2026 invited Speaker: Katerina Zymnis Georgalos, PhD, ECP

Presenting: The Quest for Shared Meaning in a Seemingly Meaningless World: An Existential Integrative Family Therapy Odyssey

This presentation unveils our newly conceptualized Existential Integrative Family Therapy, framed through the enduring lens of Homer’s Odyssey. It posits the contemporary family journey as a heroic quest for meaning in an extremely challenging world: one must cultivate a guiding vision, face the symbolic ‘Sirens’ and ‘Cyclops’ of modern life, and persevere with unyielding strength.

This therapeutic odyssey demands the courage to confront profound crises and the universal existential ‘givens’ of existence. We champion the inherent heroism of each member, emphasizing the vital need to find and dialogue with one’s ancestral roots. The core imperative is to navigate a sea of seemingly insurmountable challenges with courage, fiercely upholding individual difference and uniqueness while steadfastly protecting the communal hearth.

Katerina Zymnis Georgalos, PhD, ECP is a founding member, co-director, trainer, and supervisor at the Hellenic Association for Existential Psychology, gignesthai. With extensive experience in private practice, she works with individuals, families, and groups, and has been teaching in postgraduate programs at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, the University of Thessalia, and the Hellenic Society of Positive Psychology since 2004. In 2022, she joined the faculty of the American College of Greece.

Originally trained as a family therapist, Dr. Zymnis Georgalos’s primary professional interest lies in psychotherapy outcome, the process of change, and the application of qualitative research methods. She has contributed to numerous books and articles on existential therapy and the psychotherapy process. Katerina is a European Certified Psychotherapist (ECP), and an active member of several professional organizations, including the Hellenic Association for Systemic Therapy (HELASYTH), APA, the Hellenic Psychological Society (ELPSE), and the European Association for Family Therapy (EFTA). She is also a founding member of the Federation for Existential Therapy in Europe (FETE) and the Hellenic Association of Positive Psychology. Her commitment to the field is further demonstrated by her seven-year tenure on the Board of Trustees for FETE.