Zoé Goula-Kraus MSc Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist (AFH)

Zoé Goula-Kraus is an Occupational Therapist specializing in upper limb rehabilitation, with extensive clinical experience in Germany and Greece. She is the owner of the specialized Hand Therapy Center “Das Glückliche Händchen” in Amberg, Bavaria, where she works in close cooperation with orthopedic and hand surgery departments of local hospitals. Her clinical work includes the treatment of fractures, arthritis, Dupuytren’s disease, tendon disorders, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, CRPS, as well as splint fabrication, ergonomics, and functional adaptations for home and workplace environments.

In addition to her private practice, she works at Praxis für Ergotherapie Schinagl & Zinnbauer in Amberg, providing therapeutic interventions for patients with orthopedic conditions of the upper limb. Previously, she worked at Lebenshilfe Amberg, offering pediatric occupational therapy with a focus on ergonomics, splinting, and school-based adaptations. Her clinical background also includes significant experience in child and adolescent psychiatry at Voula General Hospital in Athens and the Child Psychiatry Center of Zakynthos General Hospital, where she participated in diagnostic procedures, psychoeducational therapy, school outreach programs, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Earlier in her career, she collaborated with the Special Primary School for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Athens and with the non-profit organization Klimaka, contributing to therapeutic and psychosocial programs for adults with mental health conditions.

Zoé Goula-Kraus is certified as an Occupational Therapist in both Greece and Germany. Academically, she holds a Diploma Hochschule in Hand Therapy from the Akademie für Handrehabilitation Deutschland (with excellent distinction), a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Macedonia in collaboration with Fachhochschule Heidelberg (also with excellent distinction), and a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the Technological Educational Institute of Athens, where she graduated with top marks. She was awarded first place nationally in the competitive examination of the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) for her postgraduate studies.

Her continuing professional development includes specialization in upper limb therapy, training in sensory integration, extensive coursework in pediatric occupational therapy (ADHD, dyspraxia, autism, intellectual disabilities), participation in the Early Development Symposia of the Hellbrügge Foundation at the Technical University of Munich, and advanced training in the use of creative expression in occupational therapy. She is also a certified Hatha Yoga instructor trained in Athens and Nepal, and has completed Erasmus clinical training at St. Cadoc’s Hospital, NHS Wales.

She is an active member of the German Association of Occupational Therapists (DVE) and has served on the organizing committees of international conferences on Special Education. Her scientific contributions include publications on dyspraxia, early cognitive schemas, and emotional intelligence in university students, presented at national and international conferences.

Zoé Goula-Kraus is fluent in Greek, German, and English, with intermediate proficiency in Spanish. Beyond her clinical and academic work, she is passionate about yoga, long-distance cycling—having completed routes such as Germany to Greece—swimming, and mountaineering, including expeditions in the Himalayas.