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About Dr. Eleftheria Koutsonika
Counselling Psychologist
Originally from Greece, I have spent nearly a decade living abroad. Having navigated the complexities of being an expatriate, I am intimately familiar with the "in-between" feeling and the profound, often quiet challenges of building a life, an identity, and a sense of home from scratch in a new country.
My journey into the field of psychology began with a deep curiosity about the human experience, leading me through years of rigorous academic and clinical training. After completing my Bachelor’s in Psychology in the Netherlands, I went on to pursue further postgraduate training, eventually leading me to the United Kingdom, where I completed my Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DCounsPsych). This doctoral training provided me with a dual foundation in Person-Centred Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which I have since expanded through specialized training in Trauma-Focused CBT, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and Grief Counselling.
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Clinical Experience & Professional Journey
Over the years, I have worked across public health, private care, and community settings in both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, both within multidisciplinary teams and in independent practice. This has allowed me to support individuals across the lifespan in both one-to-one and group formats, from supporting children and adolescents with emotion regulation, navigating neurodiversity and relational challenges, to supporting adults through complex mental health challenges and major life transitions.
Why Perinatal & Reproductive Health Matters to Me
During my time in the UK, I had the opportunity to work within a Community Perinatal Team in the NHS. In this specialist setting, I supported women navigating postnatal depression, perinatal OCD, tokophobia (fear of childbirth), and birth trauma, managing pre-existing mental health conditions that became heightened during pregnancy, as well as supporting them to navigate deeply painful post-birth struggles, including difficulty bonding with their baby, not feeling the expected wave of immediate love, and persistent fears of "not being a good mother". Outside of this specialist service, I have supported individuals navigating hormonal health conditions such as PMOS and endometriosis, as well as those navigating fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, and the quiet, jarring process of adjusting to a changing body and shifting identity.
Working alongside women across all these settings opened my eyes to a stark reality: despite how universal these experiences are, perinatal, reproductive, and hormonal mental health remain deeply overlooked. An immense amount of shame, silence, and stigma still surround women's health, with women routinely expected to go through major physical shifts, hormonal fluctuations, and profound identity changes while being dismissed or minimized by healthcare systems, burdened by heavy cultural expectations, and left without adequate support.
Eria Therapy was born out of a desire to create a safe, compassionate haven; a space that honours both general psychological needs and the very complex, often silent emotional world of perinatal, hormonal and reproductive mental health. A place where you can dismantle guilt, process conflicting emotions, build trust in your mind and body, and reclaim your sense of identity.
At the core of my practice is a motivation rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, understanding, and the right to accessible and culturally resonant support and healthcare.
Professional Registrations & Affiliations
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Counselling Psychologist registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (UK) - Registration number: PYL046392 (you can check the register here: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/)
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Licensed Psychologist registered with the Nederlands Instituut voor Psychologen, PSYCHOLOOG NIP® number: 253533
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International Affiliate, American Psychological Association (APA) - Member Number: C2605793138
Education & Academic Background
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Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DCounsPsy), York St John University, United Kingdom
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NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills, Oxbridge Learning
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BSc Psychology, Maastricht University, Netherlands
Clinical Training & Therapeutic Approach
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Trained in Person-Centred, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and Grief & Bereavement Counselling
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Integrative Approach: drawing from the above evidence based modalities and incorporating Existential Therapy (addressing loneliness, identity, grief, and life transitions), Values-Based Work, and creative expression
Specialist Trainings, Course & Certifications
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Foundations in Menopause-Informed Psychological Care , Menopause CBT Clinic
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Training for Bereavement Counselling with Dr. John Wilson, PhD, Onlinevents
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Autism Awareness and Inclusive Practices, Alison
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Trauma-Focused CBT, for all ages, The Association for Psychological Therapies (APT)
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Compassion Focused Therapy, The Association for Psychological Therapies (APT)
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Safeguarding Adults and Children Level 3, TEWV
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Understanding Autism Level 2, TEWV
Doctoral Research
Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Refugees and Asylum Seekers Who Have Experienced Sexual Trauma: A Systematic Literature Review and an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Practitioners’ Lived Experience