Dr. Andreia Santo , HCPC

Dr. Andreia Santo is an HCPC-registered psychologist who brings a broad international training background and practical experience to her therapeutic work. She completed her initial psychology training in Portugal in 2008, achieving a Licenciatura in Psychology of Education and Rehabilitation, and she supplemented that foundation with postgraduate training in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy accredited by the Portuguese and European associations for behavioural and cognitive therapies.

Early in her career she completed a full-time placement at an early intervention service in Coimbra, delivering psychological assessments and interventions for children and their caregivers while contributing to projects promoting social inclusion and emotional health. Additional professional placements included work across age groups within Portugal's National Health Service and in local council services, which helped shape her experience with diverse clinical presentations and community settings.

After moving to the United Kingdom in 2010, she undertook a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma in Family and Systemic Theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London and served in various Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) within the NHS until June 2024. She is now focusing on an independent research project exploring the concept described as Unconditional Love Science while continuing clinical work remotely and in private practice.

Fluent in English and Portuguese, Dr. Santo works with individuals, families, and couples across a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma, addictions, relationship and parenting challenges, mood disorders, and neurodiversity-related issues. She describes her approach as warm, evidence-informed, and committed to helping people reconnect with a sense of dignity, self-compassion, and personal freedom. HCPC indicates registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, the UK regulator for certain health and care professions, reflecting her professional standing in the United Kingdom.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Dr. Andreia Santo integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy into her online practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is focused on helping people notice and accept difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and taking committed steps toward a meaningful life - it can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns formed in close relationships and how early relational experiences shape current emotional responses and connection with others - it is useful for relationship difficulties, abandonment concerns, and attachment issues.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Andreia Santo will work with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences and to adapt methods that fit the client’s situation. She draws on evidence-informed techniques while attending to each person's unique story and relational context.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and many clinicians also provide live chat or text-based messaging when suitable. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family commitments, or living in different locations, while enabling regular therapeutic contact and tailored support.