Resume
Ioanna Samarà is a psychologist and neuropsychologist with additional specialization in special education. She graduated from the Psychology Department of the University of Crete. During her studies, she was fascinated by the field of neuroscience due to its usefulness and applications. She completed her practical training at the psychiatric clinic of the General Hospital of Rethymnon and later continued to volunteer as a psychologist there. At the same time, she started her research projects by participating in a study on the perception of emotions from different cultures in collaboration with the University of Humboldt. She continued on to a postgraduate degree in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Sheffield.
During her second year of practical training, she worked full-time at a rehabilitation clinic as a neuropsychologist, evaluating, rehabilitating, and counseling a variety of cases. Meanwhile, she continued her voluntary work at the “Alzheimer’s” association, providing evaluations, rehabilitation sessions, and group programs.
She followed up on her research work with postgraduate studies in “Neuropsychology and Special Education: Special Rehabilitation Techniques” at the University of Thessaly, publishing her first articles in scientific journals. Special Education attracted her interest and, wanting to continue her studies but also to offer more holistic services, she attended the interdisciplinary postgraduate program in Special Education & Training at the University of Crete. During this time, she worked as a school psychologist in primary education structures, offering support to children, parents, and educators. Afterwards, she worked at the KE.D.A.S.Y. of Rethymno, conducting assessments on children and adolescents, offering counseling and psychological support to parents and educators, and making interventions in schools where needed. Upon completing her second postgraduate degree, she submitted a research thesis, having applied an intervention program to preschool children aimed at developing social and emotional skills, promoting mental health and early intervention. Returning to Thessaloniki, she worked privately as a psychologist at a children’s and adolescent center while also preparing her proposal for a doctoral thesis at Aristotle university of Thessaloniki.
Throughout her professional and academic career, she has attended training and development seminars and has participated in conferences closely related to her field. Some characteristic examples include the Panhellenic Psychiatric Congress “The Cube of Psychiatry,” “Contemporary Educational Interventions – Best Practices for the Integration of Adolescents and Adults in Social and Professional Skills,” “Health-Education-Culture,” the online symposium of the Society of Cognitive Behavioral Studies, and the workshop “Shy, Anxious, and Inhibited Children: Psychological Dynamics and Alternative Management Practices.” Additionally, she has completed online continuing education courses such as “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” by the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), “Provider Training for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Insomnia (CBT-I)” by the Medical University of South Carolina, and “Promoting Research and Entrepreneurial Activity for the Academic Progression of People with Sensory Impairment.” Furthermore, she has participated as a speaker at the workshop “Inclusion of students with sensory difficulties in education. The case of Greece” organized by the European Center in Training for Employment (ECTE).
Lastly, she loves nature and the primary sector, as she maintains a large area of chestnut trees in Mount Paiko in collaboration with European companies, mainly in Italy. She now works privately as a Neuropsychologist, with her core values being the provision of integrated services, interdisciplinarity, and collaboration, which led her to choose “Nous” as her professional home.
Combining Neuroscience and Neuropsychology with Special Education, its goal is to provide people of all ages with the ability to understand and address their difficulties on a deep scientific and clinical basis. Additionally, her specialized approach contributes to the diagnosis and evaluation of various problems, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional, as well as the design and implementation of effective interventions to improve the quality of life.
Provided services:
- Clinical neuropsychological evaluations for cognitive and behavioral functioning (children & adults)
- Neurorehabilitation & cognitive enhancement
- Specialized therapy and intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and learning difficulties
- Caregiver counseling
- Stress management & interpersonal relationships
- Psychotherapy and counseling for children, adolescents, and adults
- Parent counseling and support for managing challenging behaviors and promoting healthy family dynamics