν την επικοινωνία και να επιλύσουν συγκρούσεις, ενώ προσφέρει και καθοδήγηση σε παιδιά και εφήβους που αντιμετωπίζουν αναπτυξιακές και κοινωνικές προκλήσεις. Παρέχει επίσης, υποστήριξη σε LGBTQ+ άτομα, ενδυναμώνοντας τους να αντιμετωπίσουν τις προκλήσεις που συνδέονται με την ταυτότητά τους, σε ένα περιβάλλον αποδοχής και υποστήριξης. Επιπλέον προσφέρει ψυχολογική υποστήριξη σε ευάλωτες και περιθωριοποιημένες ομάδες, σε άτομα με αναπηρίες, πρόσφυγες, και εκείνους που πλήττονται από κοινωνικό αποκλεισμό με σκοπό την ευαισθητοποίηση, την καταπολέμηση του στίγματος και την προώθηση της ψυχικής υγείας για όλους. Σε έναν κόσμο που αλλάζει γρήγορα, βοηθάει άτομα να αντιμετωπίσουν τους κοινωνικούς και παγκόσμιους στρεσογόνους παράγοντες, παρέχοντας εργαλεία για τη διαχείριση του άγχους, της θλίψης, της αβεβαιότητας και των εθισμών.

• The decision to begin psychotherapy is an important step in taking care of oneself. Often, the challenges of daily life, stress, demands, or life changes can make us feel as though we’ve lost our balance. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where everyone can express themselves freely, gain a better understanding of themselves, and develop new ways to cope with the challenges they face.

• I am a licensed psychologist, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Wrexham Glyndŵr University, and I hold a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Cognitive Neuropsychology. I am also currently training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the University of Crete, and I have completed specialization programs in Counseling and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.

• My therapeutic approach is primarily based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a scientifically validated method that helps identify and modify dysfunctional patterns of thought and behavior. Each therapeutic process is tailored to the needs, values, and personal goals of each client, as I believe that every person is unique.

• I provide support to adults facing challenges such as:

i) anxiety / panic attacks / agoraphobia / health anxiety,

ii) chronic stress and burnout,

iii) depression / depressive symptoms,

iv) difficulties in interpersonal and romantic relationships,

v) low self-esteem and self-confidence issues,

vi) emotional regulation,

vii) personal growth, self-awareness, and improving quality of life.

• At the same time, thanks to my academic background in Cognitive Neuropsychology, I have a particular scientific interest in the connection between cognitive functions and mental health. I address issues related to neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive difficulties, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mild cognitive disorders, and dementia, providing psychological support and counseling to the individuals themselves and, where necessary, to their families, in collaboration with the relevant medical specialties.

• My therapeutic approach combines the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with current knowledge in Cognitive Neuropsychology, taking into account both the psychological and cognitive processes that influence each person’s daily functioning and quality of life.

• I believe that therapy is not limited to simply managing difficulties, but is a process of personal growth. Through collaboration, trust, and the use of scientifically validated therapeutic tools, the goal is to bring about meaningful change and strengthen mental resilience.

Sessions are conducted online, in both Greek and English, with respect for each person’s needs and individual pace.

Η Ευτέρπη Κουρουκεχαγιά είναι Σύμβουλος Ψυχικής Υγείας και Προσωπικής Ανάπτυξης, με συνθετική προσέγγιση και ιδιαίτερη εξειδίκευση στη Συμβουλευτική Ζεύγους και τη Συμβουλευτική Γονέων. Διατηρεί ιδιωτικό γραφείο στη Βούλα και στο Χαλάνδρι, προσφέροντας παράλληλα τη δυνατότητα διαδικτυακών συνεδριών. Η 30ετής επιτυχημένη επαγγελματική της πορεία, τόσο σε θέσεις ευθύνης στη Διοίκηση Επιχειρήσεων και στη Διαχείριση Ανθρώπινου Δυναμικού σε μεγάλες πολυεθνικές εταιρείες, όσο και ως ιδιοκτήτρια επιχείρησης από νεαρή ηλικία, της έδωσε την ευκαιρία να γνωρίσει σε βάθος τους ανθρώπους, τις ανάγκες, τις προκλήσεις και τις δυνατότητες τους. Παράλληλα, απέκτησε ουσιαστική εμπειρία στη διαχείριση των ανθρώπων, στη διαχείριση και επίλυση συγκρούσεων και προβλημάτων, στην αποτελεσματική επικοινωνία, στη στοχοθεσία και στην επίτευξη στόχων. Μέσα από αυτή την πολύτιμη εμπειρία ανέπτυξε βαθιά κατανόηση των ανθρώπινων σχέσεων και των διαφορετικών αναγκών και δυνατοτήτων κάθε ανθρώπου, διαμορφώνοντας την ακλόνητη πεποίθηση ότι κάθε άνθρωπος διαθέτει μέσα του τη δύναμη και τους εσωτερικούς πόρους να ξεπεράσει τις δυσκολίες, να εξελιχθεί και να πετύχει τους στόχους του. Όταν νιώσει ότι βρίσκεται σε ένα ασφαλές, υποστηρικτικό και χωρίς κριτική περιβάλλον, με την κατάλληλη προσέγγιση μπορεί να ανακαλύψει τις δυνατότητες του και να ανθίσει με τον δικό του μοναδικό τρόπο.

Η εκπαίδευσή της είναι πολυδιάστατη και βασίζεται στην Ανασυνδυασμένη Εκλεκτική Συμβουλευτική, η οποία  περιλαμβάνει ένα ευρύ φάσμα ψυχοθεραπευτικών προσεγγίσεων, όπως η Γνωσιακή Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία (CBT), η Ψυχοθεραπεία Gestalt, η Ψυχοδυναμική Συμβουλευτική, η Διαλεκτική Συμπεριφορική Θεραπεία (με έμφαση στην Οριακή Διαταραχή), η Συστημική Αναπαράσταση, η Δραματοθεραπεία, το Art Therapy και το NLP. Ανάμεσα σε άλλες εξειδικεύσεις της, περιλαμβάνονται η Διαχείριση Συναισθηματικού και Ψυχικού Τραύματος, η Ψυχολογία της Υγείας και η διαχείριση παθήσεων, η Ψυχοπαθολογία, καθώς και η Κλινική Ύπνωση.

Ιδιαίτερη έμφαση δίνει στο παιδί, τον έφηβο και την οικογένεια, διαθέτοντας εξειδικεύσεις και πιστοποιήσεις στην Παιδοψυχολογία, τη Σχολική Ψυχολογία, τις Σχολές Γονέων, τη Σεξουαλική Διαπαιδαγώγηση και Ψυχολογία των νεανικών σχέσεων, τις αιτίες και την αντιμετώπιση του Σχολικού Εκφοβισμού, καθώς και στη Συμβουλευτική για τη διαχείριση της Ψυχολογίας των νέων. Παράλληλα, στους τομείς της αυτοβελτίωσης και της καριέρας, είναι πιστοποιημένη Life Coach και έχει πιστοποιηθεί στη Θετική Ψυχολογία, (Mindfulness Meditation and Positive Psychology), στη Συμβουλευτική Σταδιοδρομίας και τον Επαγγελματικό Προσανατολισμό, στην ανάπτυξη στρατηγικών Coaching και Mentoring, καθώς και στην εκπαίδευση εκπαιδευτών και στελεχών.

Αναγνωρίζοντας τη βαθιά ευθύνη του ρόλου της απέναντι στους ανθρώπους που την εμπιστεύονται, η κ. Κουρουκεχαγιά επενδύει αδιάκοπα στη συνεχή της εκπαίδευση. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, εκτός από τις σπουδές της στην Ψυχολογία στο London Metropolitan University, συνεχίζει να επιμορφώνεται διαρκώς, εμπλουτίζοντας τις γνώσεις και τις δεξιότητες της μέσα από νέες εκπαιδεύσεις και εξειδικεύσεις. Με γνώμονα την αυστηρή επαγγελματική δεοντολογία και την παροχή υπηρεσιών υψηλής ποιότητας, φροντίζει σταθερά για τη δική της ατομική και ομαδική θεραπεία, καθώς και για την κλινική της εποπτεία. Επιπροσθέτως, συμμετέχει ενεργά σε επαγγελματικούς φορείς, όπως η Ελληνική Εταιρεία Ανασυνδυασμένης Εκλεκτικής Συμβουλευτικής και ο Σύλλογος Συμβουλευτικής Coaching Mentoring Ελλάδας, παραμένοντας πλήρως ενημερωμένη για όλες τις σύγχρονες εξελίξεις στο πεδίο της συμβουλευτικής. 

Ο Μητσέας Απόλλων είναι Ψυχολόγος - Ψυχοθεραπευτής και πραγματοποιεί συνεδρίες μέσω βιντεοκλήσης. Είναι απόφοιτος Ψυχολογίας του Cardiff Metropolitan University και διαθέτει προηγούμενες σπουδές στα Οικονομικά και τη Φιλοσοφία από το University of Manchester. Ολοκλήρωσε την εκπαίδευσή του στην Προσωποκεντρική Ψυχοθεραπευτική Προσέγγιση στο Ελληνικό Κέντρο Focusing συνεχίζοντας την επαγγελματική του κατάρτιση στον χώρο της ψυχοθεραπείας.

Έχει αποκτήσει ερευνητική εμπειρία ως βοηθός έρευνας στο Metropolitan Hospital, ενώ παράλληλα δραστηριοποιείται ως ιδιώτης ψυχολόγος. Έχει συμμετάσχει σε επιστημονικά συνέδρια και έχει πραγματοποιήσει ακαδημαϊκές δημοσιεύσεις, συνδυάζοντας το κλινικό ενδιαφέρον με την ερευνητική και ακαδημαϊκή του δραστηριότητα.

Είναι εκπαιδευόμενο μέλος του Διεθνούς Ινστιτούτου Focusing και μέλος της American Psychological Association. Μέσα από τη συνεχή επιμόρφωση και την προσήλωσή του στην προσωποκεντρική προσέγγιση, επικεντρώνεται στη δημιουργία μιας ασφαλούς και υποστηρικτικής θεραπευτικής σχέσης, με σεβασμό στη μοναδικότητα και τις ανάγκες κάθε ανθρώπου.

Maraki Aggeliki is a Mental Health Counselor - Systemic Psychotherapist, a member of EFTA (European Family Therapy Association) & ELESYTH (Hellenic Society of Systemic Therapy), and maintains a private practice in Heraklion, Crete. After completing her studies at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Department of Sociology), she completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Amsterdam and underwent four years of training in Systemic Family Psychotherapy - Systemic Psychotherapy at the Laboratory of Systemic Thinking in Education. During her studies, she completed her internship at the Prevention Center for Addictions and Promotion of Psychosocial Health "Athina Ygeia". She possesses extensive professional experience, having served as Project Manager at the Hellenic Center for Intercultural Psychiatry and Care "Kostis Ballas," as Administrative Director - Quality Management Responsible for ISO at the Mental Health Clinic Agios Charalampos, where she was responsible for managing and providing care and service to patients, their families, clinic staff, and external outpatient clinics. She has volunteered in the Health Education and Psychosocial Support Program within the Greek and Muslim Roma community at the Hellenic Center for Intercultural Psychiatry and Care "Kostis Ballas," in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and in recording and managing telephone calls at the Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals, KETHEA. She has also volunteered for two years by creating support groups through the "Stoxos" – Breast Cancer Prevention initiative, aiming to support individuals affected by the disease and their families. Finally, she actively participates in conferences both in Greece and internationally.

Maria Kontaksaki is a Systemic Mental Health Counselor, certified in Systemic Psychotherapy, with a private practice in Gazi, Heraklion. She works with individuals, couples, and families seeking to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships, offering a framework of safety, acceptance, and trust. Her goal is to create a warm and supportive environment where each person can freely express themselves, process their difficulties, and discover new ways of connection and communication. Through the therapeutic process, self-awareness, emotional insight, and the capacity for meaningful and authentic relationships are enhanced. She has experience in individual counseling, couples counseling, and family therapy, and has also been involved in coordinating therapeutic groups. Additionally, she has completed clinical training under supervision and actively participates as a scientific collaborator in mental health institutions. She has attended and participated in numerous conferences, seminars, and trainings related to counseling, couples therapy, trauma, and the systemic approach, and is engaged in community support and group coordination activities. Her approach is based on systemic thinking, emphasizing relationships, interaction patterns, and the broader context in which the individual lives and evolves.

I was born in Athens in 1983, where I spent my childhood and school years.

Driven by my Cretan roots and the prestigious reputation of the University of Crete, I decided to study Medicine in Heraklion following the national exams in 2001. I graduated in 2008 with a GPA of 7.05 ('Very Good').

Immediately after obtaining my degree, I moved to Munich, Germany, to pursue my medical residency. Although I initially wavered between Neurology and Psychiatry, I was drawn to Psychiatry after a year of working in neurological rehabilitation.

I completed my residency at the renowned psychiatric teaching hospital Inn Salzach Klinikum in Wasserburg am Inn, affiliated with the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). During the academic years 2015/2016, I also served as a lecturer at the hospital's nursing school.

In the summer of 2016, I was awarded the title of Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie) by the State of Bavaria. My medical specialty was officially recognized in Greece in 2017.

From 2017 until late 2024, I worked as a specialist Psychiatrist-Psychotherapist at the outpatient clinics of KBO-Klinik Nord in Munich. Parallel to this, from 2018 to 2023, I served as a Court-Appointed Psychiatric Expert for the Bavarian State Courts, collaborating with the Munich-based institute GWG (Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Gerichts- und Rechtspsychologie).

In 2018, I had the honor of being a speaker and interpreter at the Greek-German conference "Challenges of Psychotherapy in a Globalizing World," organized by the Munich Medical Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymvari, Chania.

Returning permanently to Greece in 2025 marked a year of transition after 15 years in Germany. In 2026, I established my private psychiatric practice in Heraklion, Crete.

My extensive experience in Germany allowed me to work across the full spectrum of mental health disorders. This background shaped my approach to mental illness as a complex issue with biological, psychological, and social dimensions. I am committed to providing high-level medical services with profound respect for the individual, free from discrimination, stereotypes, or stigma.

Rasoulis Giorgos is a Clinical Psychologist and maintains a private practice in Heraklion, Crete, where he provides psychotherapeutic services to adults. He is a graduate of the University of East London. His professional approach is based on scientific knowledge, empathy, and respect for the individual, aiming to enhance self-awareness, manage emotional difficulties, and improve mental well-being. He utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and counseling psychotherapy, tailoring methods to the specific needs of each case. Sessions are conducted both in person and online, allowing individuals from all over Greece and abroad to receive support in a manner adapted to their needs.

The INTERNUS counseling and psychotherapy center, led by clinical psychologist Mr. Kargakis Emmanouil - Internus, maintains offices in Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania, and Athens, offering a wide range of services concerning treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, and promotion of mental health, primarily based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Mr. Kargakis, a graduate of the Department of Psychology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with postgraduate studies in Clinical and Counseling Psychology at La Salle University of Philadelphia, and his experienced associates, supported by a modern and continuous framework of supervision, training, and professional development through attendance at national and international psychology conferences, ensure the provision of the most advanced mental health services. Over the years, our center has developed activities and collaborations with various organizations such as SOS Children's Villages, O.E.V.E.N.H, O.E.V.E.N.X, secondary education tutoring centers, schools of various levels, sports clubs, educational seminars for the general public, appearances on television and radio programs, and contributions to local blogs. Sessions are conducted by appointment either in person or online.