Who I am and how I work
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Hello, I’m Aspa Kandyli, a licensed teacher and independent researcher working at parenting studies, health communication, and cultural adaptation, based in the Netherlands. My work is focused on one central question: How do families actually trust and use health information in a world of digital information and cultural expectations?
My background is in English and Greek pedagogy (University of Athens) and American Studies (Utrecht University), where I spent years studying how cultural narratives and identity actually work. Today, I bring that perspective to health communication.
I’m interested in the stories we inherit about what ‘good’ parenting or ‘proper’ sleep looks like. Often, these cultural expectations don’t match the messy reality of modern, multicultural life. I help both families and professionals bridge that gap, moving past rigid advice toward communication that actually fits their context.
After 15 years in the classroom teaching everyone from toddlers to adults, I shifted my focus to the specific challenges families face today. I work as a consultant specializing in sleep and parenting, but my approach isn’t about “training” babies. It’s about trauma-informed, relationship-based care that looks at child mental health and parental well-being as one connected system.
Beyond my work with families, I train other professionals in digital storytelling and health communication. As the lead instructor in Greek for the International Parenting & Health Institute (IPHI), I’m responsible for culturally adapting the Pregnancy and Child Sleep Consultant Certification to make sure international standards actually work for the Greek community.
My current work is focused on building a research portfolio in science communication and public health. I’m particularly interested in how we can adapt health information to fit the lives of diverse families across Europe.
My degrees, certifications, and teaching experience
- BA, English Language & Literature (Teaching English and Greek as a Foreign Language), National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2007–2011
- MA, American Studies, Utrecht University, 2012–2013 — focused on identity, race, culture, migration, and how narratives shape family life and public health
- Child & Parent Sleep Consultant Certification, International Parenting & Health Institute (IPHI), 2019–2020
- Lifestyle Medicine Advisor, European Lifestyle Medicine Organization (ELMO), 2020
- Attached at the Heart Parent Educator, Attachment Parenting International (API), 2020
- Breastfeeding Educator, IPHI, 2020
- Brain Story Certification, 2021
Teaching & Speaking
Lead instructor, IPHI Greek Sleep Consultant Certification (2025-2026): Translated and Adapted the Greek certification program, teaching cohorts.
European Lifestyle Medicine Organization (2024-2025): Designing and delivering workshops for physicians and health practitioners on strategic communication and health literacy.
- Workshop Lead, A Framework for Lifestyle Medicine Professionals on Social Media, 2-hour workshop at the Lifestyle Medicine Organization Certification, 2025
- Invited Speaker and Workshop Lead, Educate and Engage: Effective Social Media Use in Lifestyle Medicine, Practice Lifestyle Medicine, 2024
- Invited Speaker Promoting health literacy in children and adolescences: How can teachers, school leaders, and educators help, 1st European Lifestyle Medicine Congress, Online, 2020
Adult and Child Teacher Kookoovaja Taalschool (2020-2025): Developing and teaching Greek language programs for children and adults, with a focus on multicultural and bilingual learners.
What Guides My Work
Evidence in Context (Not just Theory)
Child development and health science are only useful if they work in the real world. I translate complex research into practical tools that respect the messy reality of everyday family life.
The Relational Foundation
I prioritize relationship-based care over behavior modification. When children feel safe and understood, cooperation follows. My work focuses on building the emotional security that makes daily transitions and struggles easier to navigate.
Resilience through Adaptability
The early years are about more than just “getting through the day.” I help parents support their child’s neurobiology and emotional adaptability, giving them the tools to face a changing world with confidence.
Future-Minded Parenting
Parenting is a civic act. I help families look beyond today’s challenges to raise children who are socially aware, responsible, and prepared for a complex, global future.
Projects & Collaborations
These projects serve as my “fieldwork”. They are public-facing platforms where I apply health communication and behavioral science to support large-scale communities.
Evidence-Based Weaning Support: A collaborative project with a midwife designed to support Greek-speaking families at the end of their breastfeeding journey.
The Scope: A community of 19,000+ members supported by peer-led education and science-based resources.
My Role: Developing educational materials and facilitating live trainings that bridge clinical knowledge with practical, relational support.
Sustainable Nutrition & Social Science: A collaboration with an environmental health scientist focused on sustainable diets and parenting practices for vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian families.
The Scope: A community of 10,000+ members supported by peer-led education and science-based resources.
My Role: Bridging environmental science and public health with the social sciences to help families navigate lifestyle shifts with confidence.
Work With Me
I look at how education, culture, and health actually affect the way we parent. I take those insights and turn them into practical support for families and targeted training for the professionals who work with them.