About me

​My name is Helena Martins dos Santos (she, her). I am a Clinical Psychologist, from Portugal, registered with the Portuguese Psychological Association (OPP ID nº 25432), the American Psychological Association (APA International Membership ID: C2304572390), and EMDR-Portugal (Socia Efectiva nº 559). ​

I graduated in Clinical Psychology in 2005 in Lisbon, studied Gestalt Psychotherapy, and am training in EMDR therapy. Since 2006, I have worked with clinical and community-based mental health and psychosocial services. And, since 2013, led services for communities affected by war and humanitarian emergencies in the Middle East, north and east Africa and Europe. My work included program management, leading diverse teams, capacity building, supervision, as well as promoting staff well-being and mental health. 

​

In the last decade I lived in several places (Egypt, Turkey, Syria, South Sudan, Mozambique, Portugal, Greece, Argentina, etc.), worked with international organizations, and with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, developing cultural competency and capacity to connect with diverse personal paths and stories of migration. I also understand how meaningful and how uniquely challenging it can be to work in humanitarian emergencies and in human rights. This can be especially relevant to understand the experiences and support those who connect with multiple cultures, people with personal and family experiences of migration, as well as human rights workers, and those in humanitarian, development or cooperation contexts.

​

I am interested in the arts and their potential to foster community and promote mental health. I seek to incorporate creative tools in my work with individuals and groups. I have been part of community theatre groups, dance and movement therapy and expressive arts workshops, I am currently training in Therapeutic Playback Theatre. I am also interested in mindfulness meditation.

I draw on my training, experience and creative interests for an integrative, person-centered approach in psychotherapy. ​My work languages are Portuguese, English and Spanish, I also have an advanced level of French. I offer consultations remotely online.