From Person to Presence
From the "I" to "We"
​​
​​
I'm Maria Kefalogianni, a Greek immigrant residing in Manchester since 2007. I am Neurodivergent, heterosexual, able bodied, mother to HSC ( hyper sensitive children ) . I take pride from originating from Crete, the island of Minoan Civilization, where drumming, singing, dancing and ritual & community were at the core of the culture. This way of being is deeply integrated within me and as you read through my site you will see the congruence and resonance in what I offer. We can only give what we embody. My upbringing involved music, dancing, and community. I offer three FREE community spaces, have a look around to discover more.
As a psychotherapist with over 17 years of experience, my journey has led me to develop Presence-Centered Psychotherapy (PCP) after a transformative shift in consciousness in 2019. I navigated a two-year night of the soul, leading to profound awakening experiences, which ceased all seeking for me to feel complete. Completion is deeply found in my incompletion.
​​​
We are unknown ecologies found in the mystery of our ephemeral/eternal body/mind/spirit. Our sense of self is shifting. Consciousness, the invisible current, is moving us from the "I" to "we". My calling to work with my ancestors and my shamanic influences have led me to integrate these elements of journeying into my practice.
The awakening journey was one I hadn't pursued nor intended. I would NOT recommend its pursuit either. It is all Grace, but if you find yourself in the deep journey , going alone can feel lonely. It has become, my mission. My joy my path.
My calling is to help liberate others from limiting beliefs, guiding them through trauma release and embodying unity love consciousness. Life, for me, is a continuous dialogue with greater intelligence, marked by synchronicities, abundance, deep joy and true Heart service through a fiercely loving heart rooted in sovereignty and freedom.
]I invite others to surrender for inner peace and joy, and trusting in the revelation the recognition of their unique gifts. In my work, I align with embodied (non-dual) approaches, blending humanistic principles, depth psychology, ( especially shadow work) IFS, somatic approach to life trauma and healing and intergenerational trauma. Shamanism and ritual deeply influence and shape how I work and live. I am deeply shaped by many schools of thought and particularly women's studies as well as Joanna Macy's writings ; Work that Reconnects , Carl Rogers person centred therapy, Gangaji, Peter Levine and Thomas Hubhl. I m continuing to de-settle my mind and body and be of service is my greatest passion. Not to heal you as you are NOT broken.But to empower people to Re-kindle their inner active hope for themselves and the world. That is the revolution i am here to ripple.
​
I am particularly passionate about supporting women ( especially the Neurodivergent tribe) to transform and ignite their inner power, to alchemize the shadows gifted from patriarchal systems and to create strong ripples in the world.
My direct experience navigated me on this path, being the only woman in my lineage to have travelled abroad, educated to the University level and broken a lot of chain of trauma passed down to me. I meet individuals where they are, honoring their uniqueness and gently pointing them back to their truth.
​
My approach integrates teachings from various traditions and emphasizes embodied presence to avoid spiritual bypassing.
I do not call this a practice as it unfolds moment to moment awareness, offering a profound space of presence fuelled with a tender heart and pristine clarity. I use your own wording to point you back to your inner truth. I invite you to look deeper within yourself and discover your essence. I am moulded by you and always humbled by the teachings you bring to ME. It is uncanny to find me in each of my clients and supervises, without exception. Though we are not separate, i m empty enough to receive you fully and as you deserve.
​​
Besides private practice, I've taught counselling and supervision courses at a university for the past 12 years, held thousands of circles and groups. I have also taught supervision courses and trained professionals to become solid space-holders. We need them more than ever right now.
My teaching experience always taught me what a devoted student to life i have been. I know nothing. Besides this, my experience as an HE educator, trainer, researcher/ writer on consciousness studies has enriched my understanding of different awareness levels people navigate/ occupy. , I find nourishment in activities like swimming, meditation, dance, ( particularly ecstatic meditative dance and 5 Rythms, Kundalini yoga, and the simplicity of everyday life. The extraordinary into the ordinary. The liminal space that is impregnated with wisdom and infinite creativity is here to remind us we live in these turbulent times SO that we can ripple far and wide.
Together, and end the game of separation. In you I see me. No hierarchies., yet fully aware of my privileges. Get in touch if you feel this calling to work with me.
Training and Qualifications
College of Sound Healing
Sound Healing practitioner Diploma with the voice : College of Sound Healing
Keele University
MSc Counselling Psychology (Distinction; 2yrs) Bacp Accredited course
Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision (Keele University)- Qualified supervisor (1yr)
​
Salford University
PostGraduate Certificate in Academic Practice
​
University of Rethymnon, Crete
BSc Philosophy and Social Studies (1st Honours; 4yrs)
​
Other relevant training
*Spiritual/self Inquiry since 2008 - ongoing ( Exploring the nature of consciousness; our sense "I am"). Embodied @HeartInquiry , guiding people to embodied Self-Realisation -join my Heart Inquiry free collective-
*Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Facilitation Training
*Foundation in Shamanic Practice -
*Foundation Certificate in Group Analysis -Group Analysis North; (1y)
*Compassion Focused Therapy Training - level 2
*Focusing Oriented Psychotherapy Training - Level 2
*Reiky Energy Healing - Level 2
*Intergenerational trauma with Mark Wollyn - CPD and ongoing investment and direct experience
*Certificate in constellation work of Bert Hellinger
* CPD in Somatic Experiencing with Peter Levine​
*Sacred Rage with Jennifer Mullan
​​
*CURRENTLY in Training with Thomas Hubhl, "The Ancestral Healing Code". Maria has been working within her journey with healing intergenerational trauma in her system for the past 5-7 years , without a particular theoretical framework. She reached a point where this was led by spirit as the next step in her evolution. She continues to unfold in the mystery and potency of her ancestors' gifts and legacies of purpose. She currently undertakes further training to solidify her direct embodied experience with a framework and loyal to her integrity.
​​
Over the years, I have never ceased to seek, to grow. Ultimately, all we need to know has always been here, available to us in any given moment. Maria's work is anchored in the deep Universal Heart, which some contemplative traditions might call our Buddha nature, or in IFS Self energy. Anchored in Presence, we cultivate depths and find the courage to meet life's challenges with Grace. Ill meet you , here.
​​​
" You do not have to be good .You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. "
​
Presence-centered inquiry
"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep. ( Rumi )".
This is such a potent saying. Life is full of wonder and joy, and sometimes we need support by someone who has had the experiential understanding of the path of the mystics.
I stay rooted in my radical belief and trust in your actualising tendency (Carl Rogers ,1963) , and beyond, your sou's wisdom and plan for you. This is your ongoing innate, organic and motivational life force, trying to reach its full expression and potential. I stay rooted in the recognition that your disconnect IS a portal to your inner liberation.
This belief keeps me grounded in the knowing that you are your own healer, guru, teacher, no matter how disconnected you feel from your inner truth. My direct experience is my anchor. I value congruence and deep compassion. My influences and direct experience of the non-dual state means that there is a direct knowing that we are undivided and eternal; and that all suffering arises due to the illusion of separateness. There are a lot of paths in the spiritual community; but you carve your own. Gathering intellectual knowledge will not lead to the awakening to the true nature, but true abidance in the body vessel is what transmits through my work. People report going in really deep states of consciousness -reclaiming parts of themselves. Working together we truly enter the quantum field, according to reports of my clients, most of whom I have not sought feedback from as I for a long time considered it to be infringement of my power.
In my experience , what will support your awakening and your NS to acclimatise into this new way of being/ reality, is your own direct experience and attunement to your inner guru. It's an inside job. This might look like revisiting the question "who am I " or "where does this thought arise in" ; use Byron's Katie's work or looking our direct inner/outer experience with fresh eyes openness and curiosity. Spotting the ways you resist life (reject parts of yourself) becomes a big part of the work. Shadow work IS inevitable and not often explicitly spoken part of the deep awakening of our hearts, .It is mind blowing to recognize how much we do not live life but label, judge, describe life. You are safe with me. Experiencing your struggles can feel emotionally draining, difficult and painful. It is thouh, your initiatory passage and threshold to deeper truths in you. At times it might lead to moments of crisis or long-lasting sense of desolation and hopelessness. Some people go deeply into their spiritual emergence during a process of awakening. We welcome any crisis as a divine invitation. I know it is from direct experience.
My practice is awareness based, rooted in the body. I don't aim to achieve a particular state but rather through a gentle process of deconstruction we work together to recognise the ever presence consciousness that s here and forms all experience. Cultivating deeper layers of awareness helps you to fully understand your inner world, accept it for what is and see that all your suffering is pointing you back to your inner truth, which isn't other than love. Depending where you are on your journey I adjust my pace and congruent non-dual pointers to the unified existence that fits your stage of awareness.
This way of working is not about growing confidence in the conventional sense or becoming a better person, but rather realizing experientially that our true nature has always been free and boundless. This realization can bring forth significant shifts in your experience, behaviour, world view and requires at times a careful and ethical approach.
Suffering and wounding perpetuates itself as there are parts of each individual’s self that have not healed but have remained buried in darkness. I am here to help you develop an anchor in your already innate spacious self;so that sitting with your parts, your feelings, your difficulties and what ever emerges becomes effortless. Insight, Self compassion and an attitude of curiosity are all traits of your natural self ( In IFS S with capital S). I have witnessed that when people begin to love themselves deeper they organically connect to more joy and awe in their lives. It’s a joy and a rare privilege to support you in this journey.
​​
if you feel called in your heart, don't hesitate, get in touch to enquire more about this type of work together .