SUCCESS STORIES




The MSc in Positive Psychology was a milestone in my life and in my career. Now, I work as a Psychologist in the Community Psychiatric Care Service at home of AMKE IASIS, working with psychiatric and general population. So, I have received important tools and techniques of Positive Psychology, which I have included in my work, something that I believe distinguishes it from simple therapeutic interventions! (Anastasia Paradeisi, Psychologist, MSc, graduation year 2020)

 



 

I understand day by day that the integration of the concepts of Positive Psychology in clinical practice within a Child Psychiatry department is a "self-development point" not only in relation to dealing with the difficulties of children and their families but also in relation to our individual development as mental health professionals beyond the terms Pathology. We record positive opinions after the enrichment of parents' schools with principles, such as the character strengths, self-compassion, enjoyment, while the integration of them and other structural elements in solution-focused family therapy interventions also record encouraging results (Tzorbatzakis Giannis, Psychologist, MSc., graduation year 2017)

 



 
In MSc I learned that the spectrum of psychology is not limited to the worst, but proceeds to the optimal. We can talk about positive emotions, about positive experiences, about character strengths, about resilience and not only about dysfunctions and disorders. This is a valuable tool that gives another perspective to my work, so important in adult counseling and so invaluable in supporting children and adolescents (Rea Evangelatou, graduation year 2017)



 
Many pieces, positive exercises, but also concepts of Positive Psychology, such as gratitude, hope and resilience cultivation, optimism development and positive aspects reappearance in a negative condition were mainly what I have used so far as tools professionally both in the school, the work environment I am and in psychotherapy with adults, young adults and teenagers customers. I observed their effect and the way they functioned, in addition to the therapeutic tools, as a real, true, supportive lever for changing the patients’ way of thinking and feeling towards a more positive view of themselves and the world (Karali Panagiota-Alkistis, Psychologist, graduation year 2020)


 




From MSc on Positive Psychology, a new academic and professional course began for me. Since October 2020, I have been studying at Panteion University as a PhD candidate in the research team of Pr. Anastasios Stalikas. I am now involved as a research psychologist in European Erasmus + Programs, that apply the principles of Positive Psychology. (Maria Christopoulou, Psychologist, adult educator, graduation year 2018)

 



From the beginning of my professional life, I used all this knowledge, applying interventions in the school community, in individual counseling as well as in parent counseling. At the same time, I sought a combination with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in therapeutic practice, applying mainly positive interventions about the Meaning of Life, Positive Relationships, Mindfulness and the Character Strengths (Kladouri Maria, Psychologist, MSc, graduation year 2020).



 

I work with women who have survived sexual violence, and I call them survivors and not victims, since positive psychology has taught me to look for the positive in people and to discern their potential, no matter how adverse was the situation they have experienced or are experiencing. One day a woman came to the counseling center, quite scared and anxious, who is in a hurry to find the solution, to tell me what has happened to her and to advise her what is the best thing to do. I told her how brave she is that she made the decision to meet us, while we talked about how she imagines herself at her best in the future. This woman started dreaming of a life without abuse again. Today she lives alone, works and goes to school (Kouvaki Vassiliki, Psychologist, MSc, graduation year 2020).


 


Although working with people with severe psychiatric disorders is significantly different from the general population, given that all people need love, acceptance and positive relationships, there is room and space for positivity! (Sofia Papaspyropoulou, Psychologist, MSc, graduation year 2018).



 

Already from the internship in the second semester, I undertook some incidents at the organization where I had the opportunity with the appropriate supervision to apply positive interventions in these incidents. This experience was also valuable for my future career as a specialized psychotherapist. In addition, through MSc I had the opportunity to be a member of the writing team with a chapter in the book: "Conquering prosperity: positive interventions and experiential exercises" (Eleni Gastouniotou, Psychologist & Teacher, graduation year 2020).