Foreign Psychotherapists and Psychologists in Portugal

11/04/2022

We are experienced psychotherapists specialising in trauma and grief work. With the escalating conflict in Ukraine, we feel that it is crucially important to support the people of Ukraine who have been directly exposed to armed conflict and have been displaced from their homes and countries.

We have set up a pilot project, ‘United in Crisis’, which is free of charge initiative which includes a crisis helpline, individual therapy and support groups for individuals and families to guide and assist people in coping with intense feelings of grief and distress.

We believe that with prompt psychotherapeutic interventions, people who are going through the trauma of war will feel less traumatised and are less likely to develop symptoms of PTSD.

We are currently recruiting members for our weekly Family Support Group, which will run for approximately 8-10 weeks.

The aim of the group is to offer psycho-education and psychosocial support to children, adolescents and families through a range of therapeutic interventions.

Participation in our initiative is free of charge and our colleagues, who are all part of the international community of psychotherapists based in Portugal, work entirely on a voluntary basis. We currently have a team of 12 therapists from different countries.

If you want to join our initiative or know someone who could benefit from participating in our family group, please get in touch with us.

11/04/2022

Шановні пані та панове,
Сподіваємося, що ви добре влаштувалися в Португалії і відчуваєте себе в безпеці.

Ми досвідчені психотерапевти, з великим досвідом роботи з людьми які пережили неймовірні втрати та горе, а також з людьми які мають наслідки ПТСР (Посттравматичного Стресового Розладу).

Ми створили пілотний проєкт «Об’єднані в кризі».

Це безкоштовна ініціатива, яка охоплює індивідуальну терапію та групи підтримки для окремих осіб і сімей, щоб допомогти та підтримати людей впоратися з сильними почуттями страждання та втрати.

Ми віримо, що завдяки своєчасному психотерапевтичному втручанню люди, які постраждали від травми війни, не тільки зможуть налагодити свое подальше життя в новій крайні але й зменшити ризикі розвитку симптомів ПТСР (Посттравматичного Стресового Розладу).

Що ми зараз робимо:
1. Зараз ми запрошуємо людей, які пережили жах війни в Україні, до нашої щотижневої групи підтримки, яка триватиме приблизно 8-10 тижнів.
2. Крім того, в недалекому майбутньому ми будемо ініціювати групу підтримки сімей, яка має на меті запропонувати психопедагогічну та психосоціальну підтримку дітям, підліткам та сім’ям за допомогою комплексу терапевтичних заходів. Будемо вдячні якщо ви будете поширювати цю информацию серед матерів з дітьми.

Участь у нашій ініціативі безкоштовна, а наші колеги, які є частиною міжнародної спільноти психотерапевтів, що базується в Португалії, працюють повністю на громадських засадах. На даний момент у нас працює команда з 12 терапевтів з різних країн, які мають різний досвід та знання кількох мов, таких як українська, російська, польська, німецька та англійська.

Ми будемо дуже вдячні, якщо ви зможете допомогти нам у цьому питанні та підтримати нашу ініціативу, розповсюдивши в українській громаді цифрові листівки, додані нижче.

Якщо вам потрібна додаткова інформація, будь ласка звертатися до нас.

14/03/2022

Шановні друзі !

Як частина міжнародної спільноти психотерапевтів у Португалії, ми запустили пілотний проект для підтримки всіх постраждалих від війни в Україні. Ми починаємо з Групи підтримки для всіх українців, які проживають у Португалії. Група прагне емоційно підтримати тих, хто переживає або боїться за благополуччя своїх рідних і близьких в Україні чи Росії. Група збиратиметься раз на тиждень, протягом 8 тижнів. Ми плануємо розширити цей проект і відкрити його для широкої спільноти. Метою є також відкрити ці групи для російської громади та тих, хто безпосередньо зазнає збройного конфлікту, які були переміщені зі своїх домівок і країн. Ми також будемо керувати групами для сімей та дітей, а також пропонувати індивідуальну психотерапію. Участь у наших ініціативах безкоштовна, а наші колеги працюють цілком добровільно. Зараз у нас 12 терапевтів з різних країн. Завдяки невідкладній психотерапевтичній підтримці люди, які переживають травму війни, будуть відчувати себе менш травмованими, а також менш схильні до розвитку посттравматичного стресового розладу. Тому ми були б дуже вдячні, якби ви підтримали нашу ініціативу, поширюючи інформацію та розповсюджуючи наші листівки. Якщо ви є або знаєте когось, хто хотів би приєднатися до нашої групи підтримки, зв’яжіться з нами за допомогою:
contact@katarzynaakhtarpsychotherapy.com / info@yourpsychotherapistinportugal.com.

12/03/2022

"Our children are constantly absorbing things they read, see and hear, and it's completely natural for them to be picking up on the situation in Ukraine and feeling anxious and also asking questions about what is going on." — Professor Vivian Hill

How to support children and help them manage anxiety over war, conflict, and crises?

Although, we are in a very hard and challenging situation. There is some advice to help your kid absorb and adjust to the situation correctly. Below, you can find bits of advice based on the Professor Vivian Hill of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology:

Give them the basics and don't avoid the conversation – Listen to their worries, provide honest answers to their questions about what is going on, and make sure you are using words at an age-appropriate level. Don't avoid answering their questions about the situation because it could make them more anxious – keep to basic facts. And remember, it is ok to say that you don't know.

Ensure they feel supported and safe – It's essential to help children understand the threat level to them and their friends and family. Explain this is happening in Ukraine, a different country, and show this if necessary using a globe or map. Young children may need your help to find the words to express what they are feeling. Offer them words to choose from by telling them it's normal to feel sad, upset, or confused. Older children and adolescents might find it easier to talk about what others think – use it to articulate how others might feel at that moment and how to understand it. Answer their questions with calm, age-appropriate responses and don't belittle their emotions.

Manage your feelings – Remember: Who saves the saviour. To make sure your children feel safe, deal with your feelings of stress and distress first. Your children will be sensitive to your reactions.

Explain to your children that bad things can happen in the world – Tell them that there is always some way to help. Together with your children, plan how you might deal with this situation. That can be simple but meaningful, like fundraising or other actions to support the Ukrainian community.

Watch where they are getting their news – There is a lot of fake news around; that is why it is crucial to make sure that they understand that not everything they see on social media sites is accurate. They should know how to access reliable news. Also, limit exposure to the Media, as children will be absorbing news without us realizing it.

Seek advice and support if you are concerned about your child – School staff and educational psychologists can offer specific advice and support if you feel that your child is becoming overly anxious and distressed. Providing support and reassurance and diverting their thoughts through engagement in pleasurable activities can help.

Get back to old routines – As soon as reasonably possible, try to follow old habits because they provide comfort and a familiar structure to children's daily lives. Do not cancel celebrations like a birthday or after-school activities that they enjoy. Follow as regular a schedule as possible. Even at a shelter, you can still maintain some family rituals, like singing the same songs or reciting the same stories before bedtime.

Let your kid stay a kid! They might feel overwhelmed or simply don't want to talk about it anymore. It is OK to let them ride a bike or play football.

03/03/2022

Dear International Community in Portugal,

with the escalating conflict in Ukraine, we feel that it is crucially important to support the people of Ukraine residing in Portugal by managing anxiety and stress due to this war and crisis.
We are currently setting up a free of charge helpline and support groups to guide and assist people in coping with intense feelings of grief and distress. In the near future, we will be also offering free of charge psychotherapies for those who would need long-term support.

We will be offering the sessions (psychotherapy and helpline) in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Portuguese and English.

If you are someone or know of persons who could benefit from our service, then please get in touch now.

Either per email: info@yourpsychotherapistinportugal.com or via WhatsApp (below).

10/11/2021

“I feel a need to be alone this Christmas”, Tom said. “It’s family time, I know, time to be with loved ones. I’d like to be with others but feel a need to be with myself.”

Beautiful video based on a book by Michael Eigen. For everyone who feels loneliness and wonders about it. So true for everyone who lives in a foreign country. Ahead of the Christmas season.

Epsita Sandhu from Shades of Becoming: A Space for Psychoanalysis reads from Michael Eigen book titled "Image, Sense, Infinities & Everyday Life". Epsita is ...

29/10/2021

15/10/2021

Today, about systemic psychotherapy.

Systemic therapy is a psychotherapeutic treatment that is focused on our interaction and relation with other people. It doesn’t view a person as an island in isolation, but rather as part of a system. The assumption of this therapy is that the emotional problems of an individual can stem from the challenges that are in their relationships with other people within and outside the family system. It is systematic because it deals with multiple elements that are acting on each other.
The most common type of systemic psychotherapy is family therapy. Systemic therapy doesn’t focus on problems located in individuals but rather in the system, the problem is located within a system and is affecting the elements within the system.

During a family session with the systemic therapist, the therapist may focus on asking each of the family members what their worries are instead of asking them to state their problems. This method is beneficial in preventing the possibility of scapegoating. Understanding the emotional aspect (e.g. worry) can lead to better understanding of the challenges that are faced in the system and the dynamics that are affected.

Systemic therapy can be beneficial for:
- Any group that has recognised a dysfunction or some type of challenge within their system (a family, friends or even colleagues).
- Families who have children with behavioural issues
Individuals struggling to relate with others.

If you're searching for a systemic psychotherapist in Portugal, please let us know. We can connect you with the right specialist.

29/09/2021

Today, about Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is also known as CBT, is a talking treatment approach focusing on changing the thought patterns by assisting the client in identifying patterns of negative and unhealthy thoughts and behaviours. This is done by examining the ways in which your thoughts influence your emotions as well as actions. Noticing these patterns can help you as a client to learn how to manage, regulate and reframe your thoughts for your overall benefit through positive thought processing. CBT is most popular for its use in treating anxiety.

Some of the most common techniques of CBT are:
- Cognitive restructuring: Identifying automatic self-limiting or debilitating thoughts and assessing them objectively instead of accepting them as the truth.
- Journaling: Writing down daily negative beliefs you experience and the positive ones that you can use to replace them
- SMART: This involves setting goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-limited.

Although the approach might seem straightforward and tempting to do by yourself, it is essential that it be conducted with an experienced Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and not applied as a self-help tool. An experienced Cognitive Behavioural Therapist can provide you with the guidance, assessment and assistance you require throughout the sessions. During CBT your therapist will provide you with homework assignments to assist you in learning and developing the skills necessary to achieve the therapeutic goals. The duration of CBT can vary from about 10-13 weeks, depending on your needs as a client.

If you are searching for a psychotherapist in Portugal, let us know. We can connect you with the right psychotherapist here.

27/08/2021

Psychoanalytic therapy is the application of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytical school is the oldest psychotherapeutic approach and popular in Portugal and Brasil. The therapists practising it are mostly trained in the modern psychoanalyse.

A psychological theory and therapeutic approach aimed at treating mental problems by looking into the interaction of the conscious and unconscious parts in the mind and bringing repressed fears and conflicts into the consciousness. This long term based therapy is highly beneficial because by examining the fundamental reasons of your mental health problems, it is able to produce long-term results.

Psychoanalysts undergo extensive postgraduate training and are part of a psychoanalytic association. There are currently no laws that govern psychotherapy or the activities of psychotherapists in Portugal but there are, however, organizations that offer specialist psychotherapy training such as the Associação Portuguesa de Psicanálise e Psicoterapia Psicanalítica.

The conditions that can benefit from psychoanalysis are, amongst many:
- Anxiety
- Depression Identity problems
- Phobias
- Relationship factors
- Self-destructive behaviours
- Sexual problems
- Trauma or emotional challenges
The therapy sessions can be between one to four times a week, with the duration ranging from 45min to 60 min. The once a week sessions will be focused on daily activities and daily challenges. Whereas having two to four sessions will allow the therapist to go more in-depth regarding your concerns. You have the option of choosing between a psychotherapist who provides sessions face to face or online.

If you are looking for a psychotherapist in Portugal please feel free to contact us and we will try to connect you with a specialist in your area.

20/08/2021

A lot of psychotherapists in Portugal work with an integrative approach.

Integrative therapy is a comprehensive progressive therapy combining complementary treatments to meet the client’s needs. It is flexible and can compensate for the limitations of other treatment methods by allowing the therapist to treat different aspects of the client.
Integrative therapists may use different counselling techniques from schools, e.g. psychodynamic, existential, human-centred or even cognitive behavioural therapy. She will look at the needs of individual clients and decide which approach is adequate in this particular moment of the treatment.
Think of it in terms of shopping for an outfit versus having a tailored outfit. By now, depending on your country of origin, you may have noticed the differences in clothing sizes in Portugal compared to those of your home country.
Although the stores may provide clothing in your size, you might not always find the perfect fit. Having a tailored outfit provides a better possibility for customising the garment and altering it according to all body types.
Another advantage of integrative therapy is that it is not always long term. It can also be short term, depending on your needs. So no, you don’t always have to wait long to receive your tailor-made outfit.
The significant benefit of integrative therapy is that the therapist works with the client to increase self-awareness. Her aim is to mix different aspects (psychological, physical, emotional, spiritual belief and social needs) to ensure that the client becomes a wholly integrated person.

If you are looking for a psychotherapist in Portugal please feel free to contact us and we will try to connect you with a specialist in your area.