Balliou Despina: Studies in Sociology at Panteion University of Athens and Psychology (B.Sc.) & postgraduate studies in Counselling Psychology (M.Sc.) at La Verne University of California.
Gestalt psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, ECP holder (European Certificate of Psychotherapy).
Founding member of the Gestalt Foundation, Psychotherapy and Training Center and founding member of the HAGT (Hellenic Association for Gestalt Therapy).
Member of APA (American Psychology Association), member of the Hellenic & European Association of Counselling (HAC, EAC). Member of EAGT (European Association for Gestalt Therapy) and in particular member of EAGT’s Training Standards Committee. She is also member of the ECA’s Certification Committee. Training in relational Gestalt therapy at the Pacific Gestalt Institute and in the EMDR trauma therapy method. She is a certified trainer by EKEPIS (National Certification Center).
Coordinates educational and experiential workshops, as well as groups, with topics related to trauma, existential quests, relationship difficulties, emotional empowerment, etc., working through tangible experience, the principles of existential dialogue, art and creativity.
She is the co-author of the book "Introduction to Gestalt Psychotherapy - Basic Concepts, Principles and Applications" (2011), published by Gestalt Foundation. She was the scientific editor of the Greek translation of the book "The Healing Relationship in Gestalt Therapy" by Rich Hycner and Lynne Jacobs with the Greek title «Η Θεραπευτική Σχέση ως Ίαση στην Ψυχοθεραπεία Gestalt”, (2018), published by I. SIDERIS, and of the book "The Art of Change" by Frans Meulmeester, Ioanna Rizou, George Stamatis, (2017), published by I. SIDERIS.
Chatzigeorgiou Eleni: Psychologist (National Kapodistrian University of Athens), Gestalt Psychotherapist, Member of EAGT and HAGT, Dance Therapist/Trainer/Supervisor DRT (Dance-Rhythm-Therapy), Responsible of Pedagogics of DRLST’s Training Program in South Greece (Association Dance, Rhythm, Social Link and Therapy-Greece), Member of DRT-International and GADT, Choreographer.
She has studied contemporary dance in the professional departments of the Rotterdam Dance Academy and the State School of Dance, Athens, Greece. As a psychotherapist she has been working privately since 2007, while since 2010 she has been coordinating Dance Therapy groups and educational workshops in Greece and abroad as well as experiential-educational workshops of movement and Gestalt psychotherapy in collaboration with the Gestalt Foundation of Athens and Thessaloniki. Her dance research focuses on the psychological, sociological and anthropological study of movement and rhythm in the context of therapy, social intervention and artistic mediation.
Daktila Liana: Psychologist A.U.TH., Gestalt psychotherapist, Member of AGP, Boarding Member of the Association of Care, Health and Education. Specialization in Special Needs Education from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Specialization in Neuropsychology and Special Needs Education with focus on Special Needs Evaluations, treatments and interventions, University of Thessalia, Specialization “Acting: the practical tools of an actor”, NKDU. She is the owner and in charge of the scientific field of the Special Education Needs Center “Mitsiou Center” with services such as Psychotherapy, Speech Therapy, Ergotherapy in Larisa. Writer of 3 books about Mental Health and Education. She works with individual and coordinates groups and experiential workshops with kids, teenagers and adults with her basic tools being arts and theatrical puppets. She works with foundations in European programs and teaches in Colleges and Schools of Continuing Education in Larisa and Thessaloniki, training adults in fields of Mental Health. She participates in European, National and International Symposiums with topics such as Mental Health, Art and Education and she has been awarded in Cyprus and Canada on the topic “I draw and self-express my feelings”. Since her childhood she participates in puppeteering shows and since 2008 she works with the theater semi-professionally participating in troupes to this day. She has also worked as radio producer in entertainment and informative broadcasts. She organizes cultural events for solidarity, entertainment and education for the benefit of associations concerning sensitive groups and social institutions (orphanages, e.g.). She offers services in associations in the town of Larisa since 2010.
Eftimiadis Ioannis: Mental health counselor, Graduate of philosophy school majoring in psychology, Gestalt therapy, Art therapy.
Gallis Dimosthenis: He was born in Athens. He studied International Enterprises and European Relations. We worked for several years in economic departments and enterprises He is a self-taught photographer with specialization in meaningful and fine art photography. His images have a sentimental and storytelling character. He has shown his work through many group and individual exhibitions in the country and abroad. Some works of his belong in personal collections, foundations and museums. As a photographer he collaborates with psychotherapeutic, theatrical and fine art groups while he teaches his art through educational workshops. He lives and creates in Athens. He is also currently being trained as a Gestalt Mental Health Counsellor in Gestalt Foundation Athens.
Gkoutzioti Ioanna: Gestalt psychotherapist, mental health consultant, and coordinator of HEN and 'Volunteers Inside-Out' groups. In 2000, I graduated from an accredited center of the British University of Lincolnshire & Humbershide, with a Bachelor of Psychology and an internship in the Argo Alternative Therapy Program. As a continuation of my studies in 2001, I attended the Master in Business Administration Program of Lincoln University, majoring in Human Resource Management, obtaining a postgraduate certification in MBA. In 2002 I attended the Postgraduate Program in Child and Adult Developmental Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, England, obtaining the M.Sc.
From 2003 to 2011, I worked in the private and public sector in departments of psychology, research, finance and administration. While at the same time, I attended seminars on mental health, medicine, and entrepreneurship at centers such as the Italian and French Institute, the Systemic Society, the Psychoanalytic Society, the Open University, HEN, HAGT, the Gestalt Foundation, Cinema-Photography-Documentary and Short Film, but also of other organizations and educational institutions.
In 2017 (2013-2016), completing the training of the Gestalt foundation, I started working privately providing psychotherapy and support services to adults and conducting seminars on the topics of 'relationships between self and other', and also, how psychotherapy 'works’ through photography, until today (2023) in Gestalt Foundation.
Hatzilakou Katia: M.Sc. Social and Clinical Psychology A. U. Th. Gestalt Psychotherapist, Trainer & Supervisor, member of A.G.P. & EAGT (Ex-Chair of NOGT and External Relation of EAGT). Holder of ECP (European Certificate of Psychotherapy). Founding member of the Gestalt Foundation, Psychotherapy and Training Center, and founding member of the Hellenic Association for Gestalt Therapy (HAGT).
She works with adults, groups and couples.
For the last 10 years she has been focusing on Gestalt psychotherapy procedures related to the body. Coordinates movement groups and workshops, in collaboration with teachers of contemporary dance and primitive expression, as well as GestaltTango workshops. The workshops and groups are addressed at individuals interested in personal development as well as at mental health professionals at a supervisory level. Their main purpose is both the self-knowledge of the participants through contact with the body and their awareness through the social - voluntary offer with performances, which are organized at the end of each workshop.
She actively participates in the design, organization and implementation of educational, postgraduate and supervisory programs for professionals in the field of Mental Health and Human Sciences, with a dominant focus on Human Rights and the Suppression of Violence, which are her main interests. Coordinates the design and implementation of voluntary action programs in the community in collaboration with organizations, associations. She was a supervisor in a program of psychological support for women in XEN (Young Women’s Christian Association) in Thessaloniki as well as in the juvenile and women's prisons in Diavata, Thessaloniki in collaboration with EPATH ((Society for the Protection of Minors in Thessaloniki).
She was scientifically responsible for the design and evaluation of programs and educational materials in seminars on Health Education, Conflict Management and Human Rights for primary and secondary school teachers in collaboration with public and private bodies, such as the "”Experiential Workshop” aiming at raising awareness on issues of conflict resolution at school and with a focus on Human Rights" organized by the Hellenic Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs in collaboration with the Gestalt Foundation, Psychotherapy & Training center and under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, in 2009.
She is an active member of the Human Rights & Social Responsibility Committee of the EAGT (European Association for Gestalt Psychotherapy), whose purpose is to investigate the connection between Gestalt psychotherapy and the socio-political context, with special reference to the promotion of Human Rights.
She is the co-author of the book "Introduction to Gestalt Psychotherapy - Basic Concepts, Principles and Applications”, (2011), Gestalt Foundation publications.
Katsamakis Konstantinos: Dancer, choreographer, professor of modern dance and improvisation of Ministry of Culture and Athletics. He studied dance in the higher professional dance school obtaining a diploma of professor of dance from the Ministry of Culture and Athletics. Since 2006 he teaches modern dance and improvisation to adults. He is candidate teacher and member of the worldwide research community of Axis Syllabus where he studies human anatomy and its relation to dance and movement.
As a dancer and choreographer, he has worked with the National Theater of Northern Greece in the dance theater and in theatrical productions, with the Experimental Scene of Art, the festivals of Athens and Epidaurus, with the festival of cinema of Thessaloniki, Biennale of Modern Art, the festival of Moni Lazariston, etc.
Since 2009 he works with Gestalt Foundation coordinating seminars of dance and movement in experiential and educational groups.
In 2012 he co-created the ΚΙΝΟΥΜΕ dance studio teaching and choreographing daily and in 2019 created the dance group ΚΙΝΟΥΜΕ dance company with the goal of evolving his creative process. He is a trainee of Gestalt Foundation Thessalonikis, as a Mental Health Counselor.
Mertzani Anna: B.A in Early Childhood Education, M.A in Child Care, Law and Practice, with a focus on Child Rights and Child Abuse. Anna Mertzani is a graduate of the Acting School "Archi" and has had a short carrier in Theater and Cinema. She has attended the basic course of Photography studies at Plato Rivelli's "Photographic Circle" with participation in group exhibitions (black and white photography). She has worked as an editor for children's publications and is the author of the teenage novel “Do I Have a Right to Tell a Story?” (ed. Apopeira). Also, she is one of the authors in the collection of short stories "The secret" edited by Amanda Michalopoulou (ed. Kastaniotis). She has been working for the last 5 years as the Head of the Intercultural Center PYXIDA, of the Greek Council for Refugees and also privately as a Gestalt Mental Health Counselor, coordinating parents’ groups as well, as a graduate of the four-year training in Gestalt Psychotherapy.
Monroy Bianca: Advanced Practitioner Expressive Arts Therapy (Step a Head Berlin / EGS) and Master in Design and Art Direction. Over 20 years creating and experimenting with different media and over 10 years working among others with Female Migrants and children supporting their integration processes with focus in going through the emotional and bureaucratical challenges in their new society.
Nikiforou Eva: She is a Mental Health Counselor and Gestalt graduate, with psychology studies at A.C.T. and postgraduate studies in cultural administration (Northumbria University). Conducts individual and group counseling sessions and Gestalt psychotherapy, for children, teenagers and adults at her office in Thessaloniki. She has completed the educational program Messy, Sensory & Clay Play: Sensory play as a means of development, connection and therapy and is a member of the Sensory Education & Therapy Association Messy Play Greece & Cyprus.
From 2002 to 2016 she worked professionally as an actress and puppeteer and participated in more than 25 productions that toured Greece and festivals abroad. She graduated from the school of Mime and Physical Theater PLEYSIS (2010), the school of making, manipulating and animating theatrical puppets from the AYUSAYA! workshop. She has toured (2008-2017) with the Barren Line Fertile program in outermost islands of Greece, performing puppet theater and implementing puppet making and animation workshops. She designed and implemented theater-pedagogical programs for various institutions (Goulandris Museum of Natural History, American Agricultural School of Thessaloniki, Vafopouleio Spiritual Center), libraries and schools in Greece and Cyprus as well as various publishing houses (Metaihmio, Kokkino, Patakis and Papadopoulos). She has worked in private education as a drama teacher and emotional education teacher for 13 years. She has completed a course of study in play therapy (Drama and Play Therapists Association of Greece), in the general principles, applications, limits of empathy and in school psychology (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the University of the Aegean.) She has coordinated groups of teachers and adults on the practice of NON-violent communication as well as personal development groups. Together with the KDEPPA of Mykonos, she undertook the organization and artistic direction of the Puppet Theater Festival that took place from 2016 to 2022.
Pappa Exarmenia: MSc (Gestalt Psychotherapist, Trainer and Supervisor), BA in Psychology (National Kapodistrian University of Athens), MSc Mental Health Studies (Kings College London), Gestalt Psychotherapist, Trainer and Supervisor, Member of EAGT and HAGT, PgCert Gestalt Body Process (Trained by James Kepner), Certificate in Performance Studies in Dance (Birkbeck College London). Exarmenia Pappa runs a private practice in Athens, Greece. She facilitates groups and workshops that combine gestalt therapy with movement, dance and contact with nature and she is also a trainer at the Gestalt Foundation’s educational program for psychotherapists. She is particularly interested in exploring movement, dance and somatic methods and applying them in her therapeutic work. Recently she explores the contribution of walking in nature in personal and interpersonal development.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Athens, Greece, Tel:++306939482857
Raptis Nikolas: Mental Health Counselor, Gestalt Psychotherapist, member of EAGT and HAGT. His postgraduate studies in the field of Phycology (MSc Psychology – University of East London), the Theatrology and Education (DEA Αrts du Spectacle - Université PARIS III - Sorbonne Nouvelle), as well as his basic studies in the field of Theatrology (Maîtrise Etudes Théâtrales – Université PARIS III - Sorbonne Nouvelle), couldn’t not influence his professional “identity” and his way of work, both in the field of psychotherapy and counselling and that of education.
Along with his studies, he has participated in many educational theme seminars from authoritative educational organizations and universities, in Greece and abroad.
His engagement with the field of psychology and Gestalt psychotherapy started in 1998, (when he started his psychology studies in the University of René Descartes – Paris VI) with the goal to strengthen his researching study of the field of his postgraduate degree (on the topic of: «The Social and communicational development of children and teenagers through theatrical practice »), that combined the fields of Theatrology, Education and Psychology.
Since then, having coordinated multiple themed and experiential workshops that combined Gestalt psychotherapy with the theatrical act (as well as other forms of art), he has followed a long path in the encouragement of groups of children, teenagers and adults.
Parallelly, from the beginning of the unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19 (March 2020), he has organized and coordinated the free voluntary program for providing psychological support and counsel through the internet: «e-therapy», for Gestalt Foundation.
Also, he has completed his education as a Gestalt Counselor for Associations and Organizations (Gestalt in Organization) and he is in the process of being certified as a Gestalt Practitioner in Organizations (GPO).
Finally, in collaboration with «ALMA ZOIS», he has coordinated on line groups for psychological and counseling support through the use of theatrical practices, aimed to women with cancer, under the general title «You are a woman, you are strength».
In private, he has been working for many years with known private educational establishments in Attika, while parallelly he is having private and group sessions, in his office in the center of Athens.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. & www.nikolasraptis.com
Siampani Katerina: Counselor, Gestalt Psychotherapist-Trainer-Supervisor, Msc in Counseling and Psychology, University City-Sheffield U.K. Trained in Sandplay and Art-Therapy. Member of EAGT, member of H.A.G.T. associate's degree of ECP. She worked for many years in YWCA of Kalamaria organizing and coordinating counseling groups for parents with children of preschool hood and adolescents and participating in administration committee of YWCA of Greece. Last twenty years she is working in Hellenic Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders -since 2002 voluntarily and since 2005 professionally until today- applying to Gestalt Psychotherapy adjunctive therapeutic approaches, such as Art-Therapy, Gestalt Reminisce Therapy, Sandplay Therapy and fairy tales. In addition, she provides psychological support in groups of caregivers of people suffering from dementia and groups for people with M.C.I. Since 2005 she works as personal professional psychotherapist. Collaborator of the Gestalt Foundation. Since 2005 she has been privately practicing the profession of psychotherapist. At the same time, she has worked in groups at the Association of Cancer Patients of Northern Greece and in groups of women with breast cancer at ALMA ZOIS. Writer of the books: «Marching Together. The perspective of Gestalt therapy in dementia», and «Diary of Psychotherapy. Illuminating the windows of the psyche».
Theofilakou Zoi: Clinical psychologist with B.Sc. Studies in A.U.Th. and & M.A. in the International Psychoanalytic University of Berlin, Gestalt psychotherapist and workshop coordinator of Expressive Arts in Psychotherapy, certified from Step Ahead Berlin, under the auspices of European Graduate School. She has worked in multiple organizations since 2009, manages a private clinical practice since 2014, while simultaneously coordinates groups with creative and therapeutic content with the focus on improvisation.
Tsiamoura Marialena: Mental Health Consultant, trained in Gestalt Therapy, MSc Psychology, Early Childhood Teacher, Puppeteer, trained in Puppet Therapy. Marialena Tsiamoura graduated School of Early Childhood Education in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her thesis was about children’s grief and the role of the puppet during it. She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and is also trained in Gestalt psychotherapy. Moreover, she has been trained in puppet theatre and object theatre, and in the field of therapeutic puppetry too. She works as a Gestalt therapist with adults, teenagers and kids, and she also coordinates therapy groups and seminars, based on puppet therapy. Furthermore, she collaborates with the organization of Synergy of Music Theatre (SMouTh) in projects and fields (both in Greece and abroad) combining art and mental health.
Tur Valverde Guy-Pierre: Painter and Gestalt therapist working in Mexico City. Trainer at the Instituto Humanista de Psicoterapia Gestalt Mexico City since 1996. He is also invited as a trainer in several Gestalt Institute of the world like Europe and South America. He actualizes himself yearly at the Pacific Gestalt Institute of Los Angeles since 2012. He is also specialized in working in a relational perspective of Gestalt Therapy and the field of aesthetics as a therapeutic tool. Founder of COCREARTE MEXICO, a space for development of creativity (in 2010). As a painter he started to exhibit in 1975 in France and had several collective and individual exhibitions in Europe, United States and Latin America.
Yiamarelou Yianna: M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Gestalt Psychotherapist, Trainer & Supervisor, ECP holder (European Certificate of Psychotherapy). Member of EAGT (European Association for Gestalt Therapy). Founding member of HAGT (Hellenic Association for Gestalt Therapy).
She is trained in trauma, bereavement and crisis management. She specifically trained at the Pacific Gestalt Institute as a Relational Gestalt Therapist.
She was born in 1951 and grew up in Argos. He was profoundly influenced in his early age by the myths, ancient theater, sites, symbols, sculptures, names and their meaning, scattered across the Argolic land.
She studied at the Doxiadis School (1970-72) where he dealt with linear and free drawing.
She took courses in ceramics and pottery at the EOMEX School (1980-81). She has also taken courses in modern dance, photography, art history, sculpture, painting and philosophy of architecture at the University of La Verne.
Zafranas Nikos: He has received the titles of ΒΑ and ΜΑ in the Pianist Performance (University of Music, Graz, Austria), a PhD in Musical Education (University of Brunel, London) while simultaneously being a Mental Health Councilor trained in Gestalt psychotherapy (Gestalt Foundation Thessaloniki). He is the writer of articles on various topics regarding musical education as well as the books “Effects of music instruction on cognitive abilities of young children” (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010), «Brain, Physiology and Music» and «Communication in Music – Therapy – Education: CO.M.P.A.S.S. Approach», (Kallipos, 2015). As an artist, he has been commended in both Greece and abroad. His performances include recitals, chamber music concerts and accompaniments in many European countries, South Africa and North America. Recordings of his are broadcasted on the radio, on TV on 2 CD, on youtube etc. He is a founding member of the ensemble “Piandaemonium” and of “Transcription Ensemble”. His researching interests include Gestalt psychotherapy, cognitive development and musical education, as well as musical education in the preschool ages. He is a Substitute Professor of Musical Education of A.U.Th..
