Relational Trauma Therapy

Hi, I’m Olga!

I was born and raised by the sea in Thessaloniki, Greece where I began my professional journey in psychology. I was always curious about the human mind and passionate about promoting fair, compassionate and inclusive treatment for those experiencing mental health challenges. I feel strongly about the injustices, discrimination, misinformation and unfit systems people with mental health struggles are subjected to, which drove me to devote my entire adult life into stydying, practicing and advancing the fields of psychology & psychotherapy.

I have over 10 years of work experience in this field, including 7 years working in various primary and secondary mental health services in the NHS UK, along with additional experience as a psychologist and psychology teacher in Greece, and as a researcher at the University of Manchester.

I hold three postgraduate degrees in Clinical Health Psychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for both common and severe mental health problems. I have also completed professional training in a range of other modalities, including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Humanistic & Existential approaches, along with Chairwork, Mindfulness and Motivational Interviewing techniques.

In my free time, I enjoy travelling, spending time by the sea and with close friends & family. I am an introvert, so quiet time at home is very valuable to me, and I often spend time reading books, engaging with hobbies and playing (or just chilling!) with my beloved cats.

Relational Trauma Therapy

My approach

My therapeutic interests and expertise lie in the impact of traumatic experiences (particularly relational trauma & loss) on our psyche, world view, and the the way we relate to ourselves and others. I have extensive experience and have completed specialist training in working with trauma, post-traumatic stress, attachment and relational difficulties; along with the day-to-day manifestations of these underlying issues, such as mood problems, anxiety, low self-esteem, self-criticism, shame, perfectionism, ineffective behaviour, loneliness and disrupted relationships.

I always remain compassionate and gentle in my approach because I know how difficult it is to seek support and talk openly about the distress and invisible wounds caused by trauma & loss. My therapeutic approach is integrative (which means I utilise a range of methods) and respectful of each client’s individuality and preferences (which means that I might gently challenge you but will never force you to do or talk about anything that you are not ready to tackle yet).

The people I work with tend to stay with me long-term because we focus on complex relational difficulties & underlying issues, processing traumatic events, coming to terms with what has happened, and finding ways to move on with our lives and build a healthier relationship with ourselves. However, I have plenty of experience offering short-term, problem-focused psychotherapy where clinically appropriate.

Please visit this link for more practical information about working with me.

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Severe Mental Health (BABCP Accredited) - University of Southampton

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Interventions for Common Mental Health (BABCP Accredited) - University of Manchester

  • Master of Science in Clinical Health Psychology (BPS Accredited) - University of Manchester

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BPS Accredited) - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Additional training

  • Trauma-Focused Acceptance & Commitment Therapy TF-ACT (ACBS approved) - Dr Russ Harris

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACBS approved) - Dr Richard Bennett & Dr Dawn Johnson

  • Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) for Complex Trauma - Dr Deborah Lee

  • Practicing Chairwork: Basics & Beyond - Chairwork UK

  • Motivational Interviewing - European Psychiatric Association

  • Critical Incident Debriefing - Psychotherapy for Healthcare Ltd

  • Feeling Safe Programme - University of Oxford

  • Maastricht Interview: A Social & Biographical Approach to Hearing Voices - National Paranoia Network

  • NHS Talking Therapies Supervisor - University of Manchester

    And many other trainings & CPD activities.

Registrations

  • License to Practice as a Psychologist - Hellenic Ministry of Health

  • Accredited Psychotherapist (awaiting final certification) - British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)

  • Professional Member - Association of Contextual Behavioural Science (ACBS)

  • Former Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

  • Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for working with vulnerable adults and children (UK’s highest level criminal record clearance)

Contact Me

Interested in working together? I’d love to hear from you!

Please fill out this form if you have any questions or if you wish to book a 15-minute no-obligation free-of-charge introductory consultation.

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