PENTARAKI BA, MSc, PhD, MBPsS, CPsychol, AFBPsS PENTARAKI BA, MSc, PhD, MBPsS, CPsychol, AFBPsS

Dr Alexandra Pentaraki obtained her Doctorate degree in Psychological Medicine from the University of London, King's College London, UK. Her MSc studies in Cognitive Psychology were completed in The University of Essex, UK. She is a Honorary Visiting Research Associate of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, a Chartered Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of The British Psychological Society. She is trained in clinical psychology, neuropsychology and psychotherapy for adults and children. From 2012-2017 she was an Honorary Lecturer, Applied Psychology & Mental Health, of The University of Liverpool, UK and she was also teaching psychology at the University of Roehampton, UK and King’s College London, UK.  She taught applied psychology at The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling and The University of Cambridge. Dr. Pentaraki was also a Lecturer (full-time) at The British University in Egypt. 

Her significant clinical experience is derived from her work and research in Great Britain (Maudsley Hospital, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge) and Greece (Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Research Fellow of the Psychiatric Department of Hippocration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, and of the Psychiatric Department of Athens University, Aeginition Hospital, her work in other organizations such as private psychiatric and neurological clinics, schools, her private practice, courts, court martials, prosecution, the police). Her theoretical and clinical background is based on cognitive-behavioural, short psychodynamic, eclectic approaches, body/mind medicine and mindfulness. She has been trained in psychotherapeutic methods as well as in specific programmes for anxiety, depression, trauma and psychosis. She is the founder and director of Brain Matters Institute (an Ιnstitute dedicated to the practice, learning and promotion of psychological science) and The International Institute for Children's Drawings (an Institute dedicated to the study and assessment of children’s drawings). In 2019, she was awarded (finalist) by the British Ambassador HE Kate Smith the British Alumni Award (2019) for her Professional Achievement as a Graduate of British Universities. 

Dr. Pentaraki has presented her work at international conferences and she has been awarded numerous grants, including a Young Scientist Award and an award from Brain, for her research and clinical work. Her research and clinical work has been published in international peer-reviewed journals. She is an active researcher, writer and an anonymous scientific reviewer for International Journals such as Schizophrenia Research, The British Journal of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine, Psychiatry Research. She has translated 2 books on psychology and psychiatry from English into Greek (Cognitive Therapy of Schizophenia, Patakis; Psychodrama: Theory and Practice, University Studio Press), Theory of Mind Tests, she has published a book on depression and women (Breaking the Chains of Women's Depression, Brain Matters Institute), and on panic attacks (7 Secrets to Break the Chains of Panic Attacks) writes articles in newspapers, CD for chronic anxiety and pain (Mindful-based Management of Anxiety, Depression & Pain), develops cognitive rehabilitation programmes. She is preparing a book on Personality and Mental Health. She has also translated the forensic tool ''The NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol'' for child and adolescent abuse from English into Greek. From 2021 she is teaching on psychological topics that involve the court such as child abuse and neglect, the psychology of victims (children and adults), the syndrome of parental alination, psychological trauma and other themes in The National School of Judiciary in Greece. 

She is a registered and accredited expert witness in Greek, European courts, The International Criminal Court, The Hague, The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, United Nations. Her work  as an expert witness, as she is ordered from the courts and privately, entails the psychological and neuropsychological profiling of children and adults, therapy of anxiety and depressive disorders, trauma, assessment of child abuse and maltreatment, risk assessment of violence (domestic, partner, national/massive, gender related), custody, child abduction, brain injury, fitness to plead, asylum seekers, refugees, testifying in courts, witness preparation for testifying in the court and the applications of psychological science in the court and justice (prosecution and defense).