Αρχική

The Institute of Behaviour Research and Therapy

The Institute of Behaviour Research and Therapy (IBRT) is a civil and non-profitable organization, founded in 1992 by members of the Greek Behavioural Association, who wanted to create an organized context of systematic training based on the cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and also to provide cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy to adults and children.

The aims of the IBRT are:

  • provision of a four-year postgraduate part-time course in CBT to psychologists and psychiatrists, according to the standards of the European Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT)
  • clinical research and the publication of books and articles
  • organization of lectures, seminars and workshops in related topics
  • provision of assessment and treatment of emotional and psychological disorders by qualified clinical psychologists and psychiatrists.

Founding members – Board of Directors

Anastasia Kalantzi–Azizi is currently the scientific director of IBRT, as well as of the acquaintance course in CBT and president of the Board. She majored in Psychology at the University of Vienna, and in 1972 received her Ph.D from the same University with her Doctoral Thesis: “Children’s problems while treated in hospitals”. She specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy at the Psychiatric Clinic of University of Vienna, with scholarship by the Austrian Government and worked for five years as full time psychologists at Vienna’s Psychological Service. She returned in Greece in 1977 and opened her private practice as Clinical Psychologists – Psychotherapist. In 1981 she was appointed Assistant lecturer at the Laboratory of Experimental Psychology of University of Athens and in 1997 she was elected Professor of Clinical Psychology. She is Vice President of the Greek Association of Behaviour Research and Therapy, Vice President of the Association for Children and Adolescents Psychological Health, Member of the Board of the Scientific Union “New Education”, Member of the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherpie, Trainer and Supervisor and member of the Specialization Committee, Foundation Member and National Representative of Greece at the FEDORA – PSYCHE (Psychological Counselling in Higher Education) working group, Director of the Counselling Centre for University Students at University of Athens and President of the Department of Clinical Psychology of University of Athens.

Other members of the Board and Associates of IBRT are:
Thomas Kalpakoglou has a degree in Psychology and Computers from Keele University (Great Britain), with specialization in Clinical Psychology. He received his Ph.D from the Medical School of Manchester University (UK) for his clinical research on group CBT for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. He is a member of the British Psychological Society and the Hellenic Psychological Association. He is a member and representative of the Greek Association of Behaviour Research and Therapy in the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (EABCT). In September 2007 he was elected member of the Board of EABCT as training coordinator. He is a scientific associate of the Psychology Department of University of Athens, where he teaches. He has worked at Birch Hill Hospital of Rochdale (UK), as Director of the Centre for Life and Inspiration and at the Psychosocial Support Centre of Municipality of Marousi. He was an associate of the Counselling Centre for University Students at University of Athens and the Nursing School at University of Athens. He has participated as a trainer in educational programmes for the Research University Institute for Mental Health, the Infant Centre “Mother”, and the Psychiatric Department of Evangelismos Hospital of University of Athens.

Diana Charila has a degree in Psychology and Pedagogic from Concordia University of Montreal and masters in Clinical Psychology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She is a candidate lecturer of Clinical Psychology at University of Athens. She is a member of the Greek Association of Behaviour Research and Therapy (1992), the FEDORA – Psyche (Psychological Counselling in Higher Education) (1995), the Panhellenic Psychological Association (1998) and the Research Association of Sexuality and Human Relations (2000). She has been an associate of IBRT as a psychotherapist, instructor and supervisor of the educational program since 1993. She has also been an associate of the Counselling Centre for University Students at University of Athens since 1993. Since 2002 she has been a permanent associate of the Centre, where she conducts individual counselling and supervises postgraduate clinical psychology students in counselling. She has participated in numerous conferences in Greece and abroad and also in the publication of many books. She has worked as an instructor in further education programmes at Dimocritio University of Thrace, University of Athens, University of Crete, Research University Institute for Mental Health, Aiginitio Hospital, Infant Centre “Mitera” and at the Ministry of Education.

Giannis Malogiannis is a psychiatrist. He received his degree from the Medical School of University of Athens and completed his five-year training in psychiatry at the Psychiatric Department of “Evaggelismos” Hospital. He is a candidate lecturer in the Medical School of University of Athens, with his Doctoral Thesis for the study of the cognitive functions in patients with Schizophrenic Disorder. He received his training as a Cognitive Behavoural Psychotherapist at IBRT. In 2003 he opened his private practice as psychiatrist.

Kostas Euthimiou studied psychology at Salzburg University in Austria and received his masters in Clinical Psychology from University of Vienna. He completed his four-year training in Behavioural psychotherapy in Austria and then the two-year specialization posteducation in Couples therapy and Sex therapy. He is a lecturer of Clinical Psychology at University of Athens. He worked at the Salzburg Psychiatric Hospital and has worked as a consultant at the Carrier Services Office of Dimocritio University of Thrace. He teaches at the Psychology Department of University of Athens, the Postgraduate Department of Clinical Psychology at University of Athens, IBRT, the Research University Institute for Mental Health and the specialization psychiatry program at “Evaggelismos” Hospital. He is a member of the Austrian Association of Psychotherapists and has been elected vice president of the Panhellenic Psychological Association for eight years. Since 1999 he has been a board member of IBRT. Since 1998 he has been a member of the scientific personnel of the Counselling Centre for University Students at University of Athens and since 2000 one of the two responsible of the Telecounselling Service. Since 2000 he has been a Cognitive Behavioural psychotherapy supervisor and since 2003 he has been co-ordinator of the Acquaintance Course in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at IBRT. Since 2005 he is responsible for the Department of Adult Psychotherapy. He has a private practice as a Clinical psychologist – Psychotherapist since 1995.

Giorgos Eustathiou is a Clinical Psychologist – Psychotherapist and Lecturer of Clinical Psychology. He was an associate of the Research University Institute for Mental Health as a national representative for research matters (Biomed: psychoedutraining) and is an associate of the Counselling Centre for University Students at University of Athens for educational seminars in research methodology. He is responsible for the research department of the Counselling Centre for University Students and IBRT. He worked in the Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre “Reformation” as a biofeedback therapist and in the Counselling Centre for University Students as an individual and group therapist. He is in private practice as clinical psychologist – psychotherapist. He was a lecturer at the Psychology Department and in the Postgraduate Psychology Department at University of Athens. He is a co-ordinator of the Acquaintance Course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and also an instructor and a supervisor at IBRT. He is a member of European Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, the Greek Association of Behaviour Research, the IBRT, the European Forum for Student Guidance (Department: Psychological Counselling in Higher Education) and the Research Association of Sexuality and Human Relations. He has published books and articles in scientific journals, translated several English books and has participated in numerous Greek and international conferences.

Apart from the Board members, other teaching staff of IBRT is experienced psychiatrists, psychologists and educators:
Aggeli Katerina (Clinical Psychologist)
Bakomitrou Florentia (Clinical Psychologist)
Dimitrakopoulos Christos (Clinical Psychologist)
Gena Ageliki (Clinical Psychologist)
Georgoutsakou Sofia (Clinical Psychologist)
Giannopoulou Ioanna (Child Psychiatrist)
Gonidakis Fragiskos (Psychiatrist)
Goudi Christina (Clinical Psychologist)
Haritou Mika (Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology)
Karadimas Euaggelos (Health Psychologist)
Karveli Spyridoula (Clinical Psychologist)
Kollia Thaleia (Health Psychologist, Lecturer of Health Psychology)
Kolostoubis Dimitrios (Psychiatrist)
Liamaki Golfo (Clinical Psychologist)
Malogiannis Yiannis (Psychiatrist)
Mellon Robert (Clinical Psychologist)
Mytskidou Pasxalia (Clinical Psychologist)
Papastamatis Kostas (Psychiatrist)
Pasxali Tonia (Clinical Health Psychologist)
Sofianidou Eleni (School Psychologist)
Tasiou Aspasia (Clinical Psychologists, Psychotherapist)
Vaidakis Nikos (Psychiatrist)
Vlavianou Miranta (Clinical Psychologist)

Clinical Training

The clinical training provided by IBRT combines theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. The teaching program at the beginning of the course has a multi-disciplinary focus on mental health problems and psychotherapy in general.

The program is offered to psychologists and psychiatrists only.

1st year

Introduction to CBT

  • Historical perspectives & Cognitive mechanisms
  • Behavioural aspects of learning theories

Behavioural Analysis & CBT techniques in adults

  • Behavioural analysis
  • Clinical assessment – interview
  • Principles of CBT
  • Psychotherapeutic skills
  • Clinical procedures
  • Cognitive techniques
  • Cognitive restructuring
  • Metacognitive analysis and restructuring

Behavioural Analysis & CBT techniques in children and adolescents

  • Behavioural analysis in children
  • Clinical assessment – interview
  • Observational techniques
  • Clinical procedures and techniques

Anxiety disorders

  • CBT model for anxiety disorders
  • Generalized and panic disorders
  • Social phobia and assertiveness
  • PTSD
  • Agoraphobia
  • OCD
  • School and social phobia in children & adolescents
  • Anxiety disorders in children & adolescents
  • PTSD in children & adolescents

Sexual Dysfunctions

  • Treatment of sexual dysfunctions

Applied CBT

  • CBT applications (case studies)

2nd year

DSM

  • Diagnosis

Mood Disorders

  • Depression (also in children & adolescents)
  • Bipolar depression

Eating Disorders

  • Anorexia & Bulimia nervosa, Obesity
  • Eating disorders in children & adolescents

Developmental Disorders

  • Mental retardation, ADHD, Oppositional defiant disorder, Learning and behavioural problems at school, Learning difficulties, Autism, Elimination disorders

Marital and Family Therapy

  • Marital therapy, Abuse
  • CB family therapy techniques
  • CB family therapy related to problems in children & adolescents

Chronic Diseases

  • CBT for cancer patients, HIV+ / AIDS
  • CBT for breast cancer patients
  • Chronic diseases in children & adolescents
  • CBT at the Hospital

Somatoform Disorders

  • Somatoform disorders
  • Somatoform disorders in children & adolescents

Personality Disorders

  • Personality disorders
  • Avoidant & Borderline personality disorder
  • Narcissistic personality disorder
  • Schema-focused therapy and personality disorders
  • Applied CBT for personality disorders

Schizophrenia

  • Psychotherapeutic techniques
  • Psycho-educational family techniques

Applied CBT

  • CBT applications (case studies)

3rd and 4th year

Seminars & Workshops

  • Seminars and workshops are open to people of related professions. They are scheduled yearly and conducted by prominent professionals in the field of clinical psychology and psychiatry, both from Greece and abroad. Students’ attendance is required in at least 8 seminars or workshops.

Clinical Practice in Group Supervision

  • Students receive supervision for therapy in adult and children/adolescent cases. Supervision groups consist of a small number of students and are scheduled for at least 3 hrs fortnightly. On top of EABCT’s minimum requirements, students also participate in intake (interviewing patients – at least 20 cases)

Self-awareness (encounter) group

  • Designed especially for psychotherapists, it covers personal and professional issues in personal development. It lasts for 80 hours in small groups and takes place in 10-hour weekend sessions.

Journal Club

  • Students are required to present developments in clinical, therapeutic and research issues with reference to recent scientific publications. Presentations are supervised accordingly and last for 2 hrs.

Dissertation

  • A thesis with a theoretical, clinical, or empirical (case study) theme and conducted under supervision.

Assessment

  • Overall attendance
  • Yearly assignments
  • Written exams at the end of 2nd year
  • Acquisition of therapeutic skills
  • Supervision and supervisor’s report
  • Write-ups / reports (4 full, extended, write-ups, plus 4 normal write-ups)
  • Journal club presentation
  • Dissertation
  • Attendance at 8 seminars (min)
  • Final exams (oral)

Therapy in IBRT

Department of Adult Psychotherapy
The Department of Adult Psychotherapy provides diagnostic and psychotherapeutic services for various psychological problems to people over 18 years old. These problems include: anxiety disorders, depression, emotional difficulties after a stressful life event, adjustment difficulties, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, sleep disorders, sexual disorders and behavioural problems related to personality.

Department of Children and Adolescence Psychotherapy
IBRT consists of a group of experts in the treatment of problems concerning children, adolescences and their families, including: conduct problems in school, conduct problems in the house, emotional difficulties, learning difficulties, developmental difficulties, adjustment difficulties, difficulties affecting the functioning and social acceptance of the child and the adolescence.
This group of experts provides: diagnosis bases on skill test and intelligence tests, psychotherapy based on cognitive behavioural techniques, parental counseling, special education and training, individual program aiming at the overall development of social skills and preparation for social inclusion, school inclusion and also prevention programs and job orientation.

IBRT Scholarships and Awards

Ioannis Boulougouris Scholarship: instituted in 2002 in the name of Ioannis Boulougouris (IBRT’s Founder). This scholarship covers the whole financial cost of the four-year program and is awarded every academic year to one of the students. The scholarship applies to postgraduate psychology students of Greek Universities or specialized psychiatrists under the age of 30.

IBRT Scholarship: applies to the student who completed the second year of the training program of IBRT and had the best academic performance during the first two years, in terms of diligence, consistency and performance in the written assignments and examination. The scholarship includes a 30% discount for the tuition fees of the next two years.

Annual Award Galatia Dimakou: applies to all the students of IBRT, in regard to the best scientific/research assignment conducted in the context of the training program of IBRT and is presented as an oral presentation or poster in a Greek or international conference. This award covers the attendance fees for the next conference, up to the amount of 500 euros.

Annual Award Yianita Molvaer: applies to all the students of IBRT, in regard to the best scientific/research assignment conducted in the context of the training program of IBRT and is published in a Greek or international science journal. This award covers the attendance fees for the next conference, up to the amount of 500 euros.

Other IBRT activities

Acquaintance Course in CBT
This small course was established in 2003, as a new educational initiative of IBRT, with the aim (1) to meet the growing interest in CBT in Greece and (2) to offer an alternative way to people who wish to get acquainted with CBT, but do not wish to attend the four-year clinical course, or do not meet the criteria for admittance to the course. It is an open educational program of 20 lectures, in which emphasis is given on introductory issues. No previous knowledge of CBT is assumed by the tutors and basic principles and procedures are pointed out throughout the course.

Acquaintance Course in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy of Children and Adolescences
IBRT, due to the growing interest in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy of Children and Adolescences and the success of the Acquaintance Course in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy, established in 2007 this new educational activity. It is an open educational program of 20 lectures, through which the attendants get acquainted with the Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy of children and adolescences.

Seminars
IBRT organizes every year a series of seminars, which apply to their students in the context of the training program but also to a wider audience of health professionals. These seminars are conducted during the weekends, last for 10 hours and a limited number of people are accepted in them.

“Basic Communication and Counseling Skills” Seminar
This seminar is the new educational activity of IBRT in collaboration with the Counselling Centre for University Students and the Peer Counselling Centre at the University of Athens. Scientific responsible for this seminar are Anastasia Kalantzi–Azizi (Professor of Clinical Psychology) and Maria Malikiosi-Loizou (Professor of Counselling Psychology).
This seminar addresses the graduates of social, humanistic, pedagogic and health sciences, as well as the professionals working in human resources. The participants are not required to have prior working experience in counselling. The duration of the seminar is 6 months and includes 20 three-hour weekly sessions.

Invited speakers
IBRT invites frequently Greek and foreign speakers.

Publications of IBRT

  1. Psychotherapeutic practice – case study: The application of Cognitive Beheavioural therapy in five clinical cases.
  2. First aid for mental health – A guide for mental disorders and their treatment with the Cognitive Behavioural psychotherapy model.
  3. Overcoming anxiety – A self-help guide with cognitive behavioural techniques.
  4. Overcoming depression - A self-help guide with cognitive behavioural techniques.
  5. The hyperactive child and its problems – Cognitive behavioural approach
  6. Issues of cognitive behavioural therapy
  7. Issues of behavioural therapy
  8. Handbook on the functioning and clinical management of the clinical cases in the Department of Adult Psychotherapy of IBRT.

Library
The library of IBRT includes several basic books in topics relevant to cognitive behavioural therapy and many articles from journals.

IBRT website
The Internet website of IBRT provides abundant informational and educational material.

IBRT in numbers

  • Students: 186
  • First year: 26
  • Second year: 26
  • Third and fourth year: 42
  • Seniors: 37
  • Graduates: 55
  • Instructors: 32
  • Supervisors: 9
  • Foreign associates: 1
  • Space: 350m2
  • Session offices: 7
  • Library: 1
  • Books in library: 590