Konstandina Polychronopoulou
Psychological Counsellor
I am a highly empathetic Counselling Psychologist with 20 years' experience. Together we can create meaningful transformation with acceptance & compassion. I specialise in relationships & couples counselling.
I specialise in:
About me
Hi, I am Konstandina! I am a Counselling Psychologist holding a post-graduate diploma from Regent's University in London. I create a personalised approach that works best for each individual, drawing from twenty years of clinical experience and studies in Existential, Psychodynamic, CBT & Jungian approaches. I support my clients in loving themselves and their lives more. I help with clarity, profound understanding, deep insights, self-awareness & creating positive change.
I have lived & worked as a Counsellor in London for many years, enjoying seeing clients from a wide range of backgrounds. I currently work online with people from all around the world.
Navigating being a highly sensitive person for all my life shows me that the establishment of a validating, encouraging, and supportive environment is crucial.
➡️What I can help you with:
RELATIONSHIPS
I have twenty years of experience in working with relationship challenges, and I have seen that for many of us, relationships are the source of the greatest hurts and the greatest joy and fulfilment. Many of my clients often find it difficult to communicate what they want in their relationship, which results in them feeling misunderstood and disconnected. Another core challenge we work with is the repetitive situations in their relationship that leave them stuck and unfulfilled. I support my clients to increase their understanding of themselves and others, to approach their partners with more confidence and clarity, and learn how to set the right boundaries for them.
I also have extensive experience working with DATING DIFFICULTIES, the first step towards starting a relationship. I support people in the process of finding someone who is a good match for them, decrease the stress of the first dates & love their life as it is, while they create the relationship they want.
COUPLES COUNSELLING
At the heart of working with couples is to restore the communication between the two partners, to deepen the understanding for each other, to learn to respect each other’s needs, and to help them rebuild trust. Seeing the relationship from this new perspective is the basis from which we can approach the difficulties that the relationship might be facing, such as loss of connection, conflicts, intimacy, parenting challenges, affairs, betrayal & non-helpful dynamics.
COUPLES' AFFAIRS
I can support you with navigating the hurt, difficulty in trust and emotional suffering that often results from couples' affairs where there has been a violation of emotional or sexual exclusivity. We can work together to process your emotions and renew your connection.
FERTILITY RELATED ISSUES
For many years now, I have been offering support with fertility challenges, and I strongly admire the determination and strength often needed to move through them. I offer support with navigating through a potentially complex emotional landscape that may include fear, anxiety, shame, and guilt.
PARENTHOOD
I help parents develop coping skills in approaching challenging situations with their children and feel confident and in control of their emotions. My work with parents focuses on promoting their well-being, understanding of their children’s needs, and bonding with their children.
NEURODIVERSE COUPLES THERAPY
It's a nuanced approach to clarifying & enhancing communication between partners. It may involve sensory regulation techniques, creative exercises, meditation & mindfulness. This includes empathising with the sensory & cognitive differences of the person(s) experiencing ND, such as ADHD, AuADHD & HSP. Identifying & articulating emotions is also offered if needed.
LGBT COUPLES THERAPY, SAME SEX COUPLES COUNSELLING & QUEER RELATIONSHIP THERAPY
In this safe, friendly, and accepting space, we are exploring the dynamics and distinctive challenges that arise in same sex and non-binary relationships. Addressing the impact of coming out, working through societal obstacles & facing the unique challenges that come from being liberated from traditional gender norms are some of the themes that may come up in these sessions. LGBTQ couples therapy clarifies nuances, dives into complexities & explores how each partner affects the relationship dynamics. Benefits can include enhancing connection, improved communication, becoming deeply aware of each partner's needs, conflict resolution, emotional processing & growing together.
ETHICAL NON-MONOGAMY (ENM), OPEN RELATIONSHIPS, POLYAMORY
Each relationship's dynamics, structure & individual journeys are different, and I support navigating each person's needs, challenges, desires & boundaries. Our work together could include navigating jealousy, building emotional resilience, transitioning from monogamous to non-monogamous relationships, discussing relationship expansion within a couple, working through and processing emotions around social and cultural challenges, discussing boundaries, co-parenting decision-making, and enhancing trust.
I speak:
Location:
Media Gallery
Approach
My approach in counselling & psychotherapy is Integrative and relational. The way I work combines elements from different methods in order to adapt to the desires, needs, and goals of each client individually to help them accept, love, and create their life as they want it to be.
My style is collaborative, curious, grounding and uplifting!
I am a member of BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
➡️The approaches I use:
Existential Phenomenological Therapy
Existential Therapy helps us find the purpose and meaning in our lives by understanding our relationships and the events we experience. In Existential Therapy, we work with the fears and anxieties that are core aspects of living, such as loneliness, confusion, and fear of the unknown. Its fundamental tenet is that each of us is capable of making decisions and taking personal responsibility for building a meaningful life.
Psychodynamic Therapy
In Psychodynamic Therapy, we focus on changing problematic patterns (of thought and behaviour) in our lives by understanding the unconscious causes, meanings and motivations behind them. Our unconscious is formed by past experiences and established associations in our minds. In therapy, we review past events in a new light to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and others and thus release ourselves from the old patterns.
Analytical (Jungian) Psychology
In Analytical Psychology, we examine the experiences and influences in our lives from a symbolic perspective. The core idea is that there are certain symbolic themes shared by all humanity (archetypes). By working on the themes that play a key role in our own lives, we can identify which positive and negative aspects of them we are expressing. In the therapeutic context, we can use art, mythology, dream analysis and other creative ways of expression to increase our self-awareness.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
In CBT, we aim to alter dysfunctional thoughts and behaviours by recognising the core beliefs that give rise to them. Clients keep a journal of their anxious or self-defeating thoughts, which they learn to replace with more helpful ones. Clients also gradually expose themselves to situations they perceive as threatening or anxiety-provoking as a means to eventually perceive them as less dangerous and to reinforce the new, more balanced, thinking patterns and behaviours.
Mindfulness and Guided Imagery Meditations
Mindfulness is a set of practices in which we focus on present-moment experiences like observing our breath, sensations in our bodies, our emotions and more. Practicing Mindfulness regularly teaches us to be more grounded in the now and to live more fully each and every moment of our lives. This greatly helps us with overthinking, anxiety and other challenging mental states and feelings.
In Guided Imagery, we concentrate on mental images to guide our minds to relaxing and positive scenes. In this safe space, we can rehearse the desired scenarios and outcomes in our mind's eye. Guided Imagery helps us to regulate our stress and worries, to be calmer in our everyday lives and to feel a better sense of control over our lives' situations.
➡️ What takes place in our first session?
We will ask important questions like what brings you to therapy now and what you would like to get out of our sessions together. When relevant, this often includes:
• Exploring and developing insights on your current challenges • Discussing in an empowering way how you have approached these difficulties in the past • Clarifying your goals for our therapeutic work together and what changes you would like to experience in your life • you can also ask me any questions you may be having about how therapy works or my approach •we will always be in dialogue to let me know what you like and what you want more of in our work together •we may also identify patterns and relationship dynamics that are at play in couples & relationship counselling sessions
➡️ What about frequency and duration?
In the beginning of our therapeutic work together, we usually aim to meet weekly, or at least fortnightly.
Weekly sessions are recommended as they help maintain momentum which is very helpful to create progress. However, meeting every other week is absolutely fine, too.
There is no fixed duration, it depends on your needs. We will be discussing how things are evolving for you and when you feel that you have had enough sessions to support you with what you wanted, we can work on closure for our therapeutic work together.
I would love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out to ask me any questions and to arrange your session. I am looking forward to meeting you!
Experience
01/2015-Present Online Counselling & Psychotherapy / Relationship & Couples Counselling, London & Athens (Private Practice)
01/2014-03/2017 The Awareness Centre - Counselling and Psychotherapy / Relationship & Couples Counselling, London (Private Practice)
03/2010-03/2017 Centre of Psychotherapy and Counselling Education, Counselling and Psychotherapy / Relationship & Couples Counselling, London (Private Practice)
03/2013-06/2015 Reflections Therapy Services, Mindfulness & Other Therapeutic Meditations Facilitator / Counsellor & Psychotherapist, London
01/2007-07/2010 Hammesmith & Fulham Mind - Psychotherapy, Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Psychodynamic approach, London
02/2007-02/2010 Mind in Brent, Wandsworth & Westminster - Psychotherapy, Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Integrative approach, London
09/2006-08/2007 Dafni Psychiatric Hospital, Psychological support, Athens
01/2005-07/2005 SOS Children's Villages, Psychological & educational support, Athens
Education
2007-2013 Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling (PgD) - Regent's University London ( Doctoral level)
2008 Mindfulness Training - Regent's University London
2007 Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy - Intensive - Regent's University London
2001-2005 Degree in Psychology - Deree, The American College of Greece
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Individual Session
Couples Session
Insurances
