Sakkas Dionyssis

Sakkas Dionyssis

Psychiatrist, M.D., PhD, E.C.P.
Director AIA
  • Psychiatrist – Psychotherapist, Member of the Advisory Scientific Team (SET) of AIA
  • Graduate of the Medical School of the University of Athens.
  • Doctoral Dissertation on Psychosomatic Disorders from the Medical School of the University of Ioannina.
  • Trainer of Psychotherapists in Individual, Family, and Group Approaches.
  • Supervisor, Interprofessional Consultant in the Dialectical Systemic Approach with Individuals, Groups, and Organizations.

Professional Experience

  • General Hospital of Athens “G. Gennimatas” (1986–2013):
    Served as Coordinating Director of the Psychiatric Department and Director of the Psychiatric Sector.
  • Founded the Systemic Psychotherapy Unit in 1989.
  • Established the Adult Hostel in Cholargos and infrastructure for the Acute/Emergency Unit and Day Hospital of G.N.A. “G. Gennimatas”.

Other Work Experience & Collaborations

  • Specialized in Neurology and Psychiatry at the University Clinic of Aiginiteio Hospital and the Athens Polyclinic.

  • 1982–1986: Practiced as a certified Psychiatrist at the State Psychiatric Hospital of Athens.

  • 1982–1985: Neurologist-Psychiatrist at the IKA (Social Security Institute) branch in Drapetsona (concurrent evening work).

  • 1991–1995: Trainer at the Family Program of the Therapeutic Community “STROFI” for adolescent users and their families, at the Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (KETHEA).

  • 1994–1995: Psychiatrist at the Lavrio Health Center (concurrent with G.N.A. Gennimatas).

  • 1/2–30/7/2002: Community Mental Health Center of Vyronas–Kaisariani (University of Athens).

  • 1995–1998: Hellenic Organization Against Drugs (OKANA) – Founded and led the Prevention and Education Unit. Conducted three-year pilot prevention-education programs in five Greek municipalities: trained and supervised health promotion and prevention staff in school and local communities.

Educational Roles & Seminars

  • Lecturer in experiential seminars in collaboration with postgraduate university programs, ministries, scientific bodies, and mental health organizations.

  • Ministry of Education – Pedagogical Institute (2010–2012): Member of a seven-member Expert Group for the Major Teacher Training Program (MTE). Designed, implemented, and evaluated MTE in topics related to group dynamics and relationships within the school community.

  • Coordinator of AKMA’s Trainer Team (2004–2008): Collaborated with the University of Ioannina and the Athens Technological Educational Institute in the Postgraduate Program on Chronic Pain for health professionals.

Participation in Professional Organizations

  • Board Member of the Hellenic Federation of Systemic Psychotherapy and Family Therapy Associations (ETHOS) (2018–2021).

  • Founding Member and President (2013–2019) of the Hellenic Society of Systemic Therapy for Family, Group, and Individual (ELESYTH).

  • First Vice President of the Board at the Attica Region’s Center for Social Welfare (2016–2019).

Vice President of the Hellenic Psychotherapy Society (EEPS) (1998–2002), a federation of scientific societies and training centers, member of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).

Member of:

  • Hellenic Psychiatric Association (EPA)
  • American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)
  • European Family Therapy Association (EFTA)
  • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
  • International Family Therapy Association (IFTA)
  • Founding member of the Mental Health Committee of EINAP (Union of Athens-Piraeus Hospital Doctors)

  • Board Member (2005–2009) and Honorary Member of KETHEA

  • Executive Committee Member of the Mediterranean Society of Social Psychiatry (MESPA) (1990–1991)

  • Founding member and President of the Executive Committee of the Hellenic Society for Deinstitutionalization and Mental Health (APOPSY) (1990)

  • General Secretary of the Scientific Union of the State Psychiatric Hospital of Athens (1985–1986)

Conferences & Publications

  • Editorial Board Member of the scientific journal “Tetradia Psychiatrikis”

  • Scientific Committee Member of the journal “Dependencies”

  • Edited books and published articles in books and journals on topics including:

    • Interprofessional Counseling

    • Psychosocial Factors in Prognosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    • Psychology and Rheumatoid Arthritis

    • Psychology and Plastic Surgery, among others.

  • Principal Investigator, Supervisor, or Research Team Member in various research projects recognized at national and European conferences, including:

    • EFTA, Berlin: “Family Therapy in Chronic Pain”

    • “The relationship between Theory of Mind and symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder: A prospective study”

Recent Contributions

The intervention of the Director of AKMA, Mr. Dionysis Sakkas, at the two-day conference of the Systemic Society of Northern Greece, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary celebration of SEVE.

Conference Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of GIGNESTHAI:
Greetings from the founders – E. Georganta, E. Dalla, K. Zymni-Georgalou, and A. Charisiadis – and presentations by the official guests: Maria Mallikiosi-Loizou, Georgios Kleftaras, and the Director of AKMA, Mr. Dionysis Sakkas.

The intervention of the Director of AKMA, Mr. Dionysis Sakkas, at the book presentation of Nikos Marketos’ work “Toxic Forms of Love” (17/5/2024).
The presentation sparked a thought-provoking discussion featuring Mr. Dimitris Karagiannis, Ms. Katia Charalambaki, and Mr. Dionysis Sakkas, moderated by Mr. Vlassis Tomaras.

“Are There Truly Toxic People?” A podcast by the Director of AKMA, Mr. Dionysis Sakkas, for OW.gr magazine.

Are those around us inherently toxic, or do they become toxic to us? How can we disentangle ourselves from painful, toxic relationships? Psychiatrist–psychotherapist Dionysis Sakkas attempts to answer questions that concern us all.

Festive Interdisciplinary Two-Day Conference for the 60th Anniversary of AKMA – Opening Speeches (25/11/23)

Podcast by the Director of AKMA, Mr. D. Sakkas, on the topic: “HOW A LONG-TERM, BALANCED RELATIONSHIP IS BUILT” – 
Published by www.ow.gr

Editorial Supervision: Myrto Antonopoulou
Art Direction: Christina Avdikou
Direction: Daniel Almoril

Mr. Dionysis Sakkas was hosted on the airwaves of “Radio Paratiritis 94fm” and Beton 7 Art Radio by Professor Charalambos Poulopoulos, as part of his program “Lessons in Breathing.”
The well-known psychiatrist and family therapist spoke about intrafamilial relationships during the pandemic, the father-mother-child triangle, the concept of the “homo cathisticus,” phenomena of self-destructiveness, and the psychological disorders of our time.
(Radio Paratiritis – 1/3/2021)

Two-Day Conference by the Hellenic Person-Centered and Experiential Association (EPVE)
Theme: “Social Identities, Values, Institutions, and Relationships in a New Reality”
Exploring contemporary psychotherapeutic practice amidst the diverse and constantly evolving conditions of today (March 2 & 3, 2019)

Keynote Speech: “The Dialectical Interaction Between Family and Social Relationships and Their Influence on the Therapeutic Relationship”
by the Director of AKMA, Mr. D. Sakkas