Scientific manager

Η ΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΟΝΙΚΗ ΥΠΕΥΘΥΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΕΝΤΡΟΥ ΜΑΣ
    • Sofia Vagena
      Speech Therapist | Scientific Manager

      Sofia Vagena

      Speech Therapist | Scientific Manager

      At Logos & Epikinonia, I have trained numerous speech therapists and specialists fromvarious disciplines.

      My therapeutic interests are diverse, and I am committed to staying at the forefront of advancements in our field. My academic journey includes two master’s theses involving
      extensive clinical work. The first focused on the hearing impaired children’s sentence structure, while the second focused on the treatment of a bilingual adult patient with aphasia. My training encompasses a broad spectrum of areas, including language and phonological delays/disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, alternative communication methods, dyspraxia, stuttering, rhinolalia, voice disorders, special learning difficulties, aphasia, and more.

  • Resume

    I chose speech therapy as a life career through a random presentation in an elective pedagogy course in my final year of studies at the University of Athens. After graduating with honors, I worked for 2 years as an English teacher and then continued my studies at the University of Reading, alongside leading linguists. After completing my MA in Applied Linguistics with honors, I went on to City University where I obtained my British License to Practice as a Speech Therapist and my MSc in Clinical Communication Studies. In my studies, I was supported by the scholarships of the Papadakis endowment, the Onassis Scholarship Foundation and the Lilian Voudouris Foundation.

    After finishing my studies, I worked in a Community Clinic in London for some time and returned to Greece in 1999 when I created Logos & Epikinonia. At the same time, I worked for some years at the Theotokos foundation, firstly with children and young people with severe learning difficulties and secondly, in Early Intervention.

    On a personal level, I started a family and have 2 children, Nikolas and Elena.

  • Seminars, conferences and workshops

    1. Topic: Voice Therapy – The Process.
      Speech & Language therapy dept. Northwick Park & St Mark’s NHS Trust
    2. Topic: Helping people to keep their voices healthy and to communicate effectively.
      Voice Care Network UK
    3. Topic: Special Learning Problems, Speech Therapy Approach.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    4. Topic: Play & Communication: a non-directive approach.
      ICAN
    5. Certificate for Makaton Regional Tutor.
      MAKATON Greece
    6. Topic: Working with Deaf people – Part 1
      University College London
    7. An Introduction to Assessment and Therapy with Deaf Clients.
    8. Topic: Specific language disorder – Developmental dysphasia from preschool to adolescence.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
      8th Conference of the Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    9. Topic: Nature, Differential diagnosis Therapeutic intervention and Psychosocial “dimension”.
      Hellenic Association for Aphasia
    10. Topic: Voicecraft for professional voice users.
      Voicecraft international PTY. LTD.
    11. Topic: Voicecraft for the Speech Language Therapist.
      Voicecraft International PTY. LTD.
    12. Topic: Aphasia: from assessment to a holistic approach.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    13. Topic: “Voicecraft” for professional voice users.
      Voicecraft international PTY. LTD.
    14. Topic: Assessment Diagnosis Intervention of oral and written language difficulties according to the psycholinguistic model.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    15. Topic: Development of phonological awareness and rehabilitation program.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Language Pathologists
    16. Topic: Prevention of speech and communication disorders in preschool age.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    17. International Scientific Symposium “The Puzzle of Autism“
    18. Topic: The picture exchange communication system (PECS).
      Pyramid International
    19. Topic: Communication and Speech Disorders.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
      Prevention, Research, Intervention and New Technologies in Health.
    20. Topic: Communication and speech disorder in autism.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    21. Experiential voice seminar.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    22. Topic: Stuttering in children and adolescents.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    23. Topic: Education in the treatment of children with autism, practical training and literature review. Methodology and application of behavior analysis in the education and treatment of children with autism.
      Child Development and Education Center
    24. Topic: Feeding problems in childhood – treatment by a speech therapist.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    25. Topic: The Structure of the Modern Greek language (mainly morphology and syntax), its relationship with semantic knowledge and communication and its development during preschool age.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    26. Topic: TEACCH, Essentials of Structured Education.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    27. Topic: Communication disorders, Autism, Positions and approaches.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    28. Topic: 1st Scientific Day of Dysphagia.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    29. Topic: Supervising Students in Speech and Language Therapy Settings.
      University College London
    30. Topic: Proceedings of the 9th Developmental Pediatrics Seminar.
      Institute of Child Health
    31. Experiential Seminar “Communication and dynamics of relationships in the family (The symptom as a message)”.
      Institute of Child Health
    32. Topic: The management of stammering in children under 7 years old.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech and Language Pathologists – Michael Palin Center for Stammering Children.
    33. Topic: Rehabilitation of children and adults with a cochlear implant.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    34. Topic: Rhinolalia and other speech problems in cleft lip and palate. Assessment and treatment.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    35. Topic: The PECS method in practice and problem solving.
      Pyramid Educational Consultants GR
    36. Topic: Assessment and Treatment of Verbal Dyspraxia: The Nuffield Programme.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists – Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
    37. 1st Practical Symposium on Voice – Swallowing and Their Disorders.
      Panhellenic Society of Otorhinolaryngology
    38. Topic: Narrative, Identity and Its Importance for a Child’s Early Years. Its relationship with the development of spoken and written language.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    39. Topic: Storytelling Education Method for childhood, “List’n Tell”.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    40. Topic: The Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    41. Topic: Level 1 – Introduction to Pivotal Response Training.
      A/ Hellenic Society of Developmental & Behavioral Paediatrics
      B/ UCSB Koegel Autism Center
    42. Topic: Intervention strategies for a cognitive behavioral treatment of stuttering.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
    43. Topic: Autism and Everyday Life.
      Greek developmental and behavioral pediatrics company
    44. Participation in Pivotal Response Training – Level II.
      A/ Hellenic Society of Developmental & Behavioral Paediatrics
      B/ UCSB Koegel Autism Center
    45. Cygnet programme.
      Bradford Children & Young People’s Partnership, Believe in Children – Barnardo’s Yorkshire, Association for Psychosocial Studies
    46. Topic: Developing a checklist.
      Greek developmental and behavioral pediatrics company
    47. Workshop “A three-part treatment plan for oral placement therapy”.
      Talk Tools – Stark & Watson
    48. Workshop “Teaching Functional Speech to Non-Verbal Individuals with Autism and Related Disabilities: Applied Behavior Analysis (A.B.A) and Oral Placement Therapy (O.P.T)”.
      Talk Tools – Stark & Watson
    1. Topic: The Floortime Center® Workshop on the Greenspan Floortime Approach®.
      The Floortime Center® – Monorodi – Interdisciplinary Center of Epirus
    2. Topic: How to treat aphasia, dysathria and apraxia of speech evidence and experience.
      Rosenbek John Clyde, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-NCD
    3. Topic: Approaching the child with autism through Sensory Integration.
      Interdisciplinary Center of Epirus – Mylonadis Dimitrios
    4. Topic: Continuity in knowledge, innovation in practice: 3 educational symposia in speech therapy science.
      13th Panhellenic Conference of Speech and Language Therapists
    5. M. O. R. E. Protocol: Integrating the Mouth with Sensory and Postural Functions.
      ΠΑΙΔ.Ι – Patricia Oetter and Eileen Richter
    6. Topic: “Feeding Therapy: A Sensory – Motor Approach”
      STARK & WATSON – Overland Lori, MS, CCC – SLP, C/NDT, CLC
    7. Topic: Training seminar on administering and scoring the language assessment tasks of the psychometric tool “Logometro”.
      Logometro Scientific Team (A. Mouzaki, A. Ralli, F. Antoniou) – Implementation: Inte’learn
      Held on January 20, 2018
    8. Topic: Encouraging play in children with ASD and typical peers
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
      56. Topic: “The GET Permission Approach to Feeding”
      STARK & WATSON – Dunn Klein Marsha, OTR/L,MED, FAOTA
    9. Topic: “The GET Permission Approach to Feeding”
      STARK & WATSON – Dunn Klein Marsha, OTR/L, MED, FAOTA
    10. Topic: “Cognitive Behavioral Drama”
      Experiential Educational Seminar – Dr. Harris Karnezis
      58.Topic: Sensory Integration Conference
      Eliza Maglari – Hellenic Society for Psycho-Economic Support of Children and Adolescents with Behavioral Problems
    11. Topic: Sensory Integration Conference
      Magklari Eliza – Hellenic Society for Psychosocial Support of Children and Adolescents with Behavioral Problems
    12. Topic: “Feeding the preterm infant: From assessment of early feeding skills to intervention”
      Thoyre Suzanne – Panhellenic Association of Speech Language Pathologists
    13. Topic: “Integrated Voice Therapy Level 1 training webinar”
      Elpida Koutsoubaki – Integrated Voice Therapy
    14. Topic: “SOS Approach to Feeding – Education in selective and problematic feeding.”
    15. Topic: Athena Diagnostic Test for Learning Disabilities – Training and Proficiency Acquisition.
      Protasis Educational Organization
    16. Subject: “Walt Fritz, Pt Foundations in Manual Therapy: experiential workshop. Voice and swallowing disorders”.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Language Pathologists
    17. Topic: “Cognitive Behavioral Drama Master Class”
      Dr. Harris Karnezis
      September 24, 2023
    18. Topic: “8th Panhellenic Autism Congress”.
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists
      October 13-15, 2023
    19. Topic: “LSVT LOUD: Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease and Other Conditions”.
      LSVT Global Interdisciplinary Center
      Interdisciplinary Center of Epirus
      November 3-5, 2023
    20. Topic: “Adult Dysphagia – Neurological and Oncology Patients”
      Interdisciplinary Center of Epirus
      Held on April 6-7, 2024
    21. Topic: “Focus: Success in Feeding”
      Kids Workshop
      Held on February 1-2, 2025
    22. Topic: “Rhythmic Movements & Reflexes in Early Intervention”
      Kids Workshop
      Held on February 8-9, 2025
    23. Topic: “Marte Meo Practitioner”
      Marte Meo Hellas
      6-day training. Completed on May 11, 2025
    24. Topic: “Supervision circle on feeding and swallowing disorders”
      Irene Psallida – Patricia Giannika
      4 meetings, completed on May 10, 2025
    25. Topic: “9th Panhellenic Autism Congress”
      Hellenic Scientific Network for Autism Spectrum Disorders
      Held on October 10-12, 2025
    26. Topic: “Working with Transgender & Gender Diverse Voice – Christella Antoni”
      Association of Scientists of Speech Pathology/Speech Therapy of Greece
      Held on October 10-12, 2025
    27. Topic: “From therapy to practice: Speech therapy intervention in dementia”
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists – Speech Therapists
      Held on November 29, 2025
    28. Topic: “Tracheostomy in Children and Adults and Dysphagia” (Experiential Seminar)
      O Kosmos tou Logou – Irene Psallida. Presenters: A. Pataridou (ENT Surgeon), P. Giannika, E. Psallida (Speech Therapists)
      Held on November 29, 2025
    29. Topic: “14th Panhellenic Congress of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics”
      Hellenic Society of Developmental Pediatricians
      Held on November 21-23, 2025
    30. Topic: “Early Start Denver Model – Learning through play, relationships and routines”
      Interdisciplinary Center of Epirus
      Held on January 24-25, 2026
    31. Topic: “Dysphagia in the Adult Neurological Patient”
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Therapists
      Held on February 15, 2026
    32. Topic: “Raven’s Educational CPM/cvs”
      Motivo Assessment
      Held on March 14, 2026
    33. Topic: “Combo ADOS & ADI-R Course”
      Diagnostic and Therapeutic Unit for the Child “Spyros Doxiadis”
      Held on March 4-8, 2026
    34. Topic: “4th Panhellenic Congress of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine”
      Hellenic Society of Adolescent Medicine
      Held on March 27-29, 2026
    35. Topic: “Feeding disorders and selectivity in childhood: From diagnosis to therapy.”
      Panhellenic Association of Speech Pathologists – Speech Therapists
      Held on February 28, 2026
    36. Topic: “Diagnosis, Therapy & Coexisting Difficulties in Children and Adolescents” – 1st Panhellenic Three-Day Training Seminar (includes specialized training in the “Sliding In” therapeutic method), 24 hours.
      Hellenic Organization for Epileptic Alalia “Little Steps” – Presenter: Maggie Johnson, FRCSLT
      Held on April 24-26, 2026, Serafeio of the Municipality of Athens
    37. Topic: “Cognitive Behavioral Drama – Advanced Training Cycle.”
      Cognitive Behavioral Drama Center
      Held on June 12-16, 2026
  • Degrees & Postgraduate Studies

    BA Degree – University of Athens (First Class / “Arista”)

    MA in Applied Linguistics – University of Reading (with distinction in the dissertation)

    MSc in Clinical Communication Studies – The City University, School of Social and Human Sciences, Department of Language and Communication Studies, London. At City University she also obtained her British licence to practise as a speech and language therapist.
    Recognition of the degree by DI.K.A.T.S.A. (Hellenic Inter-University Centre for the Recognition of Foreign Academic Titles)