Dr. Andreia Santo , HCPC

Dr. Andreia Santo is an experienced psychologist with a broad clinical background and 16 years of professional practice. She qualified as a psychologist in 2008 after completing her training in Portugal in Psychology of Education and Rehabilitation at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of Algarve University in Faro, a qualification the biography notes as academically equivalent to a British Clinical Psychology doctorate. Early in her career she completed a full-time placement at Projecto Integrado de Intervenção Precoçe in Coimbra, providing psychological assessments and interventions for children and their parents or carers while supporting projects that promoted social inclusion and emotional wellbeing.

Her training included further placements in the Portuguese National Health System and in a local council service, and she completed a year of post-graduate training in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy accredited by the Portuguese Association of Behavioural Therapy and the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. After moving to the United Kingdom in 2010, she completed a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma in Family and Systemic Theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and worked in various Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) within the NHS until June 2024.

Dr. Santo holds HCPC registration - the Health and Care Professions Council registration used in the UK for certain health professions - and works mostly remotely, providing services privately and through remote practice. She conducts therapy in English and Portuguese, accepts international clients, and is currently focusing on an independent research project on the subject of Unconditional Love Science while developing an innovative clinical approach. She describes a passion for psychology, science, nature, art, music, travel and culinary pursuits, and emphasizes unconditional self-love as a guiding principle in her work. This service is not for emergencies; she does not normally respond on her usual break days, which are Sunday and Monday, and response times can vary due to a busy schedule. Potential clients are invited to enquire and to schedule according to available times on her calendar.

Integrating therapeutic approaches for flexible online support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify their values and build psychological flexibility by learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that matter to them. It can be useful for stress, anxiety, life transitions and patterns that interfere with meaningful living.

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns of relating and emotional regulation. It supports exploration of closeness, trust and boundaries and can be particularly helpful for relationship difficulties, abandonment or attachment-related concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that identifies and adjusts unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, coping skills and managing specific symptoms.

Finding the right approach is part of the work and is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss a client’s needs, goals and preferences and recommend or adapt methods so the chosen approach fits the person rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and support is also available through live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into daily life, maintain continuity across locations and adapt communication styles to what feels most comfortable for each client, while still working with licensed professionals and therapists to pursue therapeutic goals.