Fenia is a BACP accredited counsellor/psychotherapist, also accredited by the EAC (European Association for Counselling) and the HAC (Hellenic Association for Counselling). She qualified at Master’s level in 2002 (MA in Counselling Studies - University of Durham). Her approach is primarily humanistic/existential but over the years she has developed a more integrative approach through receiving training and supervision in different modalities, such as group analysis, transpersonal psychology, TA, CAT, solution-focused therapy and psychodynamic thinking. She acquires a holistic and flexible approach to suit the client’s needs. She has worked with a variety of client groups, including students in FE and HE, staff counselling in the NHS, refugees and asylum seekers, women’s groups, young people in schools and in the voluntary sector.

Fenia has been involved in counselling and psychotherapy training at undergraduate and postgraduate level as lecturer, skills tutor and PD group facilitator (Salford University and The Metanoia Institute). She is an experienced supervisor and mentor; she has received a Certificate in Counselling Supervision from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She is particularly interested in supervising trainee counsellors, working on the developmental stages of therapists’ evolving identities through time.

Fenia is actively involved in counselling and psychotherapy research. She has received advanced training in a wide range of research methods through completing an MSc in Educational Research at the University of Manchester. In 2010, she completed a PhD as a Scholar of the University of Manchester. Her thesis was an exploratory study on the experiences of migrant therapists, bringing insights on issues around bilingualism and biculturalism, issues of identity, home and belonging, the challenges of researcher reflexivity in using post-modern methodologies and so on. Her research interests include the areas of cross-cultural counselling, therapist’ psycho-spiritual development, the integration of traditional healing practices in counselling and psychotherapy, group dynamics and the processes involved in becoming a practitioner-researcher.

Creativity is core within Fenia’s approach to life and work. For example, she is writing poetry as a way of self-expression and healing, as well as a medium for depicting qualitative data in counselling research. In July 2011, she received the 1st Poetry Prize at the 22nd World Congress of Poets organised by the United Poets Laureate International (UPLI). She has co-facilitated creative writing/poetry sessions for counselling and psychotherapy students at Metanoia Institute.  She is a voracious reader and has published over 15 book reviews in counselling and psychotherapy journals. She presents at conferences at national and international level (for example BACP, BPS, SPR).