The Philo4Thought Hellenic Professional Mentoring Initiative presents our January 2015 “Young Professional of the Month” Feature Article! The goal of our publications is to provide positive, successful role models who will inspire the next generation of young professionals. A preliminary criterion for #YPM candidates is their active engagement in an entrepreneurial initiative or career path. Candidates are typically of Hellenic origin and part of a philanthropic, humanitarian or environmentally conscious field. The most essential qualification they have in common, however, is the spirit and compassion to persevere, and the heart to share their knowledge and experience with others.

We interviewed this month’s featured young professional, Olga Gonithellis, at Grand Café in Astoria, NY. We are honored to start the year by sharing her professional journey with you.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE LINK (2015): Creatively Psyched!

FLASH FORWARD (2019): Olga Gonithellis, M.A., Ed.M., is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor trained at Columbia University. Olga moved to the U.S. from Greece to pursue studies in counseling and clinical psychology. In 2018, she founded the psychotherapy group practice Creativity Mental Health Counseling in NYC where she and other clinicians help clients achieve personal, creative and professional fulfillment. Prior to specializing in the mental health of creative populations, she worked closely with chemically dependent individuals, high school students and members of the Hellenic American community in a counseling center in Queens. In addition to her clinical work, Olga is a musician, songwriter and singer as well as the author of the book Counseling for Artists, Performers, and Other Creative Individuals.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Many thanks to Olga Gonithellis for sharing her story with us. Special thanks to the courteous staff at Grand Café for allowing us to conduct the interview at your restaurant.