My approach to therapy is integrative, combining person-centred counselling with Brainspotting, a brain-body psychotherapy approach. I believe you are the expert on yourself. My role is to offer a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can explore your experiences, develop greater self-awareness and find your own way forward.
I aim to create a therapeutic relationship built on empathy, acceptance, trust and respect. You can bring whatever you are experiencing to our sessions, whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief, low self-esteem or difficulties in your relationships. You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin, and you can choose how much or how little you want to share.
I work collaboratively with you, following your needs, pace and preferences rather than imposing a predetermined approach. I don't see my role as telling you what to do or giving you ready-made solutions. Instead, I help you explore your feelings, recognise your needs and access your own inner resources. Some people find it helpful to talk things through, while others prefer more time to focus on their internal experience. Both are welcome.
Alongside person-centred counselling, I use Brainspotting (BSP), a brain-based psychotherapy approach that can help you explore and process difficult emotions, memories and bodily experiences. Sometimes, talking alone may not feel sufficient to reach what you are experiencing. Brainspotting offers another way of working with these experiences, without requiring you to put everything into words.
An important part of my work is what is known as dual attunement. This means paying attention both to our therapeutic relationship and to your internal experience, including your emotional and bodily responses. I aim to stay attuned to you as we work together, offering support while allowing space for your own process to unfold.
There is no single way to experience therapy, and every person's process is different. You may want to talk throughout a session, or you may prefer periods of quiet reflection with occasional check-ins from me. You don't need to perform, find the right words or worry about whether you are doing therapy correctly. We can adjust our way of working together as your needs become clearer.
Therapy can help you recognise patterns, understand your emotional responses, develop greater self-compassion and discover new ways of coping with challenging situations. My aim is to support you in becoming more attuned to yourself, strengthening your inner resources and finding a way forward that feels more authentic and meaningful to you.Therapy is a collaborative process, and your feedback matters. You are always welcome to tell me how you experience our sessions and what feels helpful or unhelpful, so that we can adapt our work together.
There are a few things you can do to make sure you get the most out of your counselling, here is what I recommend to new clients:
# 1 Be clear about what you want to achieve. Having specific realistic goals and achieving them is empowering.
# 2 Be as open as you can with your counsellor. I am not there to judge you and I want to help.
# 3 Tell me how you find your therapy. This helps me adapt our sessions to make your therapy as effective as possible.
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. You can find more information about therapy, how it work and what to expect on the BACP website on https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/what-is-counselling/
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 →
I will aim to respond within 24hrs Monday - Friday. For mental health emergencies please contact your local health centre.
Rua Alexandre Herculano 19, 1250-008 Lisboa
Nearest Metro stations: Avenida and Marquês de Pombal.
