COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY
Dr Ivy Orphanides, CPsychol
BPS Accredited | HCPC Registered
I am a Counselling Psychologist, licensed to practice both in Cyprus and the United Kingdom. My seventeen years of being in the field of psychology, higher education and research included, have helped me produce a diverse portfolio of experience working across a wide range of professional settings with individuals from around the world. My academic qualifications comprise of a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, and a Higher Education Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy, all of which I have attained in the United Kingdom.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I acquired most of my professional experience in the city of London where I held various clinical positions in different areas such as community mental health services, the field of substance abuse, primary schools, universities, charities and the private sector.
At the beginning of my professional endeavour, I had the great opportunity to work therapeutically with primary school children via talking, creative work and play. Though, my time working with children was immeasurably rewarding, I was also interested in further exploring adult mental health, in which I immersed myself early on and worked with various individuals from all walks of life. My clinical experience revolved around issues of sexuality, sexual orientation, severe emotional distress, emotional and sexual abuse, depression, loss of meaning, self-esteem, grief & bereavement, loneliness, eating distress and substance misuse. I have therefore amassed extensive experience working with adults and their families both on a one-to-one and group basis.
Through my years of practicing, I developed an interest in emotional trauma - particularly on the lasting negative effects it can have on both body and mind. Guilt, rage, anxiety, fear and stress, if they are long lasting, can impact both physical and psychological heath and can bring severe consequences. For that reason, I pursued further training in Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR), a form of therapy, extensively researched on its effectiveness of trauma.
As of July 2018, I run my own private practice in the city of Paphos, Cyprus, where I predominantly work with issues related to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss of meaning, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, substance misuse, worry, panic-attacks, obsessions and compulsions, body image concerns and eating disorders.
Alongside my private practice I take part in seminars for psychological wellbeing and have placed a special focus and interest on the worries and fears that accompany pregnancy, parenthood and the postpartum period. As a result, for the past two years, my therapeutic work also involves working with anxiety during the pregnancy period.
I concurrently work through online media with clients from other cities and the United Kingdom.
Affiliations & Memberships
UNITED KINGDOM
The British Psychological Society (BPS),
Chartered Member - Division of Counselling Psychology (239232)
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – Practitioner Psychologist (PYL35930)
Society for Existential Analysis (SEA)
CYPRUS
Cyprus Registration Board of Psychologists (ΣΕΨ), Registered Counselling Psychologist (Licence Number: 19844)
Cyprus Professional and Scientific Psychological Association (CYPSA)
Registered Counselling Psychologist
There is no greater agony
than bearing an untold story
inside you
-Maya Angelou
MY
APPROACH
My way of working does not include a one-size fits all techniques. Depending on your personality and presenting difficulties I draw from various modalities to tailor individual treatment. While my primary orientation is Existential-phenomenological, I am also working in a more structured way to address immediate and specific goals, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based approaches. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is also incorporated to my line of work, especially with cases where thorough attention is required in the re-processing of psychological trauma.
I view therapy as a journey of self exploration and the therapeutic relationship as the basis to all upcoming change. What is exchanged in the space between us, can give us important insight into how you relate with others, but most importantly into how you relate with yourself. That means, that I do not see myself as an 'expert' of your own living and by no means hold all the answers. In the contrary, my role is to facilitate a process where you can identify your needs and desires in order to live a fuller and more authentic life.
My extensive professional training and experience allow me to sense subtle emotions and outmoded patterns that have probably never been noticed before. Fundamentally I strive towards bringing awareness to the source of the challenge in order to allow growth and promote a new authentic experience.
