Dr. Andreia Santo, HCPC

Dr Andreia Santo welcomes people who are worried, exhausted or overwhelmed and need a calm, direct space to talk. She presents as a thoughtful clinician who focuses on helping individuals manage stress, anxiety, addiction and grief. She also addresses relationship and intimacy-related issues, sleep and eating difficulties, parenting concerns and problems with self-esteem and anger.

Andreia trained in Portugal and holds HCPC registration. She qualified in 2008 with a degree in Psychology of Education and Rehabilitation, a programme the biography notes is academically equivalent to a British Clinical Psychology doctorate. She completed clinical placements in early intervention services and in the National Health Service, gaining a wide range of practical experience with different age groups.

After moving to the United Kingdom in 2010, she studied family and systemic theory part time at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Much of her post-graduate training focused on cognitive and behavioural approaches, and she has worked extensively in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within the NHS.

Her clinical work draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. In sessions she tends to blend these approaches to match what a person needs in the moment, using practical strategies alongside space to reflect.

Andreia now focuses on independent research into unconditional love while continuing to work remotely and privately. She communicates in English and Portuguese and asks people to check session options and scheduling before booking a placement on her calendar.

How her approaches translate to remote therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being ruled by them, and it supports choosing actions that match personal values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early connection patterns shape current relationships and helps people develop different ways of relating to others and to themselves. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on a warm, non-judgemental relationship where the counsellor listens carefully and follows the person's lead; this can help with self-esteem, grief and rebuilding a sense of self.

Deciding which approach to use is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about needs, goals and preferences and then suggest ways of working together. That choice is collaborative and can change as the work develops.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so please confirm the current options before booking. Many people find online therapy easier to fit around work, childcare or travel because it removes commuting time and can shorten check-ins when needed. Online sessions also make it possible to continue therapy while living abroad or during life changes. Registered or accredited professionals, including counsellors and therapists, can offer remote sessions that mix practical exercises, reflective conversation and short skills coaching to suit everyday life.