Maria Kefalogianni

Maria Kefalogianni: Holistic humanistic psychotherapist/ supervisor/ counselling trainer/researcher and Sound Healing Practitioner 

Welcome to my profile. My name is Maria. I am Greek and I have lived in the UK since 2007.

“Psychotherapy” in Greek means “therapy for the psyche/ soul”. My work is led by the heart and by my passion to support people holistically and empower them to reconnect with their authentic self and make changes that support this in their lives.

 My work is strongly informed by a humanistic and transpersonal/ ( psycho- spiritual ) approach. I see you as a holistic being capable to reach healing in numerous ways. My practice aims to bring healing to your mind body and spirit and help you “unearth” what you already know.

I have worked and have extensive experience in working with a wide range of mental health issues such as : relationship difficulties ( self esteem, anxiety , self-harm, depression), existential issues , suicide, bereavement and grief, psycho- spiritual emergence and crisis . Other more day to day difficulties also include struggles in parenting ( current special interest knowledge around neurodiversity – adhd- and parenthood ).

A persevering theme at the core of people’s difficulties is a belief “ I am not good enough”. How often are we told encouraged shown how to truly and deeply be compassionate to ourselves? To achieve this goal it does require commitment, loyalty , continuous work to re-write our inner scripts and beliefs and change the neuropathways that create these mental/emotional connections that our brains have been built. For this to happen we need to work on three levels: mind body spirit.

As a therapist i have worked in many settings of the third sector and schools ( Gp Surgeries, schools as a play therapist and school counsellor , Colleges, drug and alcohol services, domestic violece services, in the community. Currently, alongside my private practice I am also a part time lecturer . I have been teaching on Bsc , Msc and Msc Advanced programmes in counselling and psychotherapy in Salford University. I am also a supervisor trainer .

I have a good experience in supporting students on their qualifying journey to become counsellors in the community and i am really passionate about delivering training to the best of my ability.

My beliefs and phenomenology

I stay rooted in my belief and trust in your actualising tendency ( See Carl Rogers ,1963) . This is your ongoing innate, organic and motivational life force, trying to reach its full expression and potential.

Through the power of direct experience I am deeply aware of the challenges in creating new patterns of thinking , relating and being in the world . Experiencing your struggles can feel emotionally draining, difficult and painful. At times it might lead to moments of crisis or long-lasting sense of desolation and hopelessness. Any crisis , however , to me reflects the voice of your inner wisdom :'I have had enough; I am a little more ready for a change now' . Isn’t that a wonderful opportunity for change? It takes courage to make the first step into receiving what you always deserved. Care , nurturing and compassion.

The service I offer has helped a lot of people gain clarity and a much deeper awareness , appreciation and forgiveness/ compassion for themselves. I bring and create an empowering space so that you can connect with all the range of your true authentic self. Suffering and wounding perpetuates itself as there are parts of each individual’s self that have not healed. They have instead been kept buried/suppressed/ in darkness. I am here to help you develop deeper trust in your ability to sit with your self , your feelings, your difficulties and what ever emerges in the space between us. Insight, Self compassion  and an attitude of curiosity are all traits of your natural self which remain hidden amidst the challenges in your life. I have witnessed that when people begin to love themselves deeper they organically connect to more joy and awe in their lives. It’s a joy and a rare privilege to support you in this journey.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change”. Carl Rogers

What are your therapy needs?
It is often difficult to have a clear understanding and/or objective/goal for your therapy from the outset. I will assist you in your process of identifying your goals from therapy during our first meeting. Some people find it useful to identify an important for you area to work on/ a focus at the beginning sessions and agreeing on ways we can make use of to support your ongoing journey towards growth and transformation.

How I work. 

 Every therapeutic relationship is unique as each client is unique. The constellation of the dynamic between us is consequently one of a unique nature. There is no one size fits all in my approach, however what I offer, are aligned to my philosophy, values about human nature and my belief/radical trust in your ability to grow.

At all times, I aim to listen to the ways you learn and incorporate this to our on going conversations as we collaborate to co-create a space that will serve your needs best. Your needs might change over time and so I remain open and responsive. In preparation for working with a new client, I aspire to be “perfectly empty and emptily perfect” as John Rowan puts it ( a famous transpersonal psychologist). This means, I remain as neutral and in an expanded state of consciousness as possible, in my efforts to walk as closely and intimately alongside your own inner experience.

My core training is in the Person Centred Approach. I practice from a humanistic /integrative /holistic model of psychotherapy with a strong relational and transpersonal focus . I hold the person centred conditions of acceptance, genuineness and unconditional positive regard at the heart of my intentions and practice.  I have received training and organically draw from other approaches such as ( Focusing Oriented Psychotherapy and tapping into your “felt sense”, Compassion Focused Therapy , and IFS -Internal Family Systems ( Gendlin, Gilbert & Schwartz ) and configurations of self .

 An umbrella thread among those approaches is the cultivation of an embodied self compassionate witness to all of your inner experience and difficulties. In other words , all parts of yourself. My work has brought people I work with, lasting peace and a calm state of mind/consciousness.

I have also received training in psychodynamic approach , in particular group analysis which equips me with a framework and awareness of the potency of our childhood experiences upon our current sense of self. Exploration of trauma and processing it in a space that feels safe is integral part of my work.  I integrate trauma -informed mindfulness/meditation practices in my work. We might find that adopting other ways of processing ,connecting with yourself such as : creative means ( sandtray work, art, working with clay) or sound are supporting your journey deeper. I am led by you and how you learn. 

I work in a very warm and genuine way. Clients have always appreciated my "no-rushing" attitude and have verbally shared their appreciation. Most of our families/ friends rush to 'fix' our problems, which may leave you feeling frustrated and not listened to. Their intentions may be positive but sometimes it is not the listening you may wish to have. I always respect how much you want to share without pushing you to explore any area in yourself that you do not want to go to or visit at the time.

Contemplation and stillness 

I have a long held interest in theories around consciousness and direct experience in methods of self -inquiry and healing for the past 10 years( consciously). We live in a fast paced world that creates an illusion of “needing more”. This leads to disquiet and a chronically unsettled state of mind. Ongoing striving and grasping leaves our bodies and minds tired drained and our souls hungry. I bring moments of what I call “sacred pause” in my work. This will depend a lot on the state of consciousness of the client. This falls into adopting/integrating/being in a therapeutic relationship from a non-dual perspective. Occasionally people have experienced deep transcendental moments where they connect in a nuanced but potent way with their Divine nature. I integrate elements of self-inquiry and healing very carefully and ethically depending on each client’s needs. Moments such as this can be felt as truly liberating and often can become a beginning landmark in someone’s spiritual journey.

I am influenced by Jung’s transpersonal work ,and in transmuting our shadow into light.I believe "the only way out is through" and my work is to empower you to become whole and present in a holistic and embodied manner.  Jung believed that our soul and sense of connectedness plays a huge part in our development. As we grow in childhood, we tend to fragment, keep parts of ourselves buried, in an effort to fit in. In other traditions, eg shamanism, this type of work is called “soul- retrieval” where you bring back to presence parts of yourself

IFS fits very well with this approach, in which you are guided to bring yourself back to wholeness. I see IFS and configurations of self -in humanistic therapy. In this way I support you to engage in safe dialoguing with parts of yourself  and integrate them slowly and safely into the constellation of your psyche.

I am a mindfulness trainer in Salford University  on the Bsc of Counselling and Psyhotherapy . I have been a meditator for years, and is a practice i learn to integrate in my daily life. As a result it comes naturally that I integrate a lot of mindfulness and meditations as well as guided visualisations and dream work in the ways I support you; all of which lead to nuanced and embodied shifts and changes that ripple effect in various ways in people s lives.

Creative Expression :

Sometimes creative ways of processing/ expressing/ presenting our difficulties is always very illuminating , giving you further insights. Depending on how you work/learn and what you prefer I integrate sandplay therapy, therapeutic imagery cards; journaling, breathwork , bibliotherapy, sound and rituals as ways to support you more holistically. 

I draw from body-oriented methods to bring the body as part of the healing process in all that we do .It is after all a sacred vessel holding all of your lifetime’s experiences. There is a mystic and an artist in all of us and there is no expectation to have a “creative talent” as such.

There are more benefits to expressing yourself creatively. 

Sandplay therapy / use of sand tray ( or sound tray ; integrating healing sounds as part of the sandtray work ).

There are various benefits to sandplay therapy. It is a very gentle safe yet potent way of healing. On a practical level, you simply cannot get it wrong. You do not need to disclose the details of what you bring. It is a safe container holding all of your experience. It works in a magical way with your unconscious and changes can ripple effect and be deep. It helps you visualise your inner world and bring more clarity and insight, alongside a deepened empathy and intuition as well as a sense of play and fun! I have used sandtray work for many many years in my practice since 2008 with both adults and young people. Where appropriatel, I might integrate sound in the work with the sand... and it is where the sand meets sound to produce your own unique and magical soundtray!

Here and now therapeutic Relationship :

The relationship we build is vital. It serves as a sacred mirror. It often hides magic treasures in shedding light in the ways you relate to the world around you. I foster a safe space where we can be curious about what is emerging in the space between us. I will ,when appropriate and necessary, share with you how I experience you if that is to facilitate your personal growth. I have full trust in mine and your capacity to build a meaningful therapeutic relationship in which you can grow.

Reiki and sound healing methods : 

I am currently undertaking training to become a sound healing practitioner with the voice. This is a totally different method of healing , however as a psychotherapist, where appropriate I might integrate elements of the healing power of sound in our work together. For eg working with cultivating and finding your inner voice, I might either suggest ways you can support yourself in that journey or engage in mantra singing or expressing/ processing what is happening through voice. Reiki has been part of my ongoing journey and though I cannot yet offer it as a separate treatment , I am attuned to the energy in our space between us. Again, I bring awareness to this as and where appropriate for your needs.

Sound healing therapy  with the voice :

I trained in the College of Sound Healing which is a well established educational institution with quality assurance procedures for accountable training.

This therapy take place face to face or remotely. You will receive the transformational power of sound through my voice. The power of the human voice never ceases to amaze me. We don’t just use our voice to tell stories. We can use our voice to calm our nervous system and promote immunity and boost our health.  I will use my voice and my body as a conduit for the sounds for your highest good. This is a very gentle and safe way and people feedback they leave feeling very relaxed alongside having had intuitive messages that guide them for solutions. Sound works on a cellular level and though sometimes people don’t know how things have shifted they notice changes once they leave. Often report a new sense of ease/ relaxation clarity alongside vivid dreams. Sound can often trigger something repressed in your unconscious. IF this happens I trust it s meant to and I hold the skills and trauma awareness to hold and support you in this process. This is where I can combine psychotherapeutic intervention with sound healing. Though this will always be your choice.

If you wish to enquire what this treatment involves please do not hesitate to contact me. For more information on this you can find here

https://www.collegeofsoundhealing.co.uk/

Irvin Yalom, a famous existential psychotherapist said : " the most effective therapist is the most aware client". I aspire to embody this principle with ongoing commitment to my exploration journey and continuous professional development. I expect nothing less of my clients that I am not prepared to delve in myself. This in turn, is my investment in my client work.

LINKS 

https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMi7uY83z-U&ab_channel=BertWestern 

https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/person-centred-counselling/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-eeMBhCpARIsAAZfxZBeawoOueRkSZgkYDsDK8p8UgDSeYX-MYIfB2kM1T7FnipZtzUgdIkaAoPJEALw_wcB

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE 

Qualifications:

*Currently In training: Sound Healing practitioner Diploma with the voice : College of Sound Healing, (2yrs)

*BSc Philosophy and Social Studies (1st Honours; 4yrs)
*MSc Counselling Psychology (Distinction; 2yrs) Bacp Accredited course
* Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision (Keele University)- Qualified supervisor (1yr)
*Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (1yr)
* Foundation Certificate in Group Analysis -Group Analysis North; (1yr)

* Reiki Energy Practice Level II

Other training

* PET- Parent Effectiveness Training- as a participant - Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) - Gordon Training International 
* Level 1 & 2 Compassion Focused Therapy* ( weeks intensive )

* Level 1 & 2 Focusing Oriented Psychotherapy - John Threadgold (2 weekends)
* Introduction to Shamanism (CPD) -ongoing immersion , part of group and practice

* Breathwork CPD training and ongoing practice.

*8week course on mindfulness

* Certificate in Couples & Relationship Counselling   -Macclesfield Training Centre (3mnts)
*Certificate in Gestalt ( day CPD) 
*Certificate in CBT     ( day CPD)
*Certificate in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) ( day CPD)
Professional membership:
BACP - British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy- Registered member: 038198
cMind : Centre for Contemplative Mind In Society http://www.contemplativemind.org

Recent Training 2021 

Creating a trellis for spirituality in therapeutic practice , BACP conference, November 2021

4 hour constellation work - Bert Hellinger - November 2021

5 day Grief Conference  -October 2021

7 days Sound Healing Conference - August 2021

Throughout the years of my practice I have engaged in lots more training

RESEARCH PROFILE/ PUBLICATIONS/ PRESENTATIONS

articles

Parsons, A., Kefalogianni, M., Dubrow-Marshall, L., Turner, R., Ingleton, H., *Omylinska-Thurston, J., Thurston, S., and Karkou, V. (2020). Reflections on Offering a Therapeutic Creative Arts Intervention with Cult Survivors: A Collective Biography. International Journal of Coercion, Abuse and Manipulation.https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r2-LIHBjE0BYWOnaxUAJuhizbOL1I5vu/view

*Parsons, A., Turner, R., Ingleton, H., Dubrow-Marshall, L., Kefalogianni, M., Omylinska-Thurston, J., & Thurston, S. (2020). Flowing towards freedom with multimodal creative therapy: The healing power of therapeutic arts for ex cult-members. The Arts in Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2020.101743

*Kefalogianni, M (2018). ''Making is connecting… A journey into the making as a means of connection and personal growth: Exploring the feminine in the making'' in Creative Academic Magazine , September 2018, pp. 38- 41.

*Kefalogianni, M 2017 'I am my Pedagogy; my Personal Ecological Pedagogy', in: Creative Academic Magazine, Exploring Creative Pedagogies for Creative Learning Ecologies, , April 2017, pp.20-23. 
http://www.creativeacademic.uk/uploads/1/3/5/4/13542890/cam_7c_march.pdf

*Kefalogianni, M 2017 'The emergence of my creativity through creative HE', in: Creative Academic Magazine, Exploring Creative Pedagogies for Creative Learning Ecologies, , February 2017, pp.68-81. .

http://www.creativeacademic.uk/uploads/1/3/5/4/13542890/cam_7b_february.pdf

*Kefalogianni, M, 2010 "Collective Biography Practices", a creative approach to research, in "Counselling & Psychotherapy Research" Journal.

Book reviews/ book chapters

Self -compassion in the heart of parenting, in Not another parenting book, how to challenge the status quo, break cycles and parent with connection, calm & confidence 2021. InsideOut Publishing - available on amazon -

"Creative supervision across modalities: theory and applications for therapists, counsellors and others helping professionals" (Lia Zografou & Anna Chesner, 2013) -  CPR- Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal .

Conference /Symbosium Presentations :

-An idiosyncratic approach to person centred mindful practice - Minding the Gaps Symbosium, University of Salford , (2018)The ARM annual meeting ( Association of Radical Midwives) self-care: barriers and stepping stones (2016).

-Presentation of research papers at Keele University: Counselling Psychology Conference (2008)

-Presentation at the BACP "Research Impacts", Conference London (2010).

Guest Editor on Creative Academic Magazine, Issue: October 2017 issue " Using our present to explore our past" 
Moderator on a Creative Online Community of 527 members ,currently.

( if you somebody who may be interested in submitting an article in the above communites- or wish to be part of it  do not hesitate to contact me - we celebrate connecting with more people in the community-.