Counselling & Psychotherapy in English

Lefteris Morrou, BA (Hons), MPhil., Psychologist & Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist

Since 2008 he has relocated in Thessaloniki, Greece, from Glasgow, Scotland, UK, where he lived and worked for the past 15 years.
Received his license as a Psychologist from the British Psychological Society, he is also an accredited Psychologist from DOATAP and is in private practice in Kalamaria (Thessaloniki), Greece.
Received 8 years training and experience in the field of Psychology in UK.
BA (Hon) in Psychology from Glasgow University, in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
MPhil in Psychology from Glasgow University, in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
PG Cert in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy from Derby University, East Midlands, UK.
PG Dipl in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy from Dundee University, Scotland, UK.
He worked for the largest psychiatric private hospital in the UK; The PRIORY Hospital as a LEAD CLINICIAN.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy and Counseling provide a confidential setting in which emotional difficulties can be explored. This process requires regular meetings and a commitment from both the client and the therapist.

Psychotherapy’s main goal is to reduce symptoms that a person might feel. These symptoms include; anxiety, sadness, difficulties communicating at home, work or with friends. A person may also feel incapable of regulating his emotions, have many somatic preoccupations and lack energy and organization to complete daily tasks.

A person may seek psychotherapy if he/she has:

•    Relationship issues – separation, divorce, sexual problems, intimacy issues, communication difficulties.
•    Academic / Vocational / Employment issues.
•    Difficulties adjusting to a medical condition.
•    Emotional issues – Depression, anxiety, fears, stress, panic, low self esteem.
•    Substance Abuse issues – or if one has a family member who is an addict.
•    Adjustment issues.
•    Burn out and stress related to work.
•    Sexual Identity issues.
•    Sleeping disorders.
•    Difficulties and nervousness with socialization issues.

Psychotherapy is a process where one understands himself through intense discussions and involves a new understanding of the environment (family and society) that he was raised in.

Through psychotherapy a person becomes aware of his capacity for learning to live in harmony with others and with society. As this innate potential for social connectedness becomes conscious a feeling of genuine security emerges rooted in a deep sense of belonging. The main criterion for mental health is a feeling of human connectedness and a willingness to develop oneself fully and contribute to the welfare of others.

Choosing a psychotherapist is a very important issue. It is important to check the credentials and experience of the person you are about to see, and to make sure that “chemistry” between the two of you exists. The relationship that you will develop with your therapist is crucial to the treatment outcome and relief of your symptomatology.

Psychotherapy can take few sessions or few months depending on what kind of problem you are faced with and what decision you and your therapist will make. This decision is usually made in the first sessions of therapy in the development phase of treatment planning. If the focus of treatment is a specific problem, psychotherapy will take fewer sessions than when the treatment request has to do with personal growth.

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can help treat a wide range of physical and emotional problems, and it’s one of the most effective forms of psychotherapy. The information provided below explains how it works, and how it can help you.

What is CBT?

CBT is a treatment that challenges the way we think (cognitive) and act (behaviour). By doing this it aims to change the feelings that create emotional and physical problems.

How does CBT work?

From past experiences, you may have developed unhelpful beliefs and negative thoughts about yourself, others and certain situations. These create the feelings that lead to your emotional or physical problem. CBT helps you see that these beliefs and thoughts are no longer relevant to new situations, and to think in a more balanced way. It also challenges you to change parts of your behaviour that are allowing your problem to continue.

What problems can CBT help treat?

CBT is a highly effective process, and has been successful in treating a wide range of emotional and physical problems, including:

• anxiety and panic disorders;

• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD);

• post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);

• eating disorders, including anorexia, binge-eating and bulimia;

• body dysmorphic disorder (BDD);

• phobias;

• depression;

• stress-related problems; and

• grief.

How will a CBT session work?

The CBT therapist will work with you in three areas to:

• understand your beliefs and the underlying assumptions you have about yourself, others and the world around you;

• understand how these affect your current behaviour, feelings and thoughts; and

• try and alter the conditions which control your problem.

Depending on your problem, CBT can be used alone or together with prescribed medication.

How long will a course of CBT take?

Your therapist will agree with you how many sessions you need, depending on your condition and how severe it is. Each session will last up to an hour. You will usually have one session each week to allow you time between sessions to work on the aims your therapist has set for you. At the end of your therapy, you and your therapist may agree to a limited number of follow-Up sessions.