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Maria Soldatou MSc
Psychologist – Psychotherapist
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen
This is a phrase I stumbled upon at a young age, during a very difficult and critical period of my life. It gave me a strange sense of optimism and hope, even though at that moment I didn’t fully understand what it truly meant.
So, from an early age, I started searching for what it means for a person to be “broken.” Every day I would give it a new interpretation. And in truth, it is a process that never really ends. In order to understand the pieces that make me who I am, to piece them back together and allow the light to come through, I began to turn to psychology. I developed a desire to understand the “whys” behind my own fragments, to try to fit them together and form the picture of myself—as I see myself, as I understand myself, as I feel myself, as I express myself, as I learn myself—and of course, to make peace with it all. I also realized that it is perfectly okay for there to be pieces and cracks, because nothing is perfect. After all, without cracks, how would the light come in?
Even in school, when I had to choose among elective courses, I turned to psychology. That was when I understood what I really wanted: to dedicate myself to this science. At first, it was about understanding myself, and then, being able to help others who are in need to find their own “broken” pieces, to hold them in their hands, to recognize them, to love them, and to live with them—allowing the light to come through.
My name is Maria Soldatou, and I began my journey into psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Athens (NKUA), in the Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology. Wanting to gain more knowledge in the field, I went on to study Applied Psychology at the University of Derby. Later, in order to gain deeper experience, I chose to pursue my Master’s in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Derby. As part of my Master’s program, I completed 300 hours of supervised practice at Roots Wellness Center, where I continue to work as an associate after finishing my degree. At the same time, I volunteered at the NGO Animahome, a mental health and social support unit.
As someone who has also been in therapy myself, I came to understand how important the relationship between therapist and client truly is. How essential it is to build trust and a sense of safety so that someone can walk alongside you in the difficult, yet deeply healing journey of psychotherapy. I realized how important it is for a person to be able to “open up” their pieces in a safe space, without criticism. To be able to find their own answers to their struggles, using the therapeutic relationship as a point of reference—seeking and establishing their own center, returning to it in order to find their own balance.
As a psychotherapist, I was trained in the integrative model (psychodynamic, person-centered, and cognitive-behavioral approaches). By using different approaches, an individualized plan is created according to each person’s needs and therapeutic goals. I deeply believe in ongoing learning, growth, and development, which is why I continuously seek knowledge and improvement on both a personal and professional level.
So, what about you—what are your pieces?
This is a phrase I stumbled upon at a young age, during a very difficult and critical period of my life. It gave me a strange sense of optimism and hope, even though at that moment I didn’t fully understand what it truly meant.
So, from an early age, I started searching for what it means for a person to be “broken.” Every day I would give it a new interpretation. And in truth, it is a process that never really ends. In order to understand the pieces that make me who I am, to piece them back together and allow the light to come through, I began to turn to psychology. I developed a desire to understand the “whys” behind my own fragments, to try to fit them together and form the picture of myself—as I see myself, as I understand myself, as I feel myself, as I express myself, as I learn myself—and of course, to make peace with it all. I also realized that it is perfectly okay for there to be pieces and cracks, because nothing is perfect. After all, without cracks, how would the light come in?
Even in school, when I had to choose among elective courses, I turned to psychology. That was when I understood what I really wanted: to dedicate myself to this science. At first, it was about understanding myself, and then, being able to help others who are in need to find their own “broken” pieces, to hold them in their hands, to recognize them, to love them, and to live with them—allowing the light to come through.
My name is Maria Soldatou, and I began my journey into psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Athens (NKUA), in the Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology. Wanting to gain more knowledge in the field, I went on to study Applied Psychology at the University of Derby. Later, in order to gain deeper experience, I chose to pursue my Master’s in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Derby. As part of my Master’s program, I completed 300 hours of supervised practice at Roots Wellness Center, where I continue to work as an associate after finishing my degree. At the same time, I volunteered at the NGO Animahome, a mental health and social support unit.
As someone who has also been in therapy myself, I came to understand how important the relationship between therapist and client truly is. How essential it is to build trust and a sense of safety so that someone can walk alongside you in the difficult, yet deeply healing journey of psychotherapy. I realized how important it is for a person to be able to “open up” their pieces in a safe space, without criticism. To be able to find their own answers to their struggles, using the therapeutic relationship as a point of reference—seeking and establishing their own center, returning to it in order to find their own balance.
As a psychotherapist, I was trained in the integrative model (psychodynamic, person-centered, and cognitive-behavioral approaches). By using different approaches, an individualized plan is created according to each person’s needs and therapeutic goals. I deeply believe in ongoing learning, growth, and development, which is why I continuously seek knowledge and improvement on both a personal and professional level.
So, what about you—what are your pieces?