Finding a Greek perinatal psychologist who understands pregnancy, birth and early motherhood, especially while living far from family in the UK, is not always easy. Christina Polyzou, Psychologist-Psychotherapist MSc, BSc, is a Greek List member who offers therapy sessions in Greek and English, from her private practice in Ampelokipoi, Athens, and online, which makes her reachable for Greek women across the UK who want to talk to someone in their own language, about exactly what they are going through.
Christina is licensed by the Greek government as a psychologist and is a graduate of the University of Greenwich. She holds two Master’s degrees from King’s College London, one in Health Psychology and one in Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology. Her particular interest as a perinatal psychologist is women’s mental health, an area that covers the emotional side of pregnancy, birth and the months that follow, as well as premenstrual dysphoric disorder and the menopause. It is a niche that few Greek speaking therapists in the UK or Greece focus on, which is part of why Avgoustinos wanted to feature her this week.
During a placement at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Christina worked with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), three structured, talking therapy modalities she has continued training in since. In plain terms, CBT looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, ACT works on accepting difficult feelings while still moving towards what matters to you, and CFT focuses on reducing self-criticism and building a kinder internal voice. As a perinatal psychologist, she draws on all three depending on what a client needs.
Beyond perinatal work, she also sees clients for stress and anxiety, panic attacks, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), high self-criticism, low self-esteem and the everyday difficulties that come with juggling family, work and, for many Greeks abroad, distance from home. For a Greek woman in the UK who has just had a baby, or who is pregnant and finding it harder than expected, being able to describe all of that in Greek, to someone who was trained partly in the NHS system and understands British life as well as Greek family expectations, can make a real difference to whether that first appointment ever gets booked.
Good to know: sessions run in Greek or English, in person at her private practice in Ampelokipoi, Athens, or online, so UK based clients can join from home or work. Contact details and booking are on her Greek List listing below.
Greek stop nearby: Christina Polyzou, Psychologist-Psychotherapist MSc, BSc, Ampelokipoi, Athens, and online for clients across the UK.
The NHS notes that mental health problems in pregnancy and after birth are common, and that support, from a GP, a midwife or a qualified therapist, can help. You can read general NHS guidance on mental health in pregnancy and after birth for background. This article, and the information above, is general information and not medical advice. Christina Polyzou, as a perinatal psychologist in private practice, does not prescribe medication and her sessions are talking therapy, not a medical treatment; anyone with urgent concerns, or who needs a diagnosis, a physical check up or medication, should speak to their GP, midwife or local NHS perinatal mental health service first. Christina Polyzou is a Greek List member, and being able to have that first conversation in Greek, with a perinatal psychologist who understands the Greek family context, is often what makes clients comfortable enough to reach out at all.
The days are shorter now, and for new parents, or for anyone managing stress far from their usual support network, that can make an already full plate feel heavier. A few simple habits that Greek List readers often mention: keeping in daily voice contact with family in Greece rather than only text, getting outside in daylight hours when possible, and not waiting until a problem feels unmanageable before asking for help. None of this replaces professional support from a qualified therapist or your GP, but it sits well alongside it.
It is also worth remembering that the traditional Greek “σαράντα” period after birth, when new mothers are expected to rest and keep visitors away, does not look the same in the UK, where many Greek families have no yiayia down the road to help. That gap is exactly where a Greek speaking perinatal psychologist, reachable online, can be useful, even just for one conversation to talk things through.
If you are a Greek woman in the UK thinking about talking to someone, Christina Polyzou’s online sessions mean you do not need to be in Athens to book an appointment. Her full profile, with contact details, is on her Greek List listing.
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Christina Polyzou, like every business featured on Greek List, is a Greek List member. Over 100,000 Greeks and Cypriots in the UK read Greek List every month, across the website, the newsletter and the Ellines sto Londino Facebook group, and member listings rank first on Google for Greek searches. If you run a business, this is where Greek customers look for you.
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