“Bloom Together”
Ψυχοεκπαιδευτικό πρόγραμμα για παιδιά και γονείς βασισμένο στη Θεραπεία Σχημάτων
The idea of implementing my PhD research project - during which I designed, constructed and implemented the specific Schema-based psychoeducational program- derived from different but interrelated personal paths. Firstly, I was highly affected by my training and specialty in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. The more I was studying the therapeutic model of Schema Therapy, the more I was excited by the warmth and the focus on the core emotional needs of children. My clinical experience with the children increased my need to facilitate the fulfillment of their emotional needs and to enhance the relationship between parents and children.
I felt that Schema Therapy combines the therapeutic elements that I needed as therapist and as mother. The experience of motherhood combined with all those new emotions and experiences that it offers me, and the relationship with my kids, increased a lot my need to protect and promote children’s mental health. Motherhood led me to observe and notice which are children’s needs and try to correspond to them. My motivation to create a program that could connect children and parents with safety and warmth, preventing mental health difficulties in childhood and adolescents, incited me to implement such a research project.
Each group includes 10-12 members, in order for all the members to have equal time to participate in the activities.
The structure of the program is very specific and each session has a specific aim and goal.
The children's groups consist of 16 weekly meetings while the parents' groups consist of 10 meetings per fortnight.
The research context of the psychoeducational groups
The thesis is: " Promotion of children’s mental health through Schema Therapy: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a preventive program for children and their parents", Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The research project received a 3-year scholarship from State Scolarships Foundaton from Greece and the European Union.
The PhD research project was implemented under the academic supervision of Professor of Developmental Psychology, Galanaki Evaggelia, Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as under the clinical supervision of Dr. Aggeli Katerina, PhD Clinical Psychology, CBT, and Schema Therapist, Supervisor and Trainer for Children, Adolescents and Adults.
Research team
Argalia Eftihia
The Clinical Psychologist (MSc) has completed her studies in the Psychology Program of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA), where she subsequently obtained a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology. He was trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy at the Behavioral Research and Therapy Institute and in Schema Therapy from the Hellenic Society of Schema Therapy, while he has also been trained in Group Schema Therapy. He maintains a private office in the Acropolis and at the same time collaborates with private centers providing psychological services. He teaches at the postgraduate level at the Metropolitan College of Athens and has previously lectured in the Department of Psychology at EKPA. Her clinical experience includes group therapy for adults and individual therapy for children, adolescents and adults. The contexts in which he has carried out clinical work include mental health institutions, such as the psychiatric department of the Aegina Hospital, the Student Psychological Counseling Laboratory (EKPA), the K.P.Y. Peristeriou and the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica "Dromokaiteio".
Koutrafouri Viky
Graduated from the Psychology Department of Panteion University (Licence No.: 5876/ 17-02-2006, Prefecture of Athens). He has specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy from the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling, as well as in Schema Therapy, holding Advanced Certified Schema Therapist certification from the International Society of Schema Therapy. In addition, she is a graduate of the Pedagogical Department of Elementary Education of the University of the Aegean and the Interdepartmental Graduate Program of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with the title "Psycho-pedagogy of inclusion» and direction Psychopedagogical components of special educational needs. He has many years of experience in structures and programs of the public and private sector both with children and adolescents as well as with adults. Today she practices as a private psychologist-psychotherapist.
Marini Katerina
Psychologist - Scientific Associate of EKPA, with Postgraduate Studies in Psychoanalysis. He currently specializes in Schema Therapy at the EETHS (Hellenic Society of Schema Therapy) and at the PMS: "Mental Health and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry" of the School of Medicine of the EKPA. During her professional career as a Psychologist, she has offered her services to Public and Private Mental Health Structures, both at the level of Clinical Assessment - Diagnosis, and at the level of Planning Counseling and Therapeutic Interventions. She works in her Private Psychological Office, where she supports Psychotherapeutic and Counseling Children - Adolescents - Adults.
Sintila Ioanna
Syntila Ioanna is a Psychologist, graduated from Panteion University and holds a Master's degree from the Specialization Program in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Sussex (UK). He has specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children, adolescents and adults, of the Institute for Behavioral Research and Therapy (IETHS) and is currently training in Schema Therapy, of the Hellenic Society of Schema Therapy. She has worked in child and family therapy centers and the Child & Adolescent Therapy department of the Institute for Behavioral Research and Therapy. She works privately with adults, children and adolescents and practices parent counseling.
