Vassia Sar

14/04/2026

How certain do you need to be to step into a new territory?

I didn’t feel ready at all.

And yet, I did it.

Last Saturday, I stood on the TEDxTheHague stage… not to perform,

but to tell the truth about something we all try to avoid:

.

You know...

The one where you don’t know what you’re doing.

The one where your career plans fall apart and you need to start over.

The one where your once "soulmate" is the person you don't recognise anymore and now you have to go your own way.

The one where you realise…

you don’t have your ducks in a row - and maybe you never will.

Many of my clients -individuals working in corporate but also entrepreneurs and therapists in private practice- come to see me exactly at this point of uncertainty,

with a certain (pun intended) conviction that everyone else is living a life of utter certainty and predictability.

The lies that our minds tell us through comparison...

Why did I want to share THAT story…

Because I deeply believe that uncertainty is not the obstacle to a meaningful life.

It is the path.

It’s where we stretch.

It’s where we meet parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed.

It’s where bravery is born the day you are making this powerful but quiet decision:

👉 “I will move forward, even if I don’t know how this ends.”

And maybe this is the shift we need:

Not to eliminate uncertainty.

But to build a life where we can feel safe within it.

Grateful to have shared this space with

Sarah Al-Luqman,

Angeline Goh,

Hang Chen,

Victoria Karo,

and Sumru İnal 🤍

And a big thank you to the people who made this happen behind the scenes:

Kimberly N.

Cansu Akman,

and Tennyson Wu

And of course, Barbara Rogoski, who helped me in every step before going up on this stage last Saturday 🙏🏻

What if your life doesn’t need more certainty…

but more trust in yourself? 💡

With bravery AND uncertainty,

Vassia Sarantopoulou

Head Psychologist - Founder of AntiLoneliness and The Therapy Business Circle | Business Mentor for Private Practitioners | Specialised in Recovering from & Healing the Wound

24/03/2026

There was a time in my life where, honestly… everything looked right.
I was achieving, growing, moving forward.

And if you had asked me back then, I would have probably said I was doing well.
But I wasn’t really asking myself a simple question:
"Is this still meaningful to me?"

—

Looking back now, I can see it more clearly.
A lot of my decisions made sense.
They looked good.
They were the "right" choices.
But little by little, they were leaving me feeling more anxious… more tired… and quite disconnected from myself.

—

And now that I’m in a different place, I can feel how different life is.
It’s not that everything is perfect.

But it feels calmer.
More present.
More mine.

And sometimes, I do catch myself looking back at those years…
so full of , but not much -
and thinking,
"I wish I had seen it earlier".

—

This is something I now see so often in my work.
People who are capable, caring, doing well…
but not really feeling their lives.
Because achievement and meaning are not the same thing.

—

That’s why I’m hosting this free webinar:

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹
📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟱, 𝟭𝟲.𝟯𝟬-𝟭𝟴.𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗧
⏰ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

—

If this feels familiar, you’re very welcome to join:
👉 sign up via the link in bio

With warmth and courage,
Vassia Sarantopoulou
Head Psychologist - Founder of AntiLoneliness and
Specialised in Recovering from hashtag & Healing the hashtag Wound

[Photo credits to the wonderful ]

23/03/2026

Lately, I’ve been talking to many people who feel disconnected, drained, or empty - even though life looks “good” on paper.

So I created a free webinar about this.

Hi, I am Vassia Sarantopoulou, licensed psychologist, specialised in Burnout and Perfectionism Anxiety, and I'd love to invite you to this webinar where we will explore the connection between our nervous system and our addiction to achievement.

If you’ve ever felt like something is missing despite achieving a lot, you’re very welcome to join:

👉

Discover why success doesn’t always feel fulfilling. Learn the nervous system patterns behind high achievers’ restlessness in this free psychology webinar.

19/03/2026

I’ve been receiving many messages lately from people saying something similar:

"I thought I would feel happy with what I’ve achieved… but I don’t."

On paper, their life looks good.

They’ve built careers.

They’ve created stability.

They’ve done what they were supposed to do.

And yet, there is this quiet feeling of disconnection.

A sense that something is missing.

A kind of emptiness they didn’t expect.

And often followed by confusion:

“Why do I feel this way when everything is going well?”

If you’ve ever experienced this, you’re not alone.

Many capable and caring people find themselves in this place at some point.

Not because they’ve failed.

But because achievement and meaning are not the same thing.

—

This is exactly what I’ll be talking about in a FREE live WEBINAR:

📢 "When Success Never Feels Like Enough

The nervous system explanation behind the restlessness many driven and caring people feel"

In this session, I’ll share:

• why achieving more doesn’t always bring fulfillment

• the pattern behind the constant “next goal” feeling

• how the nervous system learns to rely on achievement

• how to start reconnecting with meaning

📅 March 25th - 16.30-18.00 CET

⏰ Live online

—

If part of you recognizes this…

if you’ve ever thought “this shouldn’t feel this way”…

you are very welcome to join.

👉https://vassiasar.kit.com/meaning

See you next week at the webinar.

With warmth and courage,

Head Psychologist - Founder of AntiLoneliness and The Therapy Business Circle

Specialised in Recovering from & Healing the Wound

18/03/2026

Why High Achievers Often Feel Empty After Success

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13/03/2026

One of the first things we learn when we start building healthy relationships is that boundaries don't need to have a negative connotation.

‘Boundaries are a fundamental pillar of balanced and long-lasting relationships, as they protect our emotional, physical and intellectual well-being.

Remember: you can set boundaries and still be kind.

One doesn't cancel the other.

11/03/2026

Many high achievers spend years working toward goals that promise satisfaction.

A promotion.
A successful business.
Recognition for their work.
Financial security.

From the outside, everything looks successful.
And yet, at some point, a quiet realization appears:
“𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱?”

This is the moment when you realise that:
The excitement fades quickly.
The satisfaction never lasts.
And the mind immediately moves to the next goal.

Not because high achievers are greedy or ungrateful.
But because they may be caught in something psychologists often observe:
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽.

In this Intagram Live, we will explore:
• why success sometimes stops feeling fulfilling
• why high achievers keep chasing the next milestone
• how the nervous system can turn achievement into a survival strategy
• what it takes to reconnect with meaning and genuine satisfaction

If you have ever wondered why success sometimes feels strangely unsatisfying, this conversation might resonate more than you expect.

With bravery and vulnerability,
Vassia Sarantopoulou
Head Psychologist - Founder of
AntiLoneliness and The Therapy Business Circle
Specialised in Recovering from Burnout & Healing the Wound

10/03/2026

Burnout rarely comes out of nowhere.
It creeps in.
Quietly.

And one of the earliest signs is also one of the most confusing ones:
You stop enjoying what you used to love.

That was my first wake-up call.
I used to love my work. And then one day I woke up and I did not want to open my laptop.
I remember thinking, this is not me. Something is happening here.
If you catch burnout early, you can stop it before it takes over your life.

Here are 7 red flags I see most often in high achievers:

1. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲
You sleep, but you still wake up exhausted. Rest does not touch it.

2. 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Tasks take longer. Focus is harder. The quality of your work changes.

3. 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲
Even small decisions feel heavy. “What am I going to have for dinner?” feels like too much.

4. 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
You feel detached. Work does not fulfil you. Joy feels muted.

5. 𝗖𝘆𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆
“What’s the point?” Things that used to excite you now feel like a chore.

6. 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀
Headaches, digestive issues, back pain, tinnitus, unexplained symptoms that keep showing up.

7. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴
From responsibilities and from people. Irritability increases. You cancel plans. You procrastinate.

One important reminder:
Stress can be temporary.
Burnout is when stress becomes chronic, one stressor after another, without recovery.
If you notice these signs, don’t panic.
This is reversible. Your brain can recover. Neuroplasticity is real.

Start here:
- Set boundaries with what drains you
- Give yourself permission to rest (not just more sleep)
- Seek support, do not carry this alone

If any of these signs feel familiar, which one shows up most for you?

➡️ Does this resonate? Download my free guide with the hidden burnout symptoms here: https://vassiasar.kit.com/burnout-symptoms

With bravery and vulnerability,
Vassia Sarantopoulou
Head Psychologist - Founder of AntiLoneliness and
Specialised in Recovering from Burnout & Healing the

04/03/2026

How to overcome the need to please and the fear of not being loved if we don't constantly please?

1️⃣ Notice negative projections and assumptions you make about other people ("they will get upset") and challenge them.
2️⃣ Repeat many times until it sticks with you that it's impossible to be liked by everyone and that is ok. That means you are authentic and true to yourself.
3️⃣ You don't need to change "yes" to "no". Say "yes", "no", "I'll think about it", whatever you want, but mean it.
4️⃣ Find the source of this fear - therapy, self-help books, courses, they all help a ton. And when you find it, the fear will start to dissipate.
5️⃣ Find yourself, reconnect with your real needs and real feelings.

Remember: you may overcome people-pleasing, but you will always be this kind and caring person you are now.

You will not change that quality of yours.
Your self-worth is non-negotiable here.
Which tip will you start trying already from today?

27/02/2026

Why is there so much pressure to change at the beginning of the year?

Why is January treated as the "crucial" month for new habits?

What’s wrong with the other eleven months?

Are they somehow unqualified to hold transformation?...

If January is the month of:

-New year, new you

-Bigger goals

-Stricter routines

-More discipline

-Less excuses

Then February quietly becomes the month of:

-Abandoned resolutions

-Dusty vision boards

-Expired gym memberships

-And that old, painful narrative:

"Maybe I’m just not made for more."

And that’s where the real damage happens.

Because it’s not the goals that hurt us.

It’s the pressure.

The self-rejection disguised as ambition.

The belief that who we are right now is not enough.

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Volunteer The Hague and Laura Linga on something we rarely talk about this time of year:

✨ How to find purpose without pressure.

We spoke about:

• Why January can activate and

• How resolutions easily turn into self-criticism

• The difference between growth and self-rejection

• How contribution and can reconnect you with meaning in a lighter, more human way

Purpose is not a punishment for who you were last year.

It’s not a self-improvement competition.

It’s a relationship with yourself.

With your .

With your community.

If January has ever made you feel behind, not enough, or already exhausted…

this conversation is for you.

You don’t need a harsher plan.

You need a kinder direction.

Watch the interview here ⬇️

https://youtu.be/lX5TcWf_4ZQ

And tell me:

Does January energise you… or quietly pressure you?

With warmth and self-compassion,

Vassia Sarantopoulou

Head Psychologist | Specialised in Perfectionism & Burnout | Founder of Ethical Therapy Ecosystem AntiLoneliness & The Therapy Business Circle

25/02/2026

The Daily Practice For Burnout Recovery - And Why It Works

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17/02/2026

You are the strong one.
The capable one.
The one who figures things out.
The one people rely on.

You rarely ask for help.
And when you do, you already have a solution in mind.
You share - but only the polished version.
You struggle - but quietly.

And 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝘆, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹... 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.

Not because you don’t have people around you. But because very few people truly see you.
Perfectionism doesn’t only live in work and achievement.
It also shows up in relationships.

It sounds like:
“If I don’t know, I lose respect.”
“If I’m vulnerable, I look weak.”
“I shouldn’t need support.”

So we stay in control.
We stay competent.
We stay impressive.
And slowly, connection becomes harder to reach.

If this resonates, 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝟭𝟬-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Not dramatic vulnerability. Not oversharing.
𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲.
And it might feel like a soft place to land.

Listen to it here: https://tinyurl.com/strongonefeelslonely

With bravery and vulnerability,
Vassia Sarantopoulou
Head Psychologist - Founder of
AntiLoneliness and
Specialised in Recovering from Burnout & Healing the Wound