Conference Program
09.00-10.00 Registrations / Welcome reception
10.00-10.45 Salutations by esteemed guests / Start of Conference Proceedings
Dr. Stella Kyrimi, psychologist, CEO & President of AKTO Academic Board
Katerina Matsa, psychiatrist, ex Director of 18 ΑΝΩ Addiction Rehabilitation Center, Network of Solidarity Clinics
Stelios Krasanakis, psychiatrist, vice President of the National Association of Psychotherapy in Greece
Aristea Kontrafouri, representative of the Psychotherapies through Arts Network, social theologist, dramatherapist, playtherapist, actress, President of Professional Association of Dramatherapists and Playtherapists
Dr. Smaroula Pandelis, psychologist, President of Hellenic Psychodrama Association
10.45-11.00 Hall: Oral presentation by Stelios Krasanakis «Psychodrama vs Dramatherapy: a relationship of alienation or connection?»
Stelios Krassanakis, psychiatrist, dramatherapist, theater director, academic instructor in NKUA, founding member and scientific director of the AEON Dramatotherapy Center, President of the Art and Psychiatry branch of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association (HPA), Vice President of the National Organization for Psychotherapy in Greece (NOPG), founding member of the Hellenic Association of Dramatherapists and Playtherapists (HADP), and Board Member of the European Federation of Dramatherapy (EFD) and of World Alliance of Dramatherapy.
«Psychodrama vs Dramatherapy: a relationship of alienation or connection? »
This presentation explores the evolution of two interconnected psychotherapeutic approaches that emerged during the 20thου century. Convergences and divergences, elective affinities, and interactions. The presentation examines the socio-political conditions under which Psychodrama emerged at the beginning of the last century, as well as the landscape in which Dramatherapy developed following World War II. The founders, their successors, and the relationship of these two psychotherapeutic methods with the field of Art. Do they utilize it, employ it as a tool, or do therapy and art coexist in parallel? How are all the above integrated into the training of future psychodramatists and dramatherapists? Finally, what does 'therapy through the Arts' truly signify?
11.00-11.15 Hall: Oral presentation by Dr. Smaroula Pandelis «Psychodrama as a connective approach for individuals and societies»
Dr. Smaroula Pandelis, psychologist, psychodramatist, sociodramatist, psychotherapist, author, President of the Hellenic Psychodrama Association.
«Psychodrama as a connective approach for individuals and societies»
The presentation will focus on the history of Psychodrama as both a philosophy and a therapeutic approach for societies and individuals. It will explore the concept of 'sociatry' as a vehicle for delivering the connective tissue needed to combat marginalization and alienation, focusing specifically on Axiodrama, Sociodrama, and Psychodrama.
11.15-11.45 Open Forum (coordinator: Neli Vyzantiadou)
11.45-12.30 Psychodramatic plenary warm-up (directing Angelos Leventis)
12:30-12:45 Coffee break
12.45-14.15 Parallel workshops / Masterclass
Hall: Masterclass «Broken Promises» directing Neli Vyzandiadou.
Neli Vyzandiadou, psychotherapist – psychodrama trainer and supervisor, systemic couples’ counselor, parent academy instructor, author, and board member of the Hellenic Psychodrama Association.
«Broken Promises»
In our relationships, we give and receive promises. Promises hold value. And when these promises exist within a committed partnership, they acquire even greater significance. What happens when a promise is broken? How are safety and trust affected? How do the two partners move forward? What is lost in their connection, and how can it be repaired? By participating in this masterclass, you will learn ways to approach issues of disconnection and reconnection between partners. Psychodrama and Systemic Theory merge to propose experiential methods with immediate applicability in Couples Counseling and Therapy.
Conference Room Α1-01: «Our ancestors’ gifts» directing Carla Matacchioni.
Carla Matacchioni, psychodramatist, body psychotherapist and supervisor, EMDR Trauma Therapist.
«Our ancestors’ gifts»
In this psychodramatic workshop, we will explore the values, skills, resilience, and hidden strengths passed down from generation to generation. Through experiential exercises, meditation, and psychodramatic techniques, we will connect with our roots and acknowledge the elements that support us in the present. The workshop offers a safe space to recognize what has been handed down by our ancestors, both consciously and unconsciously, and to accept and creatively utilize this legacy, enhancing personal awareness and the relationship with our history.
Conference Room Α1-02: «How to connect with my loved one living with dementia» directing Mania Kritikou.
Mania Kritikou, psychodramatist, group therapist, accredited mediator.
«How to connect with my loved one living with dementia»
This psychoeducational Psychodrama workshop opens an action-based meeting space where the relationship takes precedence over the diagnosis. It focuses on connecting with the person living with dementia, acknowledging both the alienation and the fears that often accompany it. Based on a contemporary understanding of neurocognitive changes, psychodrama serves as a mediating framework for understanding—where cognitive functions may weaken, but the need for connection, emotion, and meaning remains vital. The goal of the workshop is tο shift from alienation to connection, respecting human dignity and vivid presence in the 'here and now,' while simultaneously cultivating empathy, emotional intimacy, and personal autonomy.
Conference Room Α1-03: «From I to We: values, purpose and meaning in our lives» directing Maria Kalaitzi.
Maria Kalaitzi, psychodramatist.
«From I to We: values, purpose and meaning in our lives»
The cornerstone of Psychodrama theory is the relationship: the ability to meet oneself and others directly—experiencing the state of being present in a mindful way. In Psychodrama, through role-playing, exchanges, and sharing, the Ego unfolds outward, and the self expands through its connection with others. Our beliefs, convictions, and values determine our behaviour and the meaning of our lives. In a state of spontaneity, we can create a role that fulfills life’s meaning with enthusiasm, inspired by the creative spark of a connected self, full of care and joy.
Conference Room Α2-07: «The end is the beginning, and the beginning conceals the end» directing Kyriakos Gavriilidis.
Kyriakos Gavriilidis, psychodramatist, psychotherapist.
«The end is the beginning, and the beginning conceals the end»
Every end conceals a beginning, and every beginning already contains a farewell. This action-based psychodrama workshop focuses on the vivid experience of transition—the moment when the familiar recedes and the new timidly makes its appearance. Through active exercises and symbolic exploration in space, participants are invited to acknowledge what they are leaving behind and where they are heading. The ‘in-between’ emerges as a place of potential, enhancing awareness, emotional authenticity, and a creative relationship with change.
Conference Room Α2-08: « "THE ENCOUNTER" Cafe » directing Nikolaos Kosmetatos.
Nikolaos Kosmetatos, social worker, psychodramatist.
«"THE ENCOUNTER" Cafe»
This action-based workshop is based on the sociodramatic application of the ‘World Café.’ It is a simulation of a café environment with tables where participants negotiate aspects of the main theme: the transition from ‘Alienation to Connection.’ Participants rotate between tables—and thus positions—aiming to uncover the common thread preoccupying the group as a microcosm of today’s society. The ‘World Café’ is a participatory dialogue method that helps groups exchange ideas, connect perspectives, generate collective knowledge, and arrive at shared proposals or solutions. It emerged in 1995 in the US, developed by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs following a workshop where discussion flourished around small tables. This is how this method for harvesting ideas and problem-solving was born. The workshop will conclude with a presentation on this specific application and how it is utilized in contemporary Sociodrama.
Conference Room Α2-09: «Bridging dream and reality» directing Despina Kakoliri.
Despina Kakoliri, psychologist, psychodramatist, EMDR trauma therapist.
«Bridging dream and reality»
In the one and only meeting between J.L. Moreno and S. Freud, Moreno is cited that he had told him: 'You meet people and analyze their dreams; I meet them to help them dream again.' What is the place of the dreams we have in our lives? Why is it important to dream? This action-based workshop focuses on how we can embrace reality and connect it with our dreams, thereby remaining connected to our authentic self.
14.15-15.15 Lunch break
15.15-15.30 Hall: Oral presentation by Theodoros Georgedakis, «Connectivity 'On', Connection 'Off': The Fear of our ‘Internal Power Depletion’»
Theodore Georgedakis, communication specialist, CEO Thought
«Connectivity On,Connection Off: The Fear of our 'Internal Power Depletion»
In a world where connectivity is constantly 'On,' people seem more available than ever—yet they often feel lonelier than ever. In this presentation, Theodore Georgedakis explores the paradox of our era: how constant digital contact can erode true connection, reinforce 'performative' roles, and create an invisible fear—the 'low battery' within us—the exhaustion of attention, presence, and emotional resilience.
15.30-15.45 Hall: Oral presentation Angelos Leventis «From Logic to Emotion: Why Action Changes Everything in Psychodrama? »
Angelos Leventis, clinical social worker, psychodramatist, psychotherapist, author, General Secretary of the Hellenic Psychodrama Association.
From Logic to Emotion: Why Action Changes Everything in Psychodrama? »
The presentation explores the dynamic transition from rational understanding to emotional experience through action in psychodrama, in an era where cognitive over functioning often coexists with emotional alienation. Through theoretical documentation and brief clinical examples, the role of stage action is highlighted as a catalyst for catharsis, trauma processing, and reconnection with the authentic self.
15.45-16.15 Q & A session (chairs: Neli Vyzantiadou)
16.15-16.45 Coffee break
16.45-18.15 Parallel workshops / Masterclass
Hall: Masterclass «Sexuality on Stage: Role, Desire, and Boundaries in Psychodrama» directing Stylianos N. Lagarakis.
Stylianos N. Lagarakis, MD, with studies in Psychiatry, group psychotherapist, psychodramatist, group analyst, psychodrama trainer and supervisor, Vice President of the Hellenic Psychodrama Association.
«Sexuality on Stage: Role, Desire, and Boundaries in Psychodrama»
In this 90-minute masterclass, the psychodramatic stage becomes a space where sexuality emerges as a relationship, a role, and an embodied experience. Desire, boundaries, exposure, and shame are explored—not theoretically, but through action and encounter. The workshop invites participants to inhabit their roles—both as therapists and as human beings—and to withstand the encounter with the sexual, free from interpretations and normative discourse.
Conference Room Α1-01: «My small worlds» directing Olga Margariti.
Olga Margariti, Psychologist, MSc in Cognitive Science, Psychotherapist, Psychodramatist.
«My small worlds»
From early on in life, we are all introduced into various contexts and groups, encountering a wide range of subjects—some of which spark our interest and lead us to deeper exploration. Through gradual and constant interaction with the 'great world' we belong to, each of us creates our own personal microcosm. In this workshop, we will map and explore the unique constellation formed by our small worlds. How do we imagine it? How do we represent it? Are our small worlds connected, and if so, how? When we achieve a connection between our inner worlds, we connect more deeply with the world outside.
Conference Room Α1-02: «The sources of my strength» directing Alexandra Chaviara.
Alexandra Chaviara, psychologist, psychodramatist, EMDR and Gestalt psychotherapist.
«The sources of my strength»
In this action-based workshop, we will explore—through archetypal symbolism—the internal and external resources of strength that support us in facing life's challenges. Within a safe group setting, utilizing tools from Psychodrama and Trauma Therapy, we will cultivate a space of spontaneity and creativity, where personal experience can inspire the group and the group, in turn, can serve as a source of support for its members. The aim of the workshop is to connect with our bodies, our history, and our nurturing relationships, allowing qualities of courage, care, and empowerment to emerge.
Conference Room Α1-03: «The Perfect Parent – The Perfect Child: Psychodramatic Approaches in Child Psychodrama and Parental Expectations» directing Afroditi Vlachochristopoulou.
Afroditi Vlachochristopoulou, group therapist, child and adolescent psychodramatist.
«The Perfect Parent – The Perfect Child: Psychodramatic Approaches in Child Psychodrama and Parental Expectations »
This action-based workshop explores the concepts of the ‘perfect parent’ and the ‘perfect child’ through Child Psychodrama. Children often express the parental and social expectations they have internalized through the roles they adopt in their play, thereby limiting their spontaneity and authentic expression. Through fundamental psychodramatic techniques, participants will experience the formation of these roles and connect this experiential process with clinical practice, highlighting the importance of acceptance, imperfection, and the ‘good-enough parent.
Conference Room Α2-07: «Ghosting» directing Soner Senol.
Soner Senol, psychologist, psychodramatist.
«Ghosting»
Why is the term ‘ghosting’ used so frequently today? We live in an era where relationships are formed and consumed rapidly. The avoidance of confrontation, diminished tolerance for uncertainty, and difficulty in expressing complex emotions make disappearing without explanation seem like an easy way out for many. ‘Ghosting’ does not only pertain to romantic relationships but to all human connections, leaving behind a profound sense of absence and silence. In this workshop, we will be able to express what we have kept inside. Our goal is to close unfinished business with people and situations, to reframe the experience of abandonment, and to creatively process its emotional weight. In this way, our experiences will gain meaning without isolating us.
Conference Room Α2-08: Sociodrama: «From Paradise to Hell and vice versa» directing Dr. Smaroula Pandelis.
Dr. Smaroula Pandelis, psychologist, psychodramatist, sociodramatist, playback theatre actress and conductor, author, President of the Hellenic Psychodrama Association.
«From Paradise to Hell and vice versa»
In this workshop, we will examine the reasons that lead human groups to shift from conditions of harmony and cooperation to states of antagonism and aggression. While most people express a willingness to collaborate and enjoy their coexistence within a group, they often – and sometimes quite easily – shift from Heaven to Hell and back again. What can be done about this? How can groups be helped to avoid 'Hell'? To what extent is this feasible? Could this transition from one state to another be a natural process in the life of every group rather than a problem? The workshop will utilize the Sociodrama approach.
Conference Room Α2-09: «Unfulfillment: A driving force or a stumbling block? » directing Vera Lardi.
Vera Lardi, psychotherapist, psychodramatist (CP), LGBTQI+ affirmative adult educator, playback theatre trainer.
«Unfulfillment: A driving force or a stumbling block?
The notion of ‘you can do better’ can sometimes motivate us to improve, yet at other times, it traps us in a vicious cycle of constant striving. Where does this demand originate from, and how does it affect our health and our relationships? Where are the boundaries between worthiness and exhaustion? Is there room for tenderness and a sense of fulfillment despite the expectation for growth? In this psychodramatic workshop, we will attempt to explore the experience of the ‘unfulfilled’ as it manifests in the relationship with ourselves and the world.
18.30-20.00 Closure of conference proceedings / AKTO students awards (coordinators: Stylianos N. Lagarakis, Christos Mylonas.)