Psychotherapy
A space to think about what you live through.
Psychotherapy is a regular meeting, with time and continuity, where you can speak freely about yourself — and gradually come to understand more about what you feel, what you repeat and what you want.
What psychotherapy is
Psychotherapy isn't about receiving advice or ready-made solutions. It's about having a place where your experiences can be listened to carefully and thought about together. Saying something out loud, to someone who follows with interest and without judgement, often makes it possible to see what is hard to reach alone.
Over time, this work can help put words to emotions that felt confusing, understand where certain reactions come from and recognise patterns that repeat. There are no promised outcomes — there is a process, which belongs to each person and unfolds at their own pace.
The relational approach
Relational psychoanalytic psychotherapy starts from a simple idea: we are who we are partly because of the relationships we've lived. How we were cared for, the bonds we've built and those we've lost leave traces in how we feel and relate today.
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History matters
Present difficulties make more sense when seen in the light of the path that led to them — not to find someone to blame, but to understand.
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Relationships repeat
Often without noticing, we find ourselves living out old dynamics in new relationships. Recognising them is the first step towards living them differently.
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The therapeutic relationship is part of the work
What happens between you and the therapist — trust, misunderstandings, what's hard to say — is also something to reflect on. It's a relationship in which something different can be experienced.
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Context counts
We don't live in isolation: family, work, culture and social circumstances are part of who we are, and they are taken into account.
Experiences you might explore
Everyone arrives with their own story. Some of the experiences that often bring people to therapy:
- difficulties in romantic, family or friendship relationships;
- a sense of always repeating the same patterns;
- anxiety, sadness, irritability or an emptiness that's hard to explain;
- low self-esteem or a very demanding relationship with yourself;
- times of loss, grief, separation or change;
- questions about who you are, what you want or where you're heading;
- simply wanting to know yourself better.
You don't need to know exactly what you're looking for. That is often one of the starting points.
Common questions
How do I know if psychotherapy is right for me?
There's no right moment, and no problem has to be "big enough". If you feel that something in your life needs attention, or you'd like to understand yourself better, that can already be a reason for a first conversation. That first contact is also a chance to see whether this space and approach feel right for you.
How long does therapy last?
It varies from person to person. The length isn't set in advance: it depends on what you bring, what you hope for and how the process develops. It's something we think about together.
Is what I say in sessions confidential?
Yes. What you share in sessions is protected by the professional confidentiality that psychologists are bound by, with the exceptions set out in law and in the profession's ethical standards, which we can go through at the start of our work.
Does online therapy work in the same way?
For many people, yes — the quality of the relationship and of the listening can be maintained. Even so, it isn't always the most suitable format, so we'll consider together whether it makes sense for you.
What if I'm in crisis?
Psychotherapy is not an emergency service. If you are in danger or in crisis in Portugal, call 112. Psychological counselling is available through SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24. Outside Portugal, please contact your local emergency services.
Whenever it feels like the right moment, I'm here to talk.
You're welcome to write to me with questions or to enquire about sessions. No commitment, at your own pace.
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