Vassia Sarantopoulou, Counselor - Psychologist, Msc

Vassia Sarantopoulou is a NIP Psycholoog -
​member of the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (NIP)

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Getting to know someone depends on a variety of factors, but mainly it is in need of one thing: TIME. 
Time that has to be shared and offered equally from both sides. 
I offer you my time. To build further. To get to know each other. To discuss your worries. To confront fears. To change patterns. To overcome loneliness. To grow. 
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Arrange an appointment today for a counseling or therapy session here. 
Read more about what counseling and therapy can offer you, as well as the different types of it, here. 

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My studies & trainings

• ​​My studies are in the Psychology field. I completed a Master course in Counseling and Career Guidance and a 2nd Master course in Psychology. 
• I have been trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Schema Therapy and Group Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Grief Counseling.
• I have attended numerous workshops, namely in "Transactional Analysis". Compassion Focused Therapy", "Introduction in Playtherapy", "Training on DSM-IV", "Chairwork", etc. 

My approach

• ​My main approach is Schema Therapy in combination with CBT - Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness. Moreover, depending on the needs of the client, I use tools and techniques from DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) and Transactional Analysis. 
• The focus of my approach is to bring the balance in my clients between their mind and their emotions; between their thinking and their feeling.

My journey as a Counselor-Therapist

• ​I have been working as a councelor/therapist since 2005, organizing groups but also working with clients in personal sessions. 
• The main and most common issues I have tried to deal together with my clients have been: anxiety, depression, time management, family issues (divorce, adolescence, parenting, conflicts, infertility), grief, panic attacks, self-development. 
• I have organised seminars and workshops about psychology for counselors and psychologists, but also for individuals. 
• I have been organising and facilitating Divorce Support Groups in Leiden and in the Hague for men and women that have gone through a divorce and they need emotional support since 2016. ​

My accomplishments as a trainer/ speaker/ coach

• ​I have been coaching women executives in building a Strong Self, Bringing others Along and Leaving a Legacy. 
• I have been a lecturer in seminars and workshops concerning Career Counselling, Stress Management, Parenting School, Self-Awareness. 
• I have been invited as a speaker to various conferences and presentations, talking about leadership, empowerment and relationships.
  
• I keep expanding my horizons by participating in workshops, conferences, seminars, since what I do needs constant further education and self-development.

In a nutshell

Psychologist and Relationship Counselor with more than 15 years of experience in supporting men and women through adulthood challenges. 
In love with my work and with psychology's infinity. 
There is no right or wrong, no "normal".
Curious since birth. 
Searching for patterns, exploring alternative scenarios. 
Redefining cliches, removing stereotypes and unnecesary agonies.
With kindness and realistic positivity. 
Aiming to bring back love land honest decisions in relationships.
Believing in the power of connections and deep, meaningful relationships. 

Who am I?

​"I am a highly responsible person with a strong sense of fairness."​

• "I love theories, concepts, patterns. People come to me when they want someone to explain why things are playing out the way they are."
• "I believe in the transforming power of forgiveness: not only forgiving others, but mainly forgiving ourselves and accepting the parts of our self and our history that we least like"
  
• "I ask "why?" a lot. I guess it can get annoying sometimes, but I can't help it. I'm the kind of person who hates assumptions. I need to get to the bottom of why things are the way they are."
• "I love bringing order to things. My strength is the structure I bring to others. The foundation, the grid, the framework within which to create." ​​

What keeps me going?

​"It is always inspiring to see people going through such a hard time in their life, but still sum up their strength not only to help themselves out of this phase, but also to support others."​

• "I would like my clients to see me as their trusted counselor, the person who is here to listen with kindness, empathy and all her attention to what they are going through, and help them out of the storm."
• "My calming and peaceful approach is something that my clients find relieving. They don’t have to prove anything, they don’t have to stress about anything when they are with me. There is no right and wrong and we both try to take away this burden of “being normal”. And that is by itself something quite motivating."