Through therapy I wish to help people feel acceptance, safeness, understand their difficulties as a part of the common humanity and face them with compassion and courage.
You can listen to my interview to Dr. S. Steindl and learn more about me and my work in CFT!
I was born and raised in Athens, Greece. I am a mother of two children. I studied Psychology and Fine Art at Reading University, England, and afterwards I earned a Master’s Degree in Stress Management and Health Promotion from the Medical School of the University of Athens, Greece. My main approach is Compassion Focused Therapy and I was trained by Professor Paul Gilbert. Since 2016 I regularly receive supervision from Dr. Chris Irons. I am also trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy and Mentalization based treatment.
Since 2007 I have a private practice in Moschato, Athens, where I offer psychological support to adults, parents, and adolescents. Through my main approach of Compassion Focused Therapy, I support people to face a variety of psychological difficulties and problems related to their work, their families, and their relationships. I counsel parents and mothers of infants, assisting them in their parental role, in order to create a secure attachment.
I take part in research and I offer training seminars and workshops in Compassion Focused Therapy and Compassionate Mind Training to mental health professionals, educators, and the general public; I also organize events to cultivate compassion in the community.
I am an international affiliate of the Compassionate Mind Foundation and fellow of the International Center for Compassionate Organizations, associate of the Irish Centre for Compassion Focused Therapy, scientific associate of the Lab for Qualitative Research in Psychology and Mental Health of the University of Athens, and an associate of the Harokopeion University. I am a registered psychologist (Reg. number: 7729/29-07-2003).
- Degrees
- Psychotherapy trainings
- Supervision
- Clinical experience
- Teaching experience
- Research
- Professional memberships
- My therapeutic approach
M.Sc. Stress Management and Health Promotion (with Distinction) Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2012 – 2013)
B.A. Art and Psychology, University of Reading, UK (1997 – 2001)
Compassion Focused Therapy Training:
Role Taking in Compassion Focused Therapy – Dr. Kate Lucre (2021)
Compassion Focused Therapy for Dissociation – Dr. Andrew Rayner (2021)
Compassion Focused Therapy Chairwork and Digital Adaptations – Dr Tobyn Bell (2020)
Basic Skills in CFT – Dr Chris Irons & Dr Shelley Kerr (2020)
Advanced Clinical Skills in CFT Training – Professor Paul Gilbert (2016)
Compassion Focused Therapy for Trauma – Dr Deborah Lee (2016)
Compassionate Mind Training – Dr Chris Irons (2016)
Compassion Focused Therapy in the therapeutic and Motivational Interviewing – Dr Stan Steindl (2018)
Compassionate Mind Training – Prof Paul Gilbert (2015)
Attendance of the Compassionate Mind Foundation conferences (2015 – today)
Training in other therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ΑCT (A. Chrysagi, Cognitive Behavioural Therapies Society / Institute of Behaviour Research and Therapy, Athens 2019)
Mentalization Based Treament (P. Fonagy & A. Bateman, Anna Freud Centre, University College London, 2014)
Schema Therapy (V. Ohanian, International Society of Schema Therapy, 2009 – 2012)
Infant Mental Health (A. Skoulika, S. Manolopoulos, Child Psychiatry Clinic, University of Athens, 2008 – 2010)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (I. Papakostas, University Research Institute of Mental Health EPIPSY, 2007 – 2008)
Compassion and Self-Compassion Cultivation Training
Compassion Cultivation Training (8 weeks) – Monica Hanson, Compassionate Institute, Stanford University (July – August, 2020)
Understanding the Psycho-Social Impact of the Corona Pandemic (4 weeks) – Omar Reda, Charter for Compassion Institute (June – July, 2020)
Mindful Self-Compassion (10 weeks) – Helle Laursen, Mindful Self-Compassion Center (Sept. – Nov. 2018)
Compassionate Mind Training (10 weeks) – Dr Chris Irons, Balanced Minds (2016)
Individual Supervision
Since 2016 I regularly receive supervision from Dr. Chris Irons who is an internationally renowned CFT trainer and author of important studies and books on this approach (2016 – today)
Group Supervision
I am a regular member of the supervision group “CAVEtalk” with Dr. Charlie Heriot-Μaitland, Elisabeth Svanholmer and Dr. Rufus May for the compassionate approaches to hearing voices and other experiences (2015 – today)
I coordinate an online supervision group for CFT in collaboration with the Compassionate Mind Foundation (2016 – today)
Counselling and psychotherapy – private practice (2007 – today)
Psychological assessment, psychotherapy, parent counselling, psychoeducation, cognitive – behavioural interventions, stress management and self-compassion training for adults and adolescents
Irish Centre for Compassion Focused Therapy (2021 – today)today)
Associate Psychologist offering Compassion Focused Therapy sessions
Hellas Employee Assistance Programs (2018 – today)
Psychologist, Psychosocial support services
Harokopeion University of Athens, Student Counselling Centre (2011 – 2018)
Individual and group counselling through art for students, telecounselling, psychometric instruments applications, research and organization of conferences and experiential workshops
Child Psychiatry clinic, University of Athens (2009)
Psychologist in the Unit for Community Child Psychiatry and in the Unit for Adolescents
Harokopeion University of Athens, Student Counselling Centre (2007)
Group counselling, assertiveness training, art therapy for students
Psychiatry Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2006 – 2008)
Psychologist at the outpatient clinic for emotional disorders
Psychiatry Clinic of the University Hospital “Evangelismos” (2006 – 2007)
Participation in the everyday clinical and educational activities, participation in the hospital rounds, training in the use of psychometric instruments (MMPI, PDQ-4, Hamilton, DASS, Y-BOCKS, BDI etc)
Psychiatry Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2005 – 2006)
Student practicum, participation in the planning and coordination of therapeutic activities (musical therapy, art therapy, drama therapy etc), supervision at the Day Hospital of “Aiginiteio”.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapies Society (2016 – 200)
Compassionate Mind Training to mental health professionals and the general public
Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy (May 2016)
CFT trainer for mental health professionals at the Institute of Behaviour Research and Therapy
Master’s Program: Education and Culture, Harokopeion University (2014 – today)
Teaching experiential workshops for the role of compassion in the classroom for educators and students
Accreditation School for Rowing Coaches, Greek Rowing Federation (2014)
Lecturer for stress management, motivation techniques, coping with injuries, and sexual harassment awareness in sports
Hellenic-British College (2008 – 2013)
Visiting Psychology Lecturer, trainer for Art Therapy workshops and intelligence assessments for children (WISC)
I conduct research on the role of compassion in mental health and its applications in therapy.
You can find my papers and conference abstracts here
Fellow of the International Center for Compassionate Organizations
Member and affiliate of the Compassionate Mind Foundation
Member of the Charter for Compassion
I am interested in helping people to make sense of their experience as a part of our common humanity. I believe that every human is doing the best they can to adapt to their environment and their life circumstances and cope with them with the best possible way.
Many times, the environment where we are situated and the circumstances we experience, which we have not chosen ourselves, may not be suitable for our growth. In order to face them, we may adopt a range of responses, such as being on guard, trying to be perfect, avoiding or overly depending on others, comparing or criticizing ourselves, etc.
In our therapeutic collaboration, we will explore the ways we try to make ourselves feel safe, the unintended and unwanted consequences of our adaptations (e.g., avoidance, withdrawal, aggression) and how to adopt new ways that will help us live a fulfilling life.
Through cultivating self-compassion, through learning to receive and express compassion, people become more supportive of themselves, acquire new skills that help them face their difficulties and move towards what matters to them.
It gives me great joy to help people learn how to be compassionate with themselves and grow, as well as to support colleagues through applying the science of compassion.