As an English-speaking therapist in Lisbon, I offer a supportive space to help you navigate grief, process difficult emotions and adjust to life after a loss.
You may feel sadness, anxiety, anger, guilt or emotional numbness, alongside changes in sleep, appetite, concentration or interest in activities you once enjoyed. Grief is a natural response to loss. However, when grief becomes overwhelming or starts to affect your daily life, talk therapy and Brainspotting (BSP) can offer helpful ways to explore and process painful emotions.
Hi, I’m Alicja. I’m an English-speaking grief and loss therapist based in central Lisbon, supporting expats, digital nomads and international residents through bereavement, loss and the emotional challenges that can come with major life changes. I strongly believe that grief doesn’t need to be rushed, fixed or neatly explained. By combining person-centred counselling with body-brain approaches like Brainspotting, we create a warm and non-judgemental space for you to process loss at your own pace while working gently with your nervous system, emotions and the ways grief can affect your everyday life.
Read more about my background →
01
Create a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space. Creating a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can share your feelings about your loss.
02
Feel heard, understood and acknowledged in your grief. Your counsellor’s empathic understanding and active listening can help you feel heard and have your pain acknowledged. The therapist holds a “dual attunement” frame, providing both relational and neurobiological attunement.
03
Make space for pain and express difficult emotions. Making space for your pain through talk therapy and Brainspotting body-brain approach and allowing you to express it freely.
04
Process painful memories while holding on to what matters. Creating space for re-living memories and - when you are ready - exploring ways to hold on to them as precious gifts rather than a constant source of pain. Brainspotting can be used to help regulate your nervous system and find body resources.
05
Develop self-compassion and a gentler attitude towards yourself. Your therapist offers compassion and unconditional acceptance. Experiencing a genuinely caring and compassionate attitude can help you become more gentle with yourself.
06
Develop greater self-attunement without having to hide your pain. Keeping a brave face while suffering inside can cause additional psychological pain. In therapy, there is no need to uphold any “masks” or present any particular attitudes. Instead, you and your therapist can work together to develop your self-attunement.
07
Develop ways to cope with painful triggers and difficult situations. Together with your counsellor, you can explore ways of coping in difficult situations, such as specific events that trigger painful memories.
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Explore the future and find resources for moving forward. Once you have come to terms with the loss and are prepared to look ahead, your therapist can support you in exploring the future. What does it mean to you? What do you need to cope well with it? What resources within you do you need?
09
Create structure and regular support during the grieving process. Weekly grief counselling provides structure, creating a regular opportunity for a check-in with your therapist and an outlet for your pain.
10
Understand grief through psychoeducation and validation. Your therapist can offer psychoeducation, such as discussing the stages of grief. Education and validation can help you feel reassured that your experience is normal and offer hope of reaching the point of acceptance.
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.
