“Do I have a single identity – based on nationality, religion, class, gender, or geography? Or am I essentially a mixture of multiple belongings, cultural allegiances and diverse inheritances, backgrounds, and trajectories?” – Elif Shafak
A JOURNEY OF MULTIPLE BELONGINGS
My professional background brings together education, contemporary dance, creative drama, Greek culture, Authentic Movement, and Dance-Movement Therapy. This diverse influences converge in my practice, bridging creativity and expression with embodied spirituality and the therapeutic process.
My journey in the field of mental health began in 1997 at KETHEA (Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals) in Athens, Greece. Since then, I have worked in private therapeutic centers, creative centers, primary schools and kindergartens, remaining consistently committed to clinical practice. Throughout this journey, I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults, while also facilitating seminars for mental health professionals, artists, and educators across Europe.
In 2010, I moved from Athens to Saarland, Germany, where I began working in the field of psychosomatic medicine, integrating mindfulness-based interventions. Today I work as a Dance-Movement Therapist in a clinic specializing in psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychosomatic medicine, supporting both inpatients and outpatients.
Through my collaboration with artists from the Lucoda-Luxembourg Collective of Dance, I expanded my pedagogical perspectives, an experience that led to my teaching at the University of Luxembourg.
I remain connected to the Greek therapeutic community by facilitating introductory seminars in Authentic Movement for the Greek Association of Dance Therapists, as well as for the general public. At the same time, I support artistic research based on creative expression and the exploration of embodied experience.
I am a registered Dance-Movement Therapist-Trainer-Teaching Therapist and Supervisor with the German Association of Dance Therapists (BTD) btd-tanztherapie.de. I am also a registered Dance-Movement Therapist with the Greek Association of Dance Therapists gadt.gr.
My goal is to provide a safe space for inner exploration, accompanying each individual on their journey of authentic expression and personal transformation.
Deeply influenced by my personal journey across different countries and cultural environments, my practice focuses on exploring the body through various therapeutic approaches and evolves continuously through ongoing learning and experience. In the modern world, I consider it essential to embrace multiplicity and honor diverse experiences, perspectives, and identities, while cultivating our ability to connect and belong to diverse communities.
In my daily life, I choose to keep humor, music and sensitivity alive. For my own well-being I turn to nature and the discovery of new lands as the most vital sources of rejuvenation, inspiration, and inner strength.
EDUCATION
BA in Studies in Greek Civilization, Hellenic Open University
Training Program in Authentic Movement and Therapeutic Process, Authentic Movement Foundation-Eleni Levidi
Postgraduate Training in Dance-Movement Therapy, Greek Association of Dance Therapists
Undergraduate Degree in Preschool Education, AKPES-Centre for Pedagogical Studies and Research, Athens, (Department of Preschool Education)
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Lights and Shadows Of Your Ancestors Workshop- International School of Transgenerational Therapy, Leandra Perrotta & Manuela Maciel
Advanced Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy Series, Trauma-Informed Practices & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, Cathy A. Malchiodi
Training in Tuning Fork Therapy (Stimmgabeltherapie Ausbildung nach René Hug)
The Body-Mind Approach for People with Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Modules 1 & 2, Helen Payne
Μovement and the Body in Supervision, Celine Butté
RCPM-Creative Processes Model of Supervision, Penelope A. Best
300-hour Certification Program in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Center of Trauma and Embodiment
Trauma-Informed Dance and Movement Expressive Therapy, Erika Sander & Claudia Schedlich
MBSR-Achtsamkeitstraining-Karin Pontius, Schmelz
Achtsamkeit in der Schmerztherapie-Petra von Kries, Wiesbaden
Marion Woodman Foundation-Body Soul Intensives with Maria Dunlea & Sue Congram (Rooted in teachings of CG Jung, Marion Woodman, Mary Hamilton & Ann Skinner)
Certificate in the Management of Emotional and Psychological Trauma-National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Creative Arts in Oncology, Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
ANIMA Specialization Program in Teaching through the Arts-Artistic and Creative Expression
Certificate in Stress Management- Center for Stress Management, Stephan Palmer, London