Elena Arsenidou, a distinguished figure in the fields of psychology and art therapy, was born in Athens and has dedicated her life to the study of the human mind and the transformative power of artistic expression. With a solid educational foundation, Elena’s academic journey began in the bustling metropolis of New York City, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Psychology Department at Baruch College, City University of New York in 1986.
Building on this foundation, Elena pursued a Master of Arts at Hunter College, City University of New York, culminating in her graduation in 1992. Her commitment to professional development led her to obtain a DIKATSA equivalency in 1996, aligning her qualifications with those of the University of Athens. Furthermore, she acquired a certificate in Gestalt Psychotherapy and Methodology in 1999 from the esteemed Toula Vlakoutsikou, marking a significant step in her journey toward becoming a licensed therapist.
Elena’s expertise extends into her professional affiliations. She became a full member of the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT) in 1999, and later, in 2008, she obtained the European Certificate of Psychotherapy, solidifying her reputation within the international psychotherapy community as a full member of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).
Elena’s training in Gestalt Therapy was conducted through the Gestalt Associates Training program in Los Angeles, where she honed her skills in understanding human behavior and therapeutic methodologies. Additionally, her education included supervision training under the guidance of Carmen Vazquez Bandin and psychopathology studies with prominent figures such as Margherita Spagnuolo Lobb, Jean Marie Robine, and Gianni Francesetti.
Her journey of lifelong learning also led her to specialize in artistic psychotherapy, further enriching her practice through participation in seminars across Europe and America. Notably, in 1997, she attended a lecture series at Christie’s on “Trends and Movements in Post-War Art,” which deepened her understanding of the interplay between art and psychology.
Continuing her exploration of visual arts, Elena participated in fundamental photography seminars hosted by the Photography Association ‘9’ in 2008. From 2009 to 2012, she engaged in collage art workshops with Annette Lauk’s Papadantonaki, further developing her artistic expression. Since April 2020, Elena has actively participated in online seminars focused on Art and Photography at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, demonstrating her commitment to staying current with contemporary artistic practices.
Over the past 16 years, Elena has also embraced digital art, focusing particularly on digital photomontage, blending her psychological insights with innovative artistic techniques. Her works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions across a variety of cities, including Athens, Thessaloniki, Paris, Rome, New York, and Istanbul, attesting to her creative prowess and the impact of her dual career as both a psychotherapist and an artist.
Through her multidisciplinary approach, Elena Arsenidou embodies the harmonious relationship between psychology and the arts, using her expertise to facilitate healing and self-discovery while continuously expanding her creative boundaries.
