Česky
The Mental Rehabilitation Centre is staffed by a team of experts with many years of experience who are recognized authorities in their fields. Our client programs are tailored to each individual patient, and their therapy is always led by the best specialist available. Treatment is comprehensive; we use state-of-the-art technology and equipment. The needs of our patients always come first. We provide maximum support to our colleagues, patients, and their families when they need us most. Respect and continuous improvement of our services are our top priorities.
We live by the motto: “PEOPLE’S HEALTH. HUMANITY. CARING.” In this way, we help people live their lives to the fullest.
Ing. Sotirios Zavalianis
Owner of AKESO holding a.s.
Sotirios Zavalianis, the 100% owner of AKESO holding a.s., was born in Greece and arrived in what was then Czechoslovakia in 1984 to study at the University of Economics. When he entered the healthcare sector 20 years ago, he was guided solely by his lifelong ideal that he should try to make the world at least a little better. Over time, he found in healthcare a field where it is possible not only to make real improvements but also to provide care for the most precious thing we have as human beings: our health. Sotirios Zavalianis’s dream is to raise the standard of healthcare services so that they serve as a model not only in the Czech Republic but also in Europe. Currently, the AKESO holding company is one of the leading healthcare providers in the Czech Republic.
“We’re pretty good at treating the body, but it’s harder when it comes to the soul. The construction of the Mental Rehabilitation Centre will allow us, in addition to physical care and rehabilitation, to offer psychiatric and psychological care to people struggling with mental health issues, which are rapidly on the rise.”
Prof. MUDr. Ján Praško, CSc.
Director of Research, Development, and Psychotherapy Programs
Ján Praško is a leading Czech psychiatrist and psychotherapist. From 2008 to 2018, he served as head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine of Palacký University in Olomouc and at Olomouc University Hospital. Since 2018, he has been the manager of the Department of Psychotherapy at the Institute for Postgraduate Education in Healthcare in Prague. He is also the president of the Czech Psychotherapeutic Society and a former president of the European Association for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. He conducts systematic training in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and supervision in five European countries. He is the author of more than 650 professional articles and over 80 monographs on psychiatry and psychotherapy.
“I have been dedicated to psychiatry and psychotherapy with curiosity, enthusiasm, and deep reflection for 40 years. I have succeeded in establishing several psychotherapy departments that are sought out by patients from all over the country. Now, together with my colleagues, I would like to build a facility that provides people with a safe environment where they will feel comfortable, and where nothing will stand in the way of their journey toward becoming their best selves.”
MUDr. Martin Hollý, MBA
Deputy Director for Mental Health
Martin Hollý is a prominent Czech sexologist and psychiatrist. He gained clinical experience in the psychiatric department of a hospital in Trenčín, Slovakia, and, since 1996, in Bohnice, Prague. From 2008 to 2022, he served as director of the largest psychiatric institution in Bohnice, Prague. He contributed to the development and implementation of the Strategy for the Reform of Psychiatric Care. From 2013 to 2016, he served as chairman of the Psychiatric Society of the Czech Medical Society of Jan Evangelista Purkyně (ČLS JEP). In addition to organizational work and the implementation of strategic plans, he is engaged in clinical work at an outpatient clinic. In recent years, he has also been employed at the National Institute of Mental Health as a methodologist for an innovative project in the field of sexology.
“I view the Mental Rehabilitation Centre project as an opportunity to draw on my many years of experience in organizing comprehensive services for people with mental illness. I am convinced that together we can create and make available just such a network for the region, while also offering specialized supraregional programs.”
MUDr. Pavel Doubek, Ph.D.
Chief physician of Acute Care
Pavel Doubek is a Czech psychiatrist with many years of experience in the treatment of acute mental illnesses, consultative psychiatry, and chronobiological treatment. He gained clinical experience from 1994 to 2023 at the Department of Psychiatry at the General University Hospital in Prague. Since 2001, he has served as an assistant professor of psychiatry at the First Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Prague, where he focuses on the research and clinical applications of chronobiological treatment, particularly chronobiological phototherapy, in the treatment of mental disorders. He is also the guarantor of pre-certification training for physicians in psychopharmacology at the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague.
“I see the Mental Rehabilitation Centre as an extraordinary opportunity to apply my many years of experience and combine it with new, modern, and unorthodox approaches to develop comprehensive mental health care in a truly unique and innovative environment.”
Prof. MUDr. Jan Polák, Ph.D., MBA
Head physician, Center for Sleep Medicine
In his clinical and research work, Jan Polák focuses primarily on sleep-related breathing disorders (obstructive sleep apnea) in relation to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (diabetes, gestational diabetes, obesity). He has served as the principal investigator on numerous international and domestic grant projects focused on sleep-related issues. He teaches and leads a research group at the Third Faculty of Medicine at Charles University. He regularly presents at national and international conferences.
“Sleep affects nearly every aspect of our lives. At the Mental Rehabilitation Centre, we have the opportunity to view sleep disorders in a broader context and help patients improve not only the quality of their sleep but also their overall health and mental well-being.”
MUDr. Tereza Petrásková, Ph.D.
Head physician of the Department of Diagnostics and Individual Care
Tereza Petrásková is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in adult psychiatry as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. She earned her Ph.D. in Medical Psychology and Psychopathology from Charles University, where she conducted research on cognitive disorganization and insights in schizophrenia. In addition, she has completed several psychotherapy training programs. She has extensive professional experience from various healthcare institutions, including the Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital, Thomayer University Hospital, private outpatient clinics, and others.
“Being part of the Mental Rehabilitation Centre is a wonderful opportunity for me to contribute to a modern and unique project where patients come first. I thoroughly enjoy seeing every day how mental health care can be continuously improved.”
Mgr. Veronika Lechovská
Chief Psychologist
Veronika Lechovská is a clinical psychologist with more than a decade of experience in psychodiagnostics, psychotherapy, and patient care across the entire spectrum of mental illnesses; she is a member of the Czech Association of Clinical Psychologists (AKP ČR). She began her practice in 2012 at the Horní Beřkovice Psychiatric Hospital and soon began working at the Alivio Psychotherapy Center in Prague 6, where she provided both group and individual psychotherapy for over 8 years. Since 2015, she has been working with clients with psychotic disorders at the Ondřejov Day Psychotherapy Sanatorium in Prague. In 2019, she received board certification in Clinical Psychology and continues her professional development through diagnostic courses, specialized seminars, and regular supervision; she has completed training in PITT imaginative trauma therapy under the guidance of PhDr. J. Božuková, and is a candidate for comprehensive training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy (IAPSA).
“The Mental Rehabilitation Centre appealed to me because of its potential to create a completely new, unique approach to psychiatric treatment in the Czech Republic. I view the responsibility of leading a team of psychologists, psychotherapists, and crisis intervention specialists as a challenge, and I approach it with a deep sense of responsibility and humility. I believe that the mental well-being of us, the caregivers, is the foundation of quality care for our clients. When we add a pleasant environment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a respectful workplace culture, we provide our clients with a safe and accepting space. And as D.W. Winnicott said many years ago: “…where there is safety, the true self can emerge.”
Mgr. Renata Heinrichová
Head nurse
Renata Heinrichová works as a head nurse at the Mental Rehabilitation Centre. After graduating from the Secondary School of Nursing in Prague, she continued her studies at the Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, majoring in Health Sciences, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She earned her master’s degree from the First Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in the field of Health Sciences Education. She has completed several courses and training programs across various healthcare topics. She also regularly attends conferences and seminars organized by the Association of Social Service Providers and the Czech Nurses Association. She has worked in several healthcare facilities as a general nurse, ward nurse, and head nurse. She has taught specialized courses at the Faculty of Physical Therapy and the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at Charles University, as well as at other educational institutions.
“I joined the Mental Rehabilitation Centre project because I realize that mental health is just as important as physical health. My mission is to create a safe and supportive space where every patient feels accepted and understood. As the manager of the nursing team, I strive to ensure that CDR healthcare professionals have the latest knowledge and skills in the field of mental health so they can offer our patients the highest level of care. Our shared goal is to help patients feel better and lead fulfilling lives.”
Mgr. Michal Heinzl
Operations and Development Manager
Michal Heinzl implements the strategy and short-term plans of the Mental Rehabilitation Centre. He integrates strategic management with day-to-day operations to ensure that all processes run efficiently. He collaborates with managers on the development of new outpatient services and inpatient program initiatives, and systematically optimizes processes to enhance efficiency and patient satisfaction. Since 2017, he has focused on organizational efficiency (implementing process management and conducting business analyses) and project management. He holds degrees in applied and regional geography from the universities in Liberec and Olomouc.
“The Mental Rehabilitation Centre is still at the beginning of its journey. I believe I can help the wonderful team of staff here implement effective processes and develop new services and programs for patients.”
