Dimitrios Monochristou
(he/him)
Trauma-Informed Counsellor | Cognitive Analytical Therapist | EMDR Therapist
Dimitrios is a counsellor with training in person centred therapy, cognitive analytic therapy, EMDR and trauma informed somatic interventions. In his work with his clients, he finds it meaningful to look past diagnostic labels such as depression and EUPD and work with the personal circumstances, difficult life experiences and the developmental trauma that leads many people to end up with such diagnoses, to suffer with difficult moods, thoughts, body symptoms and in their relationships.
In his 14 years in the UK, Dimitrios has worked with various demographics in the community sector, NHS and higher education. He has worked with people with ADHD, from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, immigrants trying to make a better life away from their home countries. He has a strong interest in helping people overcome their trauma which significantly affects their life. That could be historic abuse and neglect, critical life events as well as ongoing difficulties in relationships with others and with themselves, often reflected in poor self-esteem, self-worth and confidence. All areas which are often significantly impacted by adverse life experiences.
Dimitrios has personal experience of leaving his home country and settling in the UK, having to face the challenges of leaving a familiar space and support networks and of creating a life somewhere new and unknown. He appreciates what it is like to feel uprooted, lost and isolated and how the quest to find one’s own values can lead the path to reconnecting, belonging and finding meaning. As a male therapist, Dimitrios can relate with men’s experience of trauma and mental health in a world where men are usually expected to remain strong and unaffected in the face of adversity.
In his experience, Dimitrios has witnessed people change their lives, the ways they see themselves, improve important relationships. He has helped people befriend aspects of themselves they could not bear, notice very potent parts of themselves that have helped them survive and get on with life, process difficult feelings and memories and resolve challenging internal conflicts. Therefore, he has a lot of hope that life can improve for a traumatised person and tries to inspire this in the people he works with.
Dimitrios's Education and Training
Education:
MSc Counselling Psychology - Keele University, UK
BSc in Psychology - Aristotle University, Thessaloniki
Specialised Training:
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Cognitive Analytical Therapy Training (CAT) - Accredited Practitioner
Counselling and Psychotherapy Supervision
Trauma informed stabilisation treatment - Accredited Certificate
Somatic, Psychological and Interactive Trauma Model - in training