Despina Varaklas | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Current position (3)

Creator

WWYP Approach for Patient Counseling

Member of the Council

True Health Initiative

Country Representative

ICDA - International Association for Dietetic Associations.

Degrees (2)

Nutrition & Dietetics, Psychology

Arizona State University

1993 to 1996

Psychotherapy / psychology in experimental design.

Gestalt Institute

2009 to 2013

Bio

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Bio #1

Health Educator, Clinical Dietitian, and International Speaker.

Academic Education:

A dual degree (early 90’s):

• Nutrition & Dietetics.

• Psychology.

• Supplementary classes in Religious Studies.

from Arizona State University, one of the three largest nutrition schools in the US.

As she claims, these three domains seem to have completed one another so well for what she was about to do later in her career.

Late 90’s – Clinical training:

Internship - Programmed by the American Academy of Nutrition, took place in the main hospitals in Tucson Arizona, and included training bodies like world renown company Morrison, and top names in the field like authors of books published by the ADA.

1999 - 2009

Worked in diverse settings like with the diabetic Pima Indians, private health centers, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and even prestigious restaurants for the food service domain. She has practiced her profession in several countries; as a dietitian, a health advocate, a nutrition consultant, later as Food Service manager and on to Director of Nutrition at the Athens Medical Group in Athens, Greece.

Also participated in research, publications, and knowledge transfer through the media. Her name is found in respected journals and websites.

2008

Certifies and completes her knowledge and experience as Coach and Health Educator after a three-year training program by a known New York coaching school.

2011 - 2013

Completes a training program from the Gestalt institutes of San Francisco and Paris with the purpose to master Gestalt psychotherapy through experiential interactive methodologies.

Member of Several Associations Worldwide

January of 2005:

5-year term as Honorary Secretary of the Diabetes Education Study Group (DESG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).

In 2016:

• Member of the Executive Committee at the European Federation Of Associations of Dietitians (EFAD). (2016-2018).

• Chair of the Communications Working Group CWG in EFAD for a year. (2017-2018).

• Appointed as Delegate of the Union of Dietitians - Nutritionists of Greece at the International Confederation Of Dietetic Association (ICDA). (2016-current).

In 2018 - current

Member of the council at the THI True Health Initiative - USA.

The WWYP Approach.

Creator of the WWYP approach in Patient Counseling:

Despina's years of diverse and rich experience have led her to gain strong skills in management and leadership. Her real pathos, however, lies in Patient Education and Patient Approach, with a main focus on chronic disease.

In 2009, she put together her own patient approach system, what she calls the "WWYP Approach", OR the "Work With Yourself Work With Your Patient" Approach; its aim: a more Patient-Centered Care, or simply put: better healthcare. More than 5000 people of whom the majority are in healthcare, have been introduced to this approach. Almost 82% of workshop participants claim that they see a difference in their relationship with their patients, while more than 33% of them ask for further training in this approach.

In 2017:

An invitation to submit the WWYP approach as an editorial article in a medical journal.

Editorial published. http://despinavaraklas.com/workshops.html

Speaker.

An International and Inspirational Speaker in demand.

Having been educated and having worked in various countries and continents worldwide, this multilingual dietitian has gained valuable experience in cultural and religious differences as well as inter-cultural relations, all necessary for today's diverse communities which she serves so well.

Her continuous participation in national and international conferences for more than 20 years now, has made her an international and inspirational speaker in demand, earning the title of "best speaker" twice. A 2007 invitation to Egypt has also awarded her the title of “most honorable speaker” at the Suzanne Mubarak Center in Alexandria.

Recognitions

Recognitions 2022:

• A professional PhD granted from the European International University.

• Ranked in the top 100 healthcare specialist for 2020, voted by the IFAH, the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare, USA, for her contributions in the industry.

In 2021

Vice president at FTIEA Fame Times International Excellence Awards Organization. 2021 - 2023.

YouTuber:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvVp6TT5crLkZcTgzc-Cjrg

Presentations

Presentations (2)

Meeting your patient and first assessment.

The revolution and contribution of the WWYP approach in patient counseling.

Meeting our patient for the first time is key and decisive as to the nature of our relationship with that individual. Knowing how to approach the patient, is very important. There are many approaches that have been determined and enforced. The WWYP approach stresses the fact the health professionals need to be trained to be able to reach the level of becoming ready to approach the patient.

Nutrition in modern times. Different cultures, different beliefs, different cuisines.

At the end of the day: What is healthy eating?

We live in a world where food is available in big variety. But there are so many countries and cultures with different histories regarding food, and different perceptions about it. Today travel and transfer is so easy, making introduction to food from other places easily achievable. But have we come down to what is in reality healthy eating? Or how we can use food for disease prevention?