When:
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 10:00-13:00
Where:
Center for the Arts Auditorium, The American College of Greece, Gravias 6, Agia Paraskevi 15342
Organized by:
MA in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology
Department of Psychology
Deree – The American College of Greece
In collaboration with:
Regeneration & Progress
Supported by:
Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

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About the event

A multi-station interactive workshop aimed at raising awareness and providing practical knowledge on autism.

The event is free and open to the public.

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Program

10:00-10:15: Managing My Child’s Disability

10:15-10:30: What do I need to know about autism?

10:30-12:30 Workshops

Workshop 1: Recognition and Early Signs of Autism (Medical Slot)
Speaker: Triantafyllou Georgia (Child and Adolescent psychiatrist)
Speaker: Pasalari Evdokia (Psychologist)

Workshop 2: Physical Activity and Therapeutic Interventions
Speaker: Afsaridou Zoi-Nikoletta (Adapted Physical Education Teacher)
Speaker: Panagopoulos Thomas (Paediatric Physical Therapist)

Workshop 3: Sensory-Motor Deficits, Interaction & Autism

Workshop 4: Workplace Integration & Social Participation
Speaker: Specialized Supported Employment Office Koin.S.P.E. – DIADROMES

12:00-12:30: Final Speech: Sexual Education
Speaker: Papitsi Flora (Psychologist)

12:30-13:00 Open Discussion

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About the speakers

Evdokia Pasalari
Psychologist, MSc Early Start Denver Model Certified Therapist Kentro Dimiourgia
A psychologist working with children, adolescents and adults since 2003, Evdokia Pasalari graduated from Panteion University, Psychology Department. Her Master’s degree in the Medical School of Athens focused on “Interventions to enhance communication between parents and children with pervasive developmental disorder of preschool age.” She is a CBT-trained therapist and practices EMDR trauma therapy for children and adults in individual and group protocols. She also have a specialization in research-based autism spectrum intervention program Early Start Denver Model and is a Certified Therapist from UC DAVIS MIND Institute. The program focuses on early detection and intervention of autism signs. Evodkia is also a PEERS® Certified Specialist increasing the social skills of adolescents and adults with developmental and other disorders. She has participated in research articles, one of which is Raising Autism Awareness among Greek teachers.

Georgia Triantafyllou
Child and Adolescent psychiatrist
3rd Department of Pediatrics
ELIZA Care Unit for the Safety of Children
Georgia Triantafyllou is currently serving at the 3rd Pediatric Clinic of the National University of Athens. She is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy Department at TEI of Athens (1992) and of the School of Medicine of the University of Patras (2001). In 2011 she obtained the child psychiatry specialty title. She worked as a child psychiatrist at the 2nd University Psychiatric Clinic of the “Attikon” University Hospital and the Mental Health Center in Peristeri. She has also worked as a TE Occupational therapist in a boarding school, hosting former patients from the Leros Psychiatric Hospital, the University Research Institute of Mental Health and the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica. She has attended and participated in Greek and international seminars and educational activities. Articles of hers have been published in international journals and has participated in research protocols.

Katingo Hadjipateras Giannoulis, PhD, MSc, C.Psychol, AFBPsS
Adjunct Professor
Chartered Clinical Psychologist
Katingo Hadjipateras Giannoulis is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and an Affiliate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, with membership of the Clinical and Neuropsychological Divisions. She is registered with the HCPC. She has worked both in the UK National Health Service and in private practice for over 25 years and she provides a wide array of psychological services to adults, adolescents and children, as well as couples and families. She has specialized in neurodevelopmental and social communication disorders (e.g. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders). Dr. Giannoulis has developed, run and evaluated groups for youngsters who have been bullied and runs “managing bullying” training workshops for youngsters in school. Within her therapeutic work, Dr. Giannoulis primarily adopts an eclectic model with a strong cognitive-behavioral basis. Psychology services include anxiety management, anger management, assertiveness training and confidence-building, therapy for depression, fears, phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating problems, as well as relationship/marital and family difficulties. Dr. Giannoulis is a part-time lecturer at Deree – The American College of Greece, Athens, where she teaches in the undergraduate and graduate psychology programs. She also undertakes teaching and training for a variety of organizations (e.g. schools, colleges, parent groups etc.).

 

Lillian V. Pelios, PhD, BCBA-D
Associate Lecturer in Psychology Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctor
Lillian Pelios, a Certified Behavior Analyst, is an Adjunct Professor teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at Deree – The American College of Greece. She completed her undergraduate studies at Deree where she studied psychology and sociology. She then obtained her Master’s degree from Queens College in New York, in Clinical Behavioral Applications in Mental Health Settings and her Doctoral Degree at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she studied Psychology and Psychological Studies in Special Education. Both her MA and PhD have an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. While living in the US, Dr. Pelios taught undergraduate courses, both behavioral and educational, at Temple University’s department of education preparing teachers. She has presented at conferences organized by the Association for Behavior Analysis International for many years. Later in the role of senior therapist and director, she trained teachers in behavior analytic techniques for autism intervention in Newport Connecticut, USA, and later in Philadelphia, PA. She also trained staff for years at Bancroft’s early intensive behavioral intervention program (EIBI) in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Finally, toward the end of her stay in the US, she established the first EIBI home-based program, serving children with ASDs, in the metropolitan area of Philadelphia, PA, through Elwyn Inc, SEEDS. Upon returning to Greece, she joined her current partners in private practice and together they founded Dynamai, a speech and language rehabilitation center for children with learning and developmental disabilities (2006). Since then, she has been overseeing all services related to autism and other developmental disabilities, such as EIBI, as well as services for school aged children with ASDs. She also oversees staff and parent training based on the principles of ABA. To support staff training she run a 40-hr seminar in ABA that meets criteria for RBT certification. Parallel to the above, she founded another non-profit center for youth and young adults with autism and severe intellectual impairments. She served this program as president and executive director for over 10 years.

Thomas G. Panagopoulos, PT, MSc, PhD (cand.)
Paediatric Physical Therapist, Sports Excellence University of West Attica, Department of Physiotherapy
Thomas Panagopoulos is a graduate of the Department of Physiotherapy at the Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, where he completed my undergraduate studies. He then pursued his postgraduate degree in the “Neurorehabilitation” Master’s Program at the Medical School of the University of Thessaly. There, he took his first steps in research, focusing on methods and interventions to promote functionality in children with cerebral palsy. For the past seven years, he has been working as a pediatric clinical physiotherapist, and for the last two years, has combined his clinical practice with research activities. This dual approach, along with his deep love and empathy for children with disabilities, led him to the decision to continue my studies at the doctoral level. Since October 2023, he has been a PhD Candidate at the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of West Attica. His research focuses on pediatric rehabilitation, aiming to enhance the participation and functionality of children with disabilities. He is firm believer in the power of a multidisciplinary team that focuses on the child’s strengths.

Zoi-Nikolleta Afsaridou
Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Adapted Physical Education Teacher, Sports Excellence
Zoe Nikoletta Afsaridou is an adapted physical education teacher and member of Action for Kids with Disabilities team. She has earned her bachelor degree from the School of Physical Education and Sports Science at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. During 2017-2018 she studied at the Università degli Studi di Roma “Foro Italico”, where she was taught the practical applications of preventive and adaptive exercise. She has attended numerous seminars related to special education and is a certified BLS/AED trainer cadet by the Hellenic Society for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation “EEKAA”. She is currently attending the postgraduate program “Exercise & Health” at the 1st Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic of the Medical School of the University of Athens.

Flora Papitsi, PhD(c), MSc, BA(Hons)
Psychologist Administration Manager Sports Excellence
Flora Papitsi is a licensed Sport Psychologist with a strong academic foundation and a passion for promoting mental health through sport. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, building on a Master’s degree from the University of Portsmouth and a BA in Psychology from Deree – The American College of Greece. Her research focuses on psychological and physiological measures of training load in sports. Ms. Papitsi is the Administration Manager of Sports Excellence and a Mobile Medical Units Psychologist at Regeneration & Progress, where she manages operations, oversees scientific protocols, and offers psychological support. She also teaches statistics and analysis of data in Psychology. She collaborates with national sports federations, providing psychological support to athletes and conducting educational seminars for coaches and parents. Her work has been presented at numerous international conferences, and she has coordinated European-funded projects focused on adapted physical activity for children with disabilities. Ms. Papitsi is recognized for her professionalism, creativity, and dedication to inclusive mental health support. She brings a dynamic and research-informed approach to sport and exercise psychology.