Dr. Andreia Santo

Dr. Andreia Santo welcomes parents and carers looking for calm, straightforward psychological support. She speaks English and Portuguese and aims to help people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, low mood and relationship difficulties. Her work also covers trauma, grief, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD and challenges linked to autism and attachment.

Andreia trained in Portugal and qualified as a psychologist in 2008. She completed placements in early intervention services where she assessed and worked with children and their carers. She also worked in NHS settings across age groups and later completed further study in family and systemic theory in London.

Her approach combines practical strategies with a warm, person-focused stance. She uses methods drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to build coping skills and reduce distress. She also draws on attachment-based and client-centred ideas to support relationships and emotional safety in sessions.

Over 16 years she has worked with people on issues including addiction, domestic violence, chronic illness, bereavement, parenting strain and identity concerns. She has experience with complex presentations such as co-morbidity, dissociation and disruptive mood dysregulation concerns.

Andreia balances clinical work with research into unconditional love and continues to develop her own therapeutic ideas. She asks people to check session times and booking arrangements before committing, and notes she usually takes breaks on Sundays and Mondays. She looks to create a respectful, hopeful space where people can talk through what matters most to them.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to values-based actions; it is useful for anxiety, depression and problems that feel stuck. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on relationships and emotional bonds, aiming to improve how people connect and feel understood. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, offering clear techniques for managing worry, low mood and addictive behaviours.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most helpful, and together they will decide which methods to try. This collaborative process means methods can be adapted as therapy progresses.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm the available options before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into busy days and to attend from different locations. Online work can make it simpler to keep regular appointments, use short check-ins when time is limited, or avoid travel between appointments. Registered or accredited professionals often combine practical exercises, homework and skills training in remote sessions to help people practise new ways of coping in everyday life.