My therapeutic work is addressed to adults who wish to explore and work through internal difficulties, emotional challenges, or recurring patterns that affect their functioning and overall quality of life.
Psychologist · Psychotherapist · Athens & online
IRINA MRVOLJAK–THEODOROPOULOU
PhD in Psychology | Psychologist – Psychotherapist
Psychological Support & Psychotherapy
grounded in scientific evidence and respect for the individual
Psychotherapy and psychological support services are offered to adults, both in person in Athens and online. The approach is based on contemporary scientific knowledge and professional ethics, with the aim of achieving a meaningful understanding of difficulties and enhancing psychological functioning.
The goal of the therapeutic process is to provide a reliable and consistent framework in which individuals can explore their experiences, understand their patterns of thinking and responding, and develop more effective ways of managing everyday life.
In-person sessions in Ilioupoli, Athens
Approach
MY APPROACH
In my work, psychotherapy is understood as a process of exploring and working through the experiences that shape how we think, feel, and relate to others. Through the therapeutic process, individuals are given the opportunity to identify recurring patterns and to explore alternative ways of coping with difficulties.
My work is based on a structured and individualized therapeutic process, where each session is part of an ongoing journey of understanding. The focus is placed not only on the content of difficulties, but also on how these are organized, repeated, and acquire meaning within the individual’s personal life context.
My therapeutic approach integrates scientific knowledge, clinical experience, and continuous professional development. The process unfolds gradually and with clear direction, allowing for depth and coherence in the therapeutic work.
Particular emphasis is placed on the accuracy of understanding and on the individual’s ability to recognize how their thoughts, emotions, and reactions are shaped across different contexts. Therapy is tailored to each person’s needs, goals, and life circumstances, taking into account both individual and cultural specificities.
- Evidence-informed
- Individualized
- Structured
- Culturally sensitive
Profile
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
I hold a PhD in Social Psychology from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and I am a psychologist–psychotherapist trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
My professional work spans both clinical practice and academic teaching at the Department of Psychology of NKUA, at the undergraduate level, as well as in postgraduate programs at various universities.
The integration of clinical practice, academic teaching, and scientific research shapes my therapeutic approach, which is grounded in contemporary scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and professional responsibility. My academic training and ongoing engagement with research support an approach that emphasizes theoretical precision, clinical consistency, and responsible therapeutic practice.
My experience across diverse academic and cultural contexts supports a sensitive and individualized approach that takes into account each person’s unique background and circumstances.
Who I work with
WHO I WORK WITH
In some cases, the request may be linked to a more general sense of inner tension, uncertainty, or difficulty in managing situations and relationships, without a clearly defined problem. Therapy allows for the gradual clarification of this experience and its connection to specific patterns.
At the same time, therapy is also suited for individuals facing more intense or persistent difficulties, such as chronic anxiety and intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, mood fluctuations, or long-standing dysfunctional patterns that impact daily life.
Services
SERVICES
Services are organized in three areas. Each process begins with understanding the person’s request, context and goals.
01INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY & THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT
Single Session
The initial consultation is offered free of charge and serves as a first meeting to get acquainted and to understand your request. It is exploratory in nature, and there is no right or wrong way to participate. During this session, an initial picture of the difficulties is formed, and the therapeutic approach is discussed. The session lasts 50 minutes and may relate either to the beginning or the continuation of the therapeutic process.
Individual Psychotherapy for Adults
Individual psychotherapy is a structured process that develops through consistency in sessions and the gradual deepening of the issues that emerge. The work focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and reactions, allowing for the recognition of recurring patterns and their processing with greater awareness.
Psychoeducation & Therapeutic Support
Psychoeducation aims to foster an understanding of the core psychological mechanisms that shape internal experience. Through this process, individuals gain a clearer framework for understanding how they function, supporting active engagement in therapy and the application of this understanding in everyday life.
02AREAS OF FOCUSED SUPPORT
Managing Anxiety and Mood Difficulties
Therapeutic work focuses on understanding the factors that contribute to the maintenance of anxiety and mood fluctuations. Through this process, individuals develop greater awareness of their internal processes and learn ways of coping that are better aligned with the demands of everyday life.
Processing Traumatic Experiences
Therapeutic support focuses on working through difficult or traumatic experiences that continue to affect the present. The process is carried out with care and gradual pacing, allowing individuals to approach their experiences without becoming overwhelmed.
Managing Obsessive Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviors
The approach focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying persistent thoughts and compulsive behaviors, as well as gradually reducing their intensity and impact.
Managing Panic Attacks and Phobic Reactions
Therapy focuses on identifying the mechanisms that trigger panic attacks and phobic responses, while fostering familiarity with both bodily and cognitive reactions.
Support for Depressive Symptoms
Support is offered to individuals experiencing low mood, loss of interest, or reduced energy, with the aim of gradually reconnecting with meaningful activities and experiences.
Enhancing Self-Awareness and Personal Insight
Therapeutic work allows for a deeper understanding of personal patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior, strengthening clarity and internal coherence.
Developing Assertiveness and Personal Boundaries
Therapy focuses on developing the ability to express needs and emotions in a clear and balanced way, through understanding relational patterns and gradually building more functional ways of communication.
03COUNSELLING & SPECIAL FOCUS AREAS
Brief Counselling Support
Brief counselling focuses on specific concerns and is defined by clear goals and a structured timeframe, with an emphasis on understanding the issue and identifying practical ways of managing it.
Counselling for Interpersonal and Family Relationships
This work focuses on difficulties that arise in relationships with significant others, highlighting patterns of communication and emotional interaction, and supporting more conscious and informed choices.
Couples Counselling / Couples Therapy
Therapeutic work with couples focuses on understanding relationship dynamics and recurring patterns that create tension or distance.
Counselling During Life Transitions
Support is provided during periods of change, such as separation, loss, or career transitions, facilitating adaptation to new circumstances.
Counselling for Professional and Academic Functioning
This form of counselling addresses difficulties related to performance, concentration, and managing demands in professional or academic contexts. The work focuses on understanding the factors that influence functioning and developing more effective coping strategies.
Intercultural Counselling
This service is intended for individuals living or working in multicultural environments or experiencing transitions between different cultural contexts, with a focus on identity and adaptation processes.
Sessions
SESSION INFORMATION
50 minutes
By appointment
In Athens or online
No obligation to continue
Sessions last 50 minutes and take place by prior appointment.
The first session is exploratory in nature and does not involve any commitment or obligation to continue. During this session, an initial understanding of your request is developed, and the way of working is explained, ensuring clarity regarding the process and our collaboration.
No special preparation is required for your appointment. If you wish, you may take some time to reflect on the main reasons that brought you to seek support or on what you would like to discuss.
For online sessions, it is helpful to be in a quiet and private space, allowing for comfort and focus throughout the session. Please make sure in advance that your internet connection, camera, and audio are working properly.
I AM HERE FOR YOU
A gradual process, shaped with care
The therapeutic process is a journey that unfolds gradually through consistency, collaboration, and meaningful understanding.
My aim is to support this journey with professional responsibility and respect for each individual’s personal pace and uniqueness.
THERAPY SPACE
A calm and private setting in Athens
The office has been carefully designed to provide a calm, welcoming, and comfortable environment where clients can feel at ease while knowing that their privacy and confidentiality are fully respected.
Research
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
A selection of peer-reviewed publications and academic contributions.
Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., & Aggeli, K. (2026). The relationship between assertiveness, trait anxiety, and early maladaptive schemas. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication.
DOI ↗Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I. (2026). Perceived childhood relationships and their associations with assertiveness, trait anxiety, and early maladaptive schemas. Family Relations, 1–19.
DOI ↗Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., Gari, A., & Mylonas, K. (2020). Υoung adults’ assertiveness in relation to parental acceptance-rejection in Greece and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sage. Psychological Reports, 0(0), 1-26.
DOI ↗Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., Γκαρή, Αικ., & Μυλωνάς, Κ. (2019). Παρουσία του πατέρα στην οικογένεια και αντιλαμβανόμενη γονική αποδοχή-απόρριψη (Father Presence in the Family and Perceived Parental Acceptance–Rejection). Ψυχολογία, 24(1), 123-137
Gari, A., Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., & Nikolopoulou, V. (2023). Greek teachers’ beliefs as correlated with students’ self-efficacy during a nomination procedure of students with high potential. In V. Chiou, V., L. Gunis, O. Holz, O. N. Ertȕrk, J. Ratkowska-Pasikowska, & F. Shelton, (Eds.), Voices from the classroom (pp. 120-129). Waxmann Publishing Co.
Dagla, M., Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., Daglas, V., et al. (2025). Psychometric Properties of the Greek Version of the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale. Cureus 17(6): e86979.
DOI ↗Dagla, M., Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., Daglas, V., Antoniou, E., Rigoutsou, E., Papatrechas, A., Dagla, C., Tsolaridou, E., & Karagianni, D. (2025). The Development and Psychometric Validation of the Fainareti Screening Tool for Perinatal Mental Health in Greek Pregnant Women. Clinics and practice, 15(2), 37.
DOI ↗Orovou, E., Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., & Antoniou, E. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) in Greek women after cesarean section. PLOS ONE, 16(8): e0255689.
DOI ↗
Contact
Request an initial consultation
For further information or to schedule an initial session, you can contact me via email or phone. Sessions are available in person in Athens or online.
AddressAgorakritou 12
16341 Ilioupoli
Athens, Greece
16341 Ilioupoli
Athens, Greece
Office phone+30 210 996 5569
Mobile+30 690 980 1167
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