Klea Barlou
Counsellor
I specialise in:
About me
I am a Greek therapist based in Athens where I offer sessions for adults, both in-person and online. My goal is to create a welcoming and accepting environment where clients can face and accept their struggles with compassion and a sense of safety. Together, we'll explore ways to build resilience, paving the way for a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
From an early age, I’ve been deeply fascinated by human behaviour, always curious about people’s emotions, and naturally inclined to help others. Growing up in Greece and pursuing my studies in the UK have given me a profound understanding of the unique challenges expats face, including adapting to new environments and dealing with feelings of loneliness and depression.
As a mother of two, I intimately understand the stress and responsibilities women encounter when balancing work life with raising children. I also have a passion for baking, which brings a sense of creativity and calm into my life.
In my private practice, I incorporate mindfulness, a practice I value both professionally and personally. My clients often describe me as warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental—qualities I strive to embody in every interaction.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
In my practice, I take a holistic approach to understanding my client’s family background as I believe this is the basis for gaining insight into their current patterns, relationships, and emotional experiences. We will focus on the present, gaining a deep understanding of your current challenges while building the skills needed to achieve your future goals using the core of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy skills, some of which are:
Restructuring distorted thinking
Exposure to reduce anxiety and avoidance behaviours
Problem-solving strategies to address and manage challenges and stressors in daily life.
Additionally, through my training in DBT, I teach my clients mindfulness skills that allow them to stay present in the moment, manage their emotions more effectively, and reduce impulsive behaviours by fostering greater awareness and acceptance of their thoughts and feelings. Although I do not offer DBT Therapy at the moment, we can borrow DBT skills to enhance what we will learn through CBT.
I believe therapy is a collaborative process that thrives on a strong, trusting relationship. That's why I value my clients' feedback on our sessions, as it not only helps strengthen our connection but also allows me to continually grow and improve as a therapist.
I am a strong believer of “practicing what you preach” therefore I am very open about the fact that I too am in therapy. It has been wonderful journey that has helped me to become a better and more mindful person and is essential in any therapist taking an objective approach in their sessions.
Through my time as a Psychologist at the Alzheimers Athens Association, I gained a deep understanding and expertise in caring for carers, which is something I am happily offering through this platform.
For the past 5 years I have also been offering supervision for novice CBT therapists.
