Hellenic American University is pleased to welcome Dr. Christina Founta, Obstetrician–Gynecologist (OB-GYN), and Despina Ploussiou, M.A., MFT, psychotherapist specializing in complex trauma, to its Athens campus on Friday, April 24, 2026, for the third lecture in the University’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture, titled Unpaused: Reclaiming Mental Health, Identity, and Relationships in Midlife, is organized by Hellenic American University / Hellenic American College.
The Distinguished Lecture Series brings to the Athens campus leading thinkers, researchers, and public figures from a wide range of disciplines to share insights from their work and engage with issues of broader social significance. The series aims to enrich the student learning experience and foster dialogue within and beyond the University community on timely social and cultural topics. In addition, the series features emerging scholars who have made significant contributions to their fields.
About the lecture
Perimenopause and menopause are increasingly recognized as complex biopsychosocial transitions rather than solely biological events. In this lecture, the speakers integrate contemporary medical research, clinical psychology, and social neuroscience to examine how hormonal changes intersect with mental health, identity formation, trauma history, and relational dynamics.
The lecture also situates menopause within the broader historical and social context of medical practice. Much of modern medical research and diagnostic frameworks have been developed within predominantly male-centered models, often marginalizing women’s subjective experiences and underestimating the psychological and relational impact of reproductive transitions. This legacy continues to influence how menopausal distress is recognized, treated, or dismissed today.
The speakers will discuss how these systemic factors affect not only women’s mental health, but also partnerships, family systems, and caregiving roles, highlighting the need for an interdisciplinary and ethically informed approach to care. Designed for students and early-career professionals, the lecture offers a contemporary framework that reframes menopause as a critical moment for clinical insight, relational renegotiation, and a more inclusive vision of medicine and mental health.
Speakers:
Dr. Christina Founta is an Obstetrician–Gynecologist Surgeon. She holds a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Ioannina and has extensive clinical experience in Gynecologic Oncology, Gynecological Cancer Diagnostics, Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy, Hysteroscopy, and Surgical Gynaecology. More…
Despina Ploussiou, M.A., MFT is a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of psychological trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). She is a co-founder of the Trauma2Therapy Institute, which provides training and educational programs for mental health professionals in the field of psychological trauma, including PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). More...
Moderator:
Dr. Maria Agorastou, LICSW, MSW, PhD
Counseling Center, Director
Assistant Professor, Hellenic American University
Event Details
📅 Date: Friday April 24, 2026
🕒 Time: 19:00–21:00 (Athens time)
Venue: Hellenic American College
Theater, 2nd Floor
22 Massalias Street, Athens
Language: Greek
Admission: Free of charge
RSVP: Required through the official registration form (in Greek).
