About Ioannis
Ioannis is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology, working at the Cyprus Institute for Emotion Focused Therapy.
Languages spoken:
• Greek (native)
• English (fluent)
Ioannis is happy to work with clients who would feel more comfortable speaking any of these languages.
Description
Ioannis has diverse experience with various presentations, such as anxiety, depression, victimization, grief, social isolation, work/school-related stress and procrastination. He has also worked with individuals experiencing difficulties related to shame and low self-esteem. Ioannis works collaboratively with his clients helping them to feel more empowered and regain a sense of agency. Additionally, he is able to work with relationship challenges, including separation anxiety, hostility, recurring conflicts, and unresolved traumas from past relationships. He has also worked with LGBTQ+ individuals supporting them with identity exploration, relationship dynamics, and discrimination. At the moment, he is expanding his work on youth with history of abuse and marginalization.
Ioannis’ way of working
Ioannis employs an integrative approach, customizing it based on each client’s specific needs and objectives. He primarily draws from emotion-focused therapy and attachment theory but incorporates elements from existential and cognitive-behavioral perspectives as required. Regardless of the approach, he prioritizes a flexible, person-centered, and collaborative style, aiming to enhance the client’s autonomy and leverage their existing strengths. Above everything else, Ioannis strives to build a strong and safe therapeutic relationship, which allows clients to explore their concerns with no fear of judgment and flourish in any direction they choose.
Ioannis’ training and background
Ioannis has training and clinical experience in both Cyprus and the Netherlands. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cyprus and earned his master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Leiden University. He later pursued a scholarship-supported PhD at the University of Cyprus. Ioannis has provided mental health services (including individual therapy, group therapy, and workshops) in a variety of settings, including university counseling and community mental health centers, a prison, schools, businesses, foster homes, a day center for youth with severe behavioral and emotional challenges, and a psychiatric hospital.
Ioannis is currently working toward his specialization in Emotion-Focused Therapy and has completed three training modules with Professor Robert Elliott (EFT Level I, EFT Level II, and the Advanced Empathic Skills course). In addition, he has been trained in other therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and systemic therapy.
Alongside his clinical work, Ioannis has research and teaching experience. His PhD focused on emotional attention and reactivity, utilizing advanced technological methods to capture autonomic arousal, brain activity, and facial expressivity. He has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications and chapters in edited volumes and has presented his work at international conferences. Ioannis has also taught Clinical Psychology and Introduction to Psychology at the University of Cyprus.
