Cognitive Behavioural Therapy EMDR
Internal Family systems

My name is Maria Fragkou, and I am a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, accredited by the BABCP, an accredited EMDR Practitioner, an IFS (Internal Family Systems) Therapist, and a clinical supervisor. I have been a registered nurse (RN), since 2006.

Compassion, curiosity and empowerment are at the core of my practice. I offer evidence-based therapies for depression and anxiety, and I work collaboratively with my clients exploring together how therapy can help, when struggling with difficult feelings, trauma, relationship difficulties and loss.

I value neurodiversity and I take a neuro-affirming approach both in my practice as a therapist, and in my life in general. I have many years of experience in adapting CBT for autism and ADHD, and I am currently developing an interest in late diagnosis in females during the peri-/menopausal period of their lives.

Psychological difficulties I work with include:

Depression
Anxiety Disorders: OCD, Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety, Health Anxiety, Panic Disorder and Specific Phobias
Loss and traumatic grief
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder / Complex-PTSD
Childhood Trauma
Complex Trauma
Interpersonal difficulties and relationship issues
Autism Spectrum Condition and ADHD
Perinatal Depression and Anxiety
Perinatal Loss
Parent support

CBT is a talking therapy that recognises that, when we become distressed, we repeat unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour, which maintain our difficulties, and make us feel stuck. Understanding the cycles of those patterns, and gradually modifying unhelpful beliefs and behaviours, we can alleviate distress and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition to my core training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, I draw on a variety of cognitive and behavioural approaches, such as compassion-focused therapy, schema-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy.

I have extensive experience in EMDR therapy. I am an accredited EMDR Practitioner / Consultant-in-Training, and I offer EMDR as a comprehensive psychotherapy or as a symptom reduction therapy, depending on client's needs. EMDR is a very effective and powerful psychotherapy that enables us to process the impact of past traumatic events. Traumatic events can cause disturbances or interrupt emotional development and can have long-lasting effects on our emotional wellbeing and the way we relate to ourselves and others. EMDR helps us to process past trauma, find relief from emotional distress, and break unhelpful relational patterns.

I am also trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. IFS is a very empowering, non-pathologizing psychotherapy, that is based on systems thinking and it views the mind as system of parts led by the core self. Each part is viewed as having its own viewpoint and role, with the intention of keeping the system safe and functioning. Distressing life experiences, either in childhood or adult life, can force those parts to assume extreme roles to protect the system, and allow us to function. Perfectionism, generalised anxiety, withdrawal, burn-out, addiction, hopelessness, can all be extreme parts, that try in their own way to help us cope. Mindfulness, compassion, acceptance, values, are all core aspects of IFS therapy, which enable emotional processing and help us access and heal those parts.

Working with Neurodiversity

Following extensive experience working with adults and young people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), I use cognitive and behavioural interventions for depression and anxiety, adapted to the specific individual needs of clients with such conditions. I take a strengths-focused approach, working with the client to identify both strengths and challenges and make best use of the person's positive qualities, to increase resilience and overcome existing difficulties. Both my private work and previous NHS roles involve adapting psychological therapy for ASD and ADHD. My work on ASD also includes specialist supervision and the development and delivery of training on adapting CBT for adults with ASC.

Working with Parents

I also work with perinatal depression and anxiety, focusing on helping parents to understand the young brain, and overcome challenges using reflective parenting and attachment-focused approaches. I take a trauma-informed approach when working with parents, exploring why certain situations or children's behaviours are particularly triggering and distressing. I help parents to process these difficulties, honouring their own needs and boundaries, whilst empathising with the child's state of mind, meeting the child's needs and maintaining connection.

Support for parents

Supervision

I have been working as a clinical supervisor, privately and in NHS primary care mental health teams, since 2014. I offer supervision to CBT and EMDR therapists, trainees, as well as counsellors and psychotherapists, who use CBT and/or EMDR as part of their therapy work, and I offer specialist CBT supervision for ASD and ADHD.

Supervision

Core / Academic Qualifications

PgDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
| 2012-2013, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, University of Oxford|
BABCP Accredited

PgCert in Psychological Therapies
| 2010-2011, University of Surrey |

BSc Psychology:
| 2006-2010, University of Surrey |

BSc Nursing,
| 1999-2003, University of West Attica, Athens |
RN, NMC Registered

Professional Qualifications

EMDR level 1, 2 and 3,
| 2018, EMDR Europe, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust |
Accredited EMDR Practitioner

IFS level 1
| 2025, Life Architect, IFS Institute|

Clinical Supervisor Training
| 2014-2015, Charlie Waller Institute, University of Reading |

Continuing Professional Development

Since I qualified as a CBT therapist, I have invested in CPD on various cognitive and behavioural psychotherapies, as well as other therapeutic approaches, followed by specialist supervision and reflection. Some of the CPD I have focused on includes:

Attachment-informed CBT: breaking cycles of neglect and abuse, Helen Kennerly, OCTC
Introduction to Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments for Children, Young People, Families, Parents, Carers and Teams, Anna Freud Institute
Mentalization-Based Treatment: Reflective Parenting, Anna Freud Institute
CBT for perinatal depression, OCTC
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (2- day workshop), Fiona Kennedy
Compassion Focused Therapy, Chris Irons
Compassion Focused Therapy for PTSD, Deborah Lee
Working with Complex PTSD, Berkshire Traumatic Stress Service
Schema-Focused CBT, Helen Kennerly, OCTC
Schema Mode Model: Mode Interventions for Complex Cases, by Schema Therapy Training Online
Long Term Conditions, University of Exeter
Attachment- focused EMDR, Laura Parnell
Attachment-informed EMDR, Mark Brayne
Attachment & Complex Trauma: Managing the Approach-Avoidance Cycle, Kathy Steele
Beyond Attachment: Working with Social Motivational Systems in Complex Trauma & Dissociation, Kathy Steele

Other workshops:

Working with mothers with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (Claire James, Confer)
Bereavement (Ted Bauman, Cruse)
CBT for OCD (Paul Salkovskis, BABCP)
CBT for OCD (Joy McGuire, OCTC)
Perfectionism (Roz Safran, BABCP)
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (BABCP)
Panic / Social Anxiety (David Clark, Charlie Waller Institute)
Childhood Sexual Abuse (Helen Kennerly, OCTC)
ACT (various webinars)
Couples CBT (Prof Don Baucom, Charlie Waller Institute)
Late life depression (Georgina Charlesworth, Charlie Waller Institute)
Motivational Interviewing (University of West London)
Adapting CBT for ASD and ADHD by Neuro-psychology Service, BHFT
CBT and Counselling with Autism Spectrum Disorder Clients, Masterclass with Professor Tony Attwood
Various training on ASD by National Autistic Society between 2007 and 2011
Development of training on Adapting CBT for Adults with ASD

I have also invested in personal and professional development on attachment-focused parenting approaches informed by the work of Sue Gerhardt, Gordon Neufeld and Deborah McNamara, Thomas Gordon, Janet Lansbury, Gabor Maté and Jesper Juul, which I incorporate in my practice when working with parents and teachers.

Support for parents