Penny Papanikolopoulos
Penny Papanikolopoulou is an EMDR Europe Trainer and Consultant, Psychologist, Therapist with a strong background in experiential training in the U.S.A. and in Greece. She studied Psychology at a post-graduate level at GA. State University and completed her doctoral studies in the Department of Philosophy, Education and Psychology at the University of Athens in Psychology. Following her studies in the USA, she worked at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Ga. U.S.A. (Emory University) in the Psychiatric Unit in the following departments: Psychiatric Emergency, Rape Crisis and Abuse Center, in the closed short-term recovery unit, as well as in the National Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Psychoeducation program. She also developed psychoeducational programs for prisoners in the Georgia Corrections System.
She was the Clinical Director of the “Theotokos” Foundation from 1994 until 2010, responsible for the Psychoeducational Centre and Counseling program, Prevocational and Vocational training, and Vocational Rehabilitation for children and adolescents with developmental impairments. She has organized many subsidized European Programs. Penny has dedicated generous amounts of time working with education and mental health professionals. She has organized many seminars and worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Labor to design ongoing training objectives for mental health workers and rehabilitation administrators in both industries.
At present, she runs a Private Practice where she offers individual, group, and family therapy since 1990. She has completed training and/or specialized in the following forms of psychotherapy and support:
- Gestalt therapy
- Focused Expressive Psychotherapy
- Systematic Thinking
- Behavioral Approaches to working with children with autism
- Prenatal and Perinatal Psychotherapy
- Behavioral Family Therapy and Psychoeducation
- EMDR Europe Accredited Trainer & Consultant (Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
- Accredited Go MAD Coach (Life and Business Coach) and
- Certified clinician in Neurofeedback
She is also Clinical Coordinator for the following non-governmental organizations:
+“TACT HELLAS”, an NGO with psychosocial rehabilitation programs in the regions of Epirus and Attica.
+“To Petagma” by the Parents Association for Supported Living for people with disabilities
Her roles also include Founding President of the Greek Society Supported Employment – ΕΛ.ΕΤ.ΥΠ.Ε. and of TACT HELLAS.
Tessa Prattos
Tessa Prattos is a Psychologist, EMDR Trauma Therapist and Consultant, Systemic and Art Therapist with postgraduate studies in the USA. Her 35 years of clinical experience spans all ages and cases of people suffering from PTSD, victims of abuse, terrorist attacks, wars, traumatic events from natural and man-made disasters, adverse childhood experiences, mourning, depression, anxiety disorders, psychosomatic and dissociative disorders etc.
She has participated in humanitarian aid programs and field interventions in Greece and abroad (Turkey, Greece, earthquakes, hot spots, Thailand, tsunami). She is an Accredited EMDR-Europe Association Practitioner and Consultant as well an EMDR Institute facilitator. She was appointed by Carol York (then Chairman of the EMDR International Association) and Francine Shapiro (EMDR Therapy Originator) to introduce EMDR therapy in Greece in 1998. She represented Greece as an observer member on the Board of the EMDR-Europe Association from 2001 to 2009, when as Founding President, supported and promoted the creation of the EMDR-Hellas Association along with other mental health professionals. She presents at scientific conferences in Greece and abroad on EMDR and dissociative disorders.
She has published articles in book chapters and manuals on EMDR and Traumatology and articles in International and Greek scientific journals. She has established the International Trauma Center in Greece. Since 2003 with Dr. Udi Oren, a senior EMDR-Europe Association Accredited and EMDR Institute Trainer and then President of the EMDR-Europe Association, they organized EMDR accredited trainings in Athens Greece and have trained over 130 mental health professionals supporting them to integrate EMDR therapy into their therapeutic repertoire.
Tessa Prattos is a founding member of the Laboratory for the Study of Human Relations and has worked in clinical, educational and research settings from 1983-2000. She has also worked in the Special Diagnostic and Therapeutic Unit "Spyros Doxiadis" from 1995 -2000. Tessa has been a Supervisor and Expert for TACT HELLAS and New Mind Group since 2014 and keeps an active private practice since 1984.
Michalis Kampouris
Michalis Kampouris is an experienced Occupational Therapist with more than 24 years of experience in the field of mental health and with the Intellectually challenged. Simultaneously he has been involved with children and adolescents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and learning difficulties from 2000 to 2016.
He has been involved in the training of semi-autonomous living in Workshops for people with Ιntellectual Disability as well as with training programmes in daily and social Skills from 1997 to 2004. From 2004 to 2010 he undertook Psychosocial Rehabilitation programs and coordinated the operation of Group Care Homes within the framework of the Psyhargos program. Since 2014 he has been involved in the training and supervision of professionals involved in psychosocial rehabilitation and counselling.
He was the founder, co-owner and scientific director of the Rehabilitation and Treatment center of children "REINFORCEMENT". Since 2016, he is in charge of TACT HELLAS Psychosocial programs. He is a Certified Trainer for the European Certificate of Care.
Ioannis Zindros
Ioannis Zindros was born and raised in Ioannina. He studied Psychology at the University of East London and completed his Masters degree in Psychological Research Methods at Portsmouth University. From 2004 to 2007 he worked at the Psychiatric Intensive Ward at Woodhaven Hospital in Southampton, UK. Since 2009 he is employed as clinical care coordinator in TACT Hellas “New Beginning” group care home for psychiatric rehabilitation in Ioannina.
He has completed his training in managing “challenging behaviors” while working with people with autism and or intellectual disabilities (Sudio III –low Arousal Approach) and has been trained in EMDR therapy for psychological trauma. Currently he is working towards his certification as European EMDR therapist. He has completed his 4year training in Family-Systems Therapy at the Society of Systems Therapy and Intervention.
Since 2016 is a certified trainer for the European Certificate of Care.