Charis Petrovich K. Papadavid, is of Greek-Cypriot and Russian origin. She graduated in Psychology and mastered in Marriage and Family Therapy at Hofstra University of New York, USA.
She has been trained and supervised by great specialists of the field of psychology and marriage and family therapy, like Dr. Salvador Minuchin (“father” of Structural Family Therapy) and Dr. Joan D. Atwood (Director of Hofstra University Marriage and Family Therapy Program and President of The Marriage and Family Therapy Association, New York Chapter.)
Her experience includes practicum and work at the Child and Family Clinic of HANAC (Hellenic American Action Comity) in Queens, New York. Services provided at the sight included weekly therapy session with individuals, couples and families. The therapeutic spectrum of cases included conflictual relationships between parents and children/teenagers, school and adjustment problems, violence and neglect issues, substance abuse issues, depression, anxiety issues, marital problems, divorce and custody issues, chronic illnesses in the family etc.
Charis Petrovich was also been leading therapy groups for divorcing parents on a weekly basis in a collaborative attempt between the court authorities of Nassau County, Long Island, NY and the Marriage and Family Therapy Program of Hofstra University in an active effort to inform and educate parents going through the process of divorce.
Moreover, Charis Petrovich participated in numerous psychology and psychotherapy conferences in the United States and Europe. She is an associate member of the Association of Greek Psychologists and an associate member of the European Family Therapy Association.
Having returned from the States she lived and worked in Athens, Greece, from 2006-2013. She provided her services to a public sector Counseling Center in Petroupoli, Attica and led, licensed private practice. She was also trained and collaborated with the Mental & Health Institute of Dr. Thanos Asktitis. Furthermore, she was keenly collaborated with other health professionals at IASO General Hospital where complete palliative care was provided to patients.
At present, having returned to her homeland, Cyprus, she lives and works in Limassol having a licensed private practice at the Petrovich Medical Center as a Psychologist – Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapy Specialist.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Is a process of meeting with a therapist to assist you in dealing with symptoms or problems you are having. A common aim of therapy is to gain understanding that informs one to make new choices that achieve a better outcome for one’s life. This may involve learning new skills, trying out new behaviors, working through old issues, grieving, or letting go of things that no longer serve health or well-being. We may not so much change our experiences, but rather see more clearly how we relate to them and find a source of peace about the ones that have been troubling to us. From this awareness it becomes possible to move with greater flexibility and creativity in the world.
In your initial appointment, we will assess a variety of personal background information, including situations or conditions that may affect the problem for which you are seeking psychotherapeutic treatment. You participate in this process by completing history forms, sometimes specific symptom check lists, and by talking about your situation. A thorough history helps me identify what therapeutic methods may be most effective for you. This also allows me to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs based on the initial and ongoing assessments. You will be given information about recommendations and you will be encouraged to ask questions to help you understand your care better.
Some Issues for which Individual Psychotherapy may help:
- Personal Growth & Exploration
- Spiritual Issues
- Life Adjustment Issues
- Coping with Changes
- Grief or Loss
- Work-Life Balance
- Self-esteem/Confidence Issues
- Chronic Pain & Pain Disorders
- Past Trauma
- Relationship Issues
- Adolescent Issues
- Weight Issues
- Depression or Sadness
- Anxiety Problems
- Sexuality Issues
- Stress-related problems
- Stress management
- Coping with Health problems
- Excessive fear
COUPLES THERAPY
Couple’s counseling is based on the premise that individuals and their problems are best handled within the context of the couple’s relationship. Typically, both partners in the relationship attend the counseling session to discuss the couple’s specific issues. The aim of couple’s counseling is to help a couple deal appropriately with their immediate problems and to learn better ways of relating in general.
Couples therapy, helps couples — married or not — understand and resolve conflicts and improve their relationship. Couples therapy gives couples the tools to communicate better, negotiate differences, problem solve and even argue in a healthier way.
Couples therapy can be short term. You may need only a few sessions to help you weather a crisis. Or you may need couples therapy for several months, particularly if your relationship has greatly deteriorated. As with individual psychotherapy, you typically see a marriage counselor or therapist once a week.
Couples Therapy can be beneficial in case of:
Ambiguity in decision to marry
Communication Problems
Excessive Arguing – Power Struggles
Medical Condition in one of the partners
Divorce
Infidelity
Anger
Sexual Problems
FAMILY THERAPY
Family therapy addresses the problems people present within the context of their relationships with significant people in their lives and their social networks. It is a well-recognized psychotherapy approach primarily aimed at the family system as a social unit in contrast to other psychotherapy approaches which focus on the individual.
Some of the goals of family therapy might be for instance: improvement of family functioning on different levels, enhancement of mutual understanding and emotional support among family members, development of coping skills and problem-solving strategies in various life dilemmas and situations and so forth.
The systemic perspective – which underpins the practice of most family therapists – views the problems of an individual in relation to the different contexts in which people live: i.e as a partner in a couple relationship, as a family member, a person with particular cultural and/or religious allegiances, while also taking into account socio-economic circumstances and political processes. Systemic practice regards `context’ as being of paramount significance for an individual’s psychological development and emotional well-being.
A family therapy session usually lasts between 60-90 minutes; the intervals between sessions are from one to several weeks depending on the presented problems, needs of the family members, the stage of the treatment and other variables. Decisions over these matters are negotiated collaboratively with clients. Although it is hard to estimate and it differs widely, the average length of family therapy treatment ranges between 6 – 20 sessions.
Family therapists most often work with more than one family member in the room but individual sessions or meetings with parents separate from children for example are also offered when appropriate.
Family can be both a great source of support for people but also a source of distress, misunderstanding and pain. Therefore family therapy and systemic practice is important whenever the aim is to enhance the ability of family members to support each other. Enabling family members to use their resources more efficiently in a supportive way can be vital in helping members manage transitional stages of family development or stressful life events such as a serious illness or a death of a family member.
Generally speaking, any situation or a problem that affects relationships between family members and family functioning and its supportive role, can benefit from systemic family therapy. Similarly any problem of an individual that affects his/her life in relation to his/her relationships to family and wider contexts will benefit from a systemic approach. Involving others in an individual’s family or social network in the treatment can help to avoid the pathologizing of that individual and also address the problem more effectively.
Family therapy can be useful in times of crisis and also with regard to long-standing problems. It also serves to prevent problems such as a behavioural difficulty, for example, deteriorating into delinquency or mental health breakdown. Some of the issues or situations at which a family could benefit from family therapy are listed bellow:
Health problems, particularly chronic physical illnesses
Psychosomatic problems
Child and adolescent mental health
Adult mental health
Psychosexual difficulties
Alcohol and other substance abuse
Marital problems including separation and divorce issues
Remarried Families
Single Parent Families
Foster care, adoption and related issues
Family life cycle and transitional stages of life issues
Promoting parenting skills and family functioning
School-related problems
Work-related problems
Traumatic experiences, loss and bereavement
Disruption of family life due to social, political and religious conflicts
Questions and Answers
Who is a psychologist – psychotherapist?
When a professional declares himself as a psychologist- psychotherapist he means that his basic training and recognized bachelor’s degree is of university level , is in the field of psychology and that he has specialized in a psychotherapeutic approach at a master’s or doctorate level. The “psychotherapy” addition to the psychologist title is there to emphasize the direction of the therapeutic tactics of the discussed professional. Psychotherapists base their therapeutic interventions on the “interview” style of conducting therapy, where both therapist and client are active in oral exchange of meanings. Different tests and exercises can also be used to aid therapy, all depending, of course, with the therapist’s school of thought (be that, cognitive, behavioral, systemic etc.).
Who is a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)?
A professional MFT is a specialized psychotherapist who deals with psychological issues as they develop in a person and their family. As a specialty MFT does not exist in the Hellenic universities, yet there are a number of unrecognized training centers in the country. MFT exist as a complete specialty in other European countries and the United States. The approach assumed by the MFTs is the one known as “Systemic Theory and Therapy” under which the individual and his problems are perceived as being part of and facilitated by the system (eg. Couple, family) one belongs to. Therefore, when a problem occurs in a person it is believed that the problem does not only exist within the person but rather acts as a symptom of a greater issue that exists within the unity or family the person belongs to. The system or family member becomes symptomatic mobilize the family to get help as it becomes dysfunctional. Hence, systemics’ theorize that the individual’s problems become evident as the person begins to associate and interact with others.
How can I be sure that the therapist of my choice has the appropriate qualifications?
When choosing a therapist one has to be sure of two primary things: 1.) that he has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s or doctorate degree in an applied field of psychology and or psychotherapy 2.) he is a licensed psychologist
How long does the therapy process last?
It depends, partly, on the presenting problem and the therapeutic setting (individual, couples, family) and approach that will be used. For instance, systemic therapy takes up to 12-15 sessions, on average, given that there is a dedicated commitment on the part of the client/ clients
What about confidentiality issues?
Anything disclosed and shared between the client and the therapist is strictly confidential and enforced by the code of ethics of the profession.
How many kinds of therapy are there?
There are many therapeutic approaches, each one used as required and in accordance to the presenting problem, disorder, and or symptom (eg. anxiety issues, depression, phobias, relationship problems –marital, symbiotic, with parents, children etc.). Analogous to your request there will be an appropriate therapeutic plan.
Is psychometric evaluation necessary?
Before any intervention, it is of great importance for the therapist to evaluate the presenting problem and its circumstances as a way of constructing a more effective therapy plan. This initial process always involves a detailed note of specific events and is carried out in the context of an “interview”. It may also involve written questions/exercises –open ended or multiple choice (depending on the issues), or thematic appreciation test.
How will I know I need help?
If you feel that everyday management is hard, or you find yourself thinking constantly about a specific problem, or you feel like you have tried everything without success, then you need help. It is important to visit a specialist if you are having difficulty fulfilling your occupational, personal, or social commitments.
How could I encourage someone to ask for professional help?
It is important to encourage people who need help to visit a specialist, it is a type of caring. One could emphasize the benefit of alleviating stress and feeling better.
How much do sessions cost?
The cost of therapy depends on the amount, the frequency, and type (individual, couples, family) of therapy implemented.
How long does a session last?
Sessions for individual psychotherapy typically last 50 minutes, for couples 75, for families 90.
Do psychologists prescribe medication?
Psychologists do not prescribe medicine. Therapy is based on the dialogue interaction between therapist and client. However, collaboration with a psychiatrist could take place if required.
Call
25343330
Address
24 Nafpliou Str., 2nd Floor,
Apt. 22
3025, Limassol
OPEN HOURS
Monday to Friday
09:00-13:00 & 16:00-19:00
info@petrovich.gr