Dr. Andreia Santo

• Stress and anxiety
• Trauma and abuse
• ACT and CBT

About Andreia

Dr. Andreia Santo works with stress, anxiety, addiction, relationship and family concerns, depression, trauma and many related issues using a mix of practical psychotherapy approaches. She practises as an HCPC registered practitioner and has 16 years of experience.

Dr Santo trained in Portugal and qualified as a psychologist in 2008. Her initial training included a year-long placement delivering assessments and interventions in an early intervention service, and further placements in NHS and council services working with a wide age range.

She completed a one-year postgraduate programme in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy accredited by national and European associations. After moving to the UK in 2010 she undertook a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma in Family and Systemic Theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

Since 2010 she has worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) within the NHS. Her NHS employment finished in June 2024 and she now focuses on independent research and private practice work. Her stated research interest is Unconditional Love Science.

In sessions she draws on approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and attachment-based work, adapting the methods to the issue being discussed. Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese and she accepts international clients, with practical arrangements confirmed during the booking process.

Therapeutic approaches used in remote counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking practical steps aligned with those values while learning to relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings; it can help with anxiety, stress and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) works on spotting unhelpful thinking and changing behaviours that keep problems going; it is commonly used for anxiety, mood and sleep problems. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and can help with relationship difficulties, abandonment concerns and attachment issues.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The counsellor will discuss the options with the client, consider their goals and preferences, and agree on an approach together. Techniques can be mixed and adapted as the work progresses to fit what is helpful for the person.

Practical benefits of remote counselling include fitting sessions more easily around work or family commitments and avoiding travel time. If you are considering working with her, confirm the exact session arrangements and formats before booking so they match your day-to-day needs.

Topics Andreia lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Addictions
• Relationship issues
• Family conflicts
• Depression
• LGBT
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Intimacy-related issues
• Eating disorders
• Sleeping disorders
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Self-esteem
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Coping with life changes
• Compassion fatigue
• ADHD
• Abandonment
• Attachment issues
• Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Avoidant personality
• Blended family issues
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Co-morbidity
• Codependency
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
• Dissociation
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Emptiness
• Family of origin issues
• Family problems
• Fatherhood issues
• Forgiveness
• Gender dysphoria
• Guilt and shame
• Hoarding
• Immigration issues
• Impulsivity
• Infidelity
• Intellectual disability
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Men's issues
• Midlife crisis
• Money and financial issues
• Mood disorders
• Multicultural concerns
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Paranoia
• Postpartum depression
• Post-traumatic stress
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Prejudice and discrimination
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Self-love
• Sexual assault and abuse
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Somatization
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues

Ways of working

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Existential Therapy
• Hypnotherapy
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Narrative Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Trauma-Focused Therapy
• Systemic Therapy

Questions about Andreia

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed among the main concerns she works with.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She uses approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy and Client-Centred methods.

How much experience does she have?

She has 16 years of professional experience since qualifying in 2008.

Is she registered and where is she based?

She is registered with the HCPC and is based in the United Kingdom.

Can I see her if I live outside the UK?

Yes, she accepts international clients; language support is available in English and Portuguese.

What session formats are available?

Session formats are not specified in the biography; please confirm current session options before booking.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I get started with her counselling?

Select the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.