Who we are
The Institute for Person-Centred & Experiential Approaches (I.P.E.A.C.) is an educational and scientific organisation based in Cyprus, founded in August 2025 with the aim of developing a comprehensive and internationally connected training framework in Person-Centred and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy.
The Institute was founded and is led by Sofia Papoutsi, a trainer in the Person-Centred and Focusing-Experiential Approach and a Certifying Coordinator of The International Focusing Institute (TIFI). Under her scientific direction, the Institute offers a structured four-year training programme, delivered in person in Cyprus and grounded in established professional and European standards for psychotherapy training.
Our mission is to establish a consistent and rigorous training framework in Person-Centred and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy, integrating theoretical knowledge, clinical practice, supervision, and experiential process. Through this integration, the programme supports both the professional competence and the personal development of trainees.
I.P.E.A.C. is the first initiative of its kind in Cyprus to to offer a complete, certified and professionally structured training pathway in Person-Centred and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy. At the same time, it is envisioned as an emerging hub for education, dialogue, and professional exchange, connecting practitioners and trainees from Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the broader Middle East.
The programme is offered in both Greek and English, fostering a multicultural and inclusive learning environment. Participants from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds come together in a shared process of training and development, contributing to the cultivation of an international space for scientific dialogue, collaboration, and cross-cultural exchange.
Vision & Values
The Institute for Person-Centred & Experiential Approaches is grounded in the theoretical and philosophical tradition of the Person-Centred Approach, as developed by Carl Rogers, as well as in contemporary developments in experiential and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy.
We believe that the training of psychotherapists must integrate scientific knowledge, personal process, and clinical responsibility. Our vision is to cultivate a stable and internationally oriented educational environment in the Eastern Mediterranean, serving as a point of reference for Person-Centred and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy.
Based in Cyprus, we aim to contribute to the development of an educational hub that fosters scientific dialogue, collaboration, and the growth of professional communities grounded in respect, empathy, and academic integrity.