Sadness, low mood and depression can affect your daily life, relationships and overall wellbeing. As an English-speaking therapist in Lisbon, I offer a supportive space to explore your feelings, understand your experiences and work towards feeling better. My approach combines talk therapy and Brainspotting (BSP). In some cases, treatment may also include medication prescribed by a doctor.
I am unable to work with clients experiencing an active suicidal crisis. In an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Hi, I’m Alicja. I’m an English-speaking depression therapist based in central Lisbon, specialising in supporting expats, digital nomads and international residents experiencing depression, low mood, emotional exhaustion and a loss of motivation or connection. I believe that therapy doesn’t have to mean endlessly talking about what feels difficult. By combining person-centred counselling with body-brain approaches like Brainspotting, I offer you a safe and non-judgemental space to understand what you’re experiencing while also working with your nervous system to support meaningful change.
Read more about my background →
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Create a caring, compassionate and non-judgemental space. Creating a caring, compassionate and non-judgemental environment where you can talk openly about your feelings.
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Develop a deeper understanding of your experience. Your therapist strives to be empathically attuned to you. This means holding a “dual attunement” frame, with both relational and neurological attunement present.
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Make space for difficult feelings and negative thoughts. Making space for difficult feelings and negative thoughts with brain-body Brainspotting therapy.
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Develop acceptance and validation of your emotions. Internalising your counsellor’s acceptance of all emotions can free your inner resources tied up in pain and struggle. Receiving acceptance and validation can promote the healing process.
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Develop greater self-attunement. Incongruence is linked to psychological pain. Developing your self-attunement can benefit your overall wellbeing.
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Reduce harsh self-talk and self-criticism. People who experience depression are often critical of themselves and engage in harsh self-talk. Working with your counsellor can help you develop a gentler and more compassionate attitude towards yourself.
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Build resources for coping with difficult feelings. Together with your therapist, you can identify and expand your resources for coping in challenging situations, such as exploring helpful ways to self-regulate your nervous system when you become overwhelmed with difficult feelings.
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Develop acceptance, compassion and nurturing behaviours. Your counsellor can support you by modelling positive regard,, compassion and supportive behaviours.
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Create structure and a regular self-care routine. Your therapy provides structure with weekly sessions, which can help you prioritise your own healing process by creating your own self-care routine.
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Understand depression through psychoeducation. Your therapist can offer psychoeducation to enhance your understanding of depression and to normalise what you're going through.
I aim to respond within 24h, Mon to Fri. For urgent support, find public health helpline numbers here.
Rua Alexandre Herculano 19, 1250-008 Lisboa
Nearest Metro stations: Avenida and Marquês de Pombal.
