I am a Greek national, but have been to this point living outside my country of birth for 20 years. I initially lived in England for 17 years, where I completed my postgraduate studies and worked in the National Health System. In that capacity, I worked as a Counselling Psychologist and to a smaller degree, as a Dramatherapist for over 10 years with people with a range of mental health issues, ranging from the acute and the moderate to the severe and chronic on Primary and Secodary Care levels. Typical presenting issues during my NHS work were depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, loss and bereavement, self esteem, workplace bullying, living with illness, dual diagnosis, personality disorders, anger management and trauma.
Apart from being an expat myself, my work and personal relationships have been cross-cultural and I am raising multi-lingual children.
I work within an Integrative model, which encompasses Phenomenology, Social Constructionism and Transpersonal Psychology. My work is often informed by creative, Mindfulness and Narrative approaches. I work in English and Greek with individuals and coupes and also offer Skype sessions online.
I have also attended numerous workshops in drama-oriented therapies used to facilitate radical change in individuals, groups and communities, such as Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed and Moreno’s Psychodrama. I have been a member of a Playback Theatre group in London, an improvisational theatre form also used for insight and transformation and have also done several workshops in physical theatre. I am a fan of the DV8 group in the UK.
In addition, I have a background in several holistic and spiritual philosophies and practices, including several yoga paths (Kundalini, Hatha and Astanga), Tai Chi and Qi Gong and mindfulness and meditation, among others.
I have so far lived and worked in three different countries ( Greece, the UK and Germany) and speak four languages.
I have been livng in Berlin since 2011.
Qualifications
I am a Counselling Psychologist (Ph.D), trained Dramatherapist and Kundalini Yoga teacher.
Ph.D Psychology (2004), City University, London
MSc. Psychological Counselling (1997), City University, London
PGDip. Dramatherapy (1995), University of Hertfordshire, UK
BA Psychology (1994), Deree College, The American College of Greece, Athens, Greece
Membership
I am registered in the UK with the Health Professions Council (HCPC) as a Counselling Psychologist. In Germany I am licenced as a Heilpraktikerin eingeschränkt auf das Gebiet Psychotherapie (HPG) and a member of the ACT register for English speaking therapists in Berlin.
Publications
2008, May, Embodiment and Dramatherapy: A Discursive Approach to the Extra-discursive Dramatherapy, British Association of Dramatherapists
2007, Spring, ‘Oh Jo! You can’t see that real life is not like riding a horse!’: Clients’ constructions of Power and Metaphor in Therapy, Radical Psychology, Online Journal of the Radical Psychology Network, www.radpsynet.org/journal/index.html
2001, November, Dramatherapy and Social Constructionism- creating alternative discourses, Dramatherapy, British Association of Dramatherapists
1996, Spring, In a different costume: the cross-cultural application of Dramatherapy-some considerations, Dramatherapy, British Association of Dramatherapists
I have also translated and published Phil Jones’s Drama as Therapy, Theatre as Living (1995, Routledge) into Greek (Ellinika Grammata Pub.).
Languages
Greek (native), English (professional level), German (conversational) and Spanish (conversational)