OUR TEAM

Maria Panagos is a specialised counsellor in the fields of infertility, reproductive & sexual health, health & illness. She obtained her PhD in Women, Reproduction and HIV Infection from Newcastle University, UK. She undertook training in infertility counselling with the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA), based on which, upon her arrival to Athens, Greece, in 2009, she set up an Infertility & Reproductive Counselling service at an IVF Unit, where she provided psychological support to those women, men and couples that encounter difficulties dealing with issues affecting their fertility while undergoing medically assisted reproduction (MAR). She offers implications counselling addressed especially to people receiving donation (oocytes, sperm, or embryos) but equally to those who consider offering donation, becoming a surrogate or wishing to explore their reproductive rights and discuss their choices in a judgment-free and supportive environment. Such counselling is offered at all stages of IVF procedures including preparation before medical interventions and pharmaceutical intake. In addition to MAR related counselling she provides counselling during stages of antenatal and postnatal care, with a focus on postnatal depression cases. 

Dr Panagos also undertook training in 1st Dept. Of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Unit at the General Hospital of Athens Georgios Gennimatas; the Centre for Life, Athens, Greece; in Psychotherapy at the Open Psychotherapeutic Centre (OPC) and the Institute of Group Analysis (IGA), Athens, Greece; in Clinical Psychopathology by the National and Capodistrian Universtity of Athens at Eginitio Hospital, Psychiatric Unit A; Subfertility and Reproductive Endocrinology by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) & the British Fertility Society (BFS), London, UK. She recently trained as a Medical Ethicist by the National and Capodistrian Universtity of Athens, Greece.  Apart from BICA, she is a member and receives ongoing training by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the European Fertility Society (EFS), the American Psychological Association (APA).  

    She holds BA degrees in both Sociology and Psychology (the American College of Greece, at Dean’s Honour List in 1993-1994, 1996-1997). She has presented her academic work via publications (referee for the International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences), at conferences, and her voluntary work on television. With almost three decades of counselling and teaching experience Dr Panagos looks for the person behind the patient. She is available for in person- as well as online- sessions.