Harris Papachristopoulos

Edinburgh, London & Online Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Spiritual & Philosophical coach, and Neurofeedback Therapist

Founder of THE LIFE ACADEMY & facilitator of healing+Flourishing

About Me

Born in a historical and exquisitely beautiful part of Greece, I was fortunate to grow up on an unspoilt organic farm. I spent my weekends on the farm as a shepherd, wandering for countless hours under the vast and beautiful blue sky, and crossing rivers and luscious fir tree forests with my goats, dogs and horses. This was a formative experience that cultivated, since an early age, a strong connection and a deep sense of wonder and appreciation for nature and the more-than-human world. Curiosity, inquisitiveness and a thirst for knowledge have always been qualities that characterised me. Having access to an extensive family library, that was filled with perennial and seminal works of philosophy, psychology and spirituality, gave me the opportunity to educate myself to the worlds of knowledge and wisdom. This education helped me to endure the despair and trauma that I experienced growing up in a dysfunctional family but most importantly, it allowed me to make sense of suffering both on a personal and a collective level.

As I came of age, I embarked on a journey (…which is ongoing and always deepening) of healing and intense soul searching. A journey that took me to many different places, as I travelled around the world to meet and learn from inspirational healers and teachers from various healing and spiritual practices. Healing myself proved to be a source of inspiration to use my knowledge to help others on their healing journeys. This led me to pursue formal academic education in psychology, psychotherapy, meditation, philosophy and a wealth of other healing and flourishing practices.

These days I live a simple and contemplative life between Scotland and Greece. Nature continues to be an inspiration and a source of sublime beauty and wisdom for me, hence, when I am not helping people heal and flourish, I walk and contemplate in the Scottish mountains and forests. My aspiration is to live an examined life that is aligned with nature and to remain in touch with the love, beauty and wisdom that surrounds me.

Approach

My holistic approach to healing and psychotherapy emphasizes treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. I believe that well-being comes from addressing the interconnectedness of emotions, thoughts, physical health, and deeper unconscious processes. I bring a wealth of methods and interventions by combining evidence-based psychotherapy, neuroscience, technology philosophy, contemplative science and spirituality to create an individualised, impactful and empowering approach to your healing and flourishing.

My focus is on creating a non-pathologizing, compassionate space where clients are seen as individuals, not labels. Instead of rigid diagnoses, I use a formulation-based approach, which allows us to deeply explore personal experiences and challenges, empowering clients to heal and grow at their own pace. My ultimate aim is to guide clients toward flourishing, helping them find resilience, self-awareness, and a sense of purpose in their lives.

In my therapeutic work, the relationship between client and therapist is central. I create a supportive and trusting environment grounded in the core conditions of person-centred counselling: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity. By fostering this safe, non-judgmental space, clients feel empowered to explore their thoughts and emotions openly. This relational foundation helps facilitate deeper healing, growth, and self-understanding, allowing clients to move forward with greater confidence and self-compassion.

Education

My formal education has been extensive, pluralistic, and holistic as over the years, I have aspired to study a wide range of healing and flourishing disciplines and practices. I have undertaken undergraduate studies in Psychology (BSc), post-graduate studies in Autism (PGdip) and Counselling and Psychotherapy (MA), while I am currently in the process of conducting research in psychology, counselling and psychotherapy (PhD). I have also completed further post-qualification training and certification in a wide range of Psychotherapies, such as:

Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy (PCT)

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

Integrative Somatic Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Contemplative Psychotherapy (Mindfulness),

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Comprehensive Resource Model for Complex Trauma and PTSD (CRM)

Mentalization-Based Psychotherapy (MBT)

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)

Jungian -Depth Psychotherapy & Analysis

Additionally, I have achieved certification in Philosophical Counselling by the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. For me, education is an ongoing endeavour, as I am committed to growing as a healer and facilitator of change by attending continuing professional development seminars and workshops and staying informed about recent developments and research in psychology, psychotherapy, philosophy, spirituality, neuroscience and contemplative practices.

Experience

Even after almost 20 years in this field, I still feel an immense passion and dedication to helping people heal and flourish. What I do is a vocation, and I feel fortunate and deeply honoured to be in a position to help and to be of service. Since 2004 and throughout the years, I have had the opportunity to help hundreds of people in settings ranging from acute admission mental health wards, addiction services, suicide prevention, autism services and prisons, mental health charities, and community psychology interventions to public sector organisations and corporations. I have also contributed to the field of activism, having worked with marginalised communities in Scotland, providing support to activists working with refugees and war zones and advising and supporting organisations on environmental issues and the ongoing climate change crises ( an issue very close to my heart) .

In 2014, I decided to create my practice to offer counselling, psychotherapy, coaching, and neurofeedback in Edinburgh, London, UK, and online. My online practice allows me to provide my services to people worldwide, including ex-pats, those who travel, or those who find face-to-face therapy difficult. Periodically, I organise and facilitate retreats in beautiful natural settings, such as the Scottish Highlands and Greece, while I am also teaching short courses either locally or online.

Expertise

I can help with various psychological issues and difficulties within a holistic approach. Some of the most common issues that I can help are :

Anxiety, Chronis Stress & Burnout: Support in managing overwhelming feelings of anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, and general stress.

Depression & Low Mood: Helping individuals process feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and emotional numbness.

Trauma & PTSD: Addressing psychological and emotional trauma, including developmental and complex trauma, PTSD, and trauma stored in the body.

Relationship Difficulties: Support for couples and individuals struggling with communication issues, conflict, trust issues, intimacy challenges, or separation.

Personality Disorders: Assisting with symptoms related to borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder.

Neurodiversity counselling and therapy (ASD, ADHD, ADD): helping manage attention difficulties, focus, and social anxiety to improve social skills and emotional regulation.

Grief, Loss, and Bereavement: Helping clients process the emotional pain from the death of a loved one, relationship breakdown, or other forms of loss.

Codependency & Recovery from Narcissistic Abuse: Supporting individuals in breaking free from unhealthy relationship patterns and healing from emotional abuse.

Addictions & Substance Abuse: Support for various forms of addiction, including substance, alcohol, and behavioural addictions (e.g., sex, gambling).

Chronic Pain & Fatigue: Managing conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and related emotional and cognitive impacts.

Self-Esteem & Confidence Issues: Assisting individuals who struggle with low self-worth or lack of confidence.

Life Transitions: Helping individuals cope with significant life changes such as redundancy, retirement, parenting, ageing, or relocating.

Spiritual Exploration & Meaning: Philosophical and spiritual counselling for individuals searching for deeper meaning, purpose, or dealing with existential concerns.

Sexual Issues: Addressing concerns about sexual intimacy, sex addiction, and pornography.

Sleep Issues: Managing sleep disturbances, insomnia, and related issues.

Philosophical & Ethical Decisions: Assisting clients who are grappling with difficult life decisions, existential questions, or ethical dilemmas.

Memberships

I am a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA). My work is deeply grounded in the ethics of care, respect, safety, and confidentiality, which are embedded within the above organisations' code of ethics and conduct. My practice is also insured and regularly supervised as per the requirements of BPS and BACP. I am also a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme through Disclosure Scotland.

Fees

What I do is to help people heal and flourish by offering my attention, care, experience, knowledge, and any wisdom I may have acquired in this life so far. My service to you is not a product in the sense of a typical market transaction, so therefore, the money you offer is not because you are buying something from me. You cannot buy someone’s attention, knowledge, care, respect or warmth; these qualities are priceless. You also cannot buy the warm and empathic relationship necessary to help you to heal and flourish. When we work together, I offer you my attention, care and knowledge wholeheartedly and passionately, not because you pay me but because I care for your well-being and because helping you to heal and flourish brings meaning and purpose to my life. I believe it is important for you to know that as a psychologist, psychotherapist and philosophical counsellor, I have undertaken more than ten years of continuous training at an academic level, as well as many years working face-to-face and Online with clients from around the world. Additionally, I constantly invest money and time in furthering my education in psychology, psychotherapy, neuroscience, spirituality, and philosophy through formal academic education, continuous professional development, participation in retreats, and reading the latest scientific papers and books. So, your offering, in essence, makes it possible for me to devote my time to you and to your needs, as well as to study and reflect so that I continue to learn and be useful and effective.

My fee is £ 75 (or the equivalent in US Dollars/Euros) for a 50-minute session of psychotherapy, counselling, or coaching. This applies both face-to-face (local work within Edinburgh and London) and online. I also offer longer sessions, such as two-hour, half-day, or full-day sessions, including ecotherapy sessions in nature. For Neurofeedback, the first assessment session is 50 minutes, and the cost is £ 75. For the remote/online-based neurofeedback, the minimum recommended treatment plan is four months, and the price is £590 per month. Please note that I do not offer concessions or lower fees. However, I devote a day per week to offering my services on a pro bono/no-charge basis (only for psychotherapy -not for neurofeedback) to chronically unemployed people, low-income students and refugees. If this describes your circumstances, please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss whether we can still work together (please note that there is always a waiting list for pro bono consultations-currently full- on 9/2024).

Payments can only be made by debit and credit cards via online invoicing (Stripe).