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Psychotherapy
A space to understand and explore
People seek psychotherapy for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a particular difficulty they want to address; at other times, there may simply be a sense that something is not working, or a wish to understand themselves and their relationships more deeply.
Psychotherapy can be a space for support in critical moments, as well as a space to slow down and pay attention to what is happening, to explore experiences, emotions, relationships and patterns, and to develop greater awareness and choice. The work is collaborative and develops at a pace and in a direction that makes sense for each person.
How I work
My approach is integrative and person-centred, informed by Gestalt psychotherapy, EMDR, and a psychosocial perspective.
I work collaboratively, adapting the therapeutic process to each person's needs and goals. Depending on what brings you to therapy, we may explore emotions, relationships, bodily experiences, recurring patterns, difficult memories, identity, boundaries, life transitions or questions about meaning and direction.
The therapeutic relationship itself is a critical basis for this work. I aim to offer a space that is respectful, non-judgemental and genuine.
There is no standard therapeutic journey. Some people come to therapy for a specific difficulty and a relatively focused period of work. Others seek longer time support, aiming to explore patterns, relationships or cope with complex challenges over time. The pace and focus of the work are discussed together and can evolve as our work develops.
What might bring you to therapy?
People seek therapy for different reasons. People I work with may be:
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going through a transition, loss, difficult decision or period of uncertainty;
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experiencing anxiety, low mood, overwhelm, struggling with self-criticism or emotional exhaustion;
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trying to make sense of difficult or traumatic experiences and their impact in their life;
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experiencing difficulties in relationships, or wanting to explore patterns, boundaries or intimacy;
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navigating questions of identity, self-esteem or belonging;
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living between cultures, adapting to migration or finding their place in a new context;
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dealing with the particular pressures of humanitarian, human-rights, development or other demanding international work;
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or simply feeling that something needs to change and wanting to make life decisions aligned with their needs and wants.
You do not need to have a diagnosis or a clearly defined problem to begin therapy. We can start with what is happening for you and make sense of it together.
Diverse Identities & Mental Health
Psychological wellbeing is shaped not only by our individual histories, but also by the social, cultural and political contexts in which we live. In my clinical work, I take into account how identity, culture, gender, sexuality, race, class, migration and other aspects of our lives intersect with experiences of belonging, discrimination, privilege and inequality, affecting mental health, relationships and wellbeing. Attending to these dimensions is part of providing ethical and culturally responsive psychological care, consistent with professional ethical principles and human rights.
I approach these aspects of therapy collaboratively: each person is the specialist in their own experience, identity and culture. When these themes arise in therapy, I make space for the person to explore what they mean in their own life, and, where relevant, how they may be affecting their wellbeing and what sources of support and connection may be available to them.
Starting Therapy
I offer individual psychotherapy online for adults and young people, in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
We begin with an initial session to understand what brings you to therapy and to get a sense of how we might work together. From there, we can agree on the practical arrangements and how we will approach the work.
If you would like to arrange an initial session or have a question before getting started, get in touch.
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