Dr. Andreia Santo, HCPC
Calm, thoughtful counselling for lasting change
Details
| Name | Dr. Andreia Santo |
|---|---|
| Credentials | HCPC |
| Based in | United Kingdom |
| Registered with | HCPC |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Portuguese |
| Years in practice | 16 |
About Andreia
Dr. Andreia Santo introduces herself as a warm and attentive counsellor who aims to help people feel calmer and more confident. She speaks English and Portuguese and brings 16 years of experience to conversations about stress, anxiety, depression and life changes.
Her style is person-centred and practical, aimed at small, steady shifts rather than quick fixes. She trained in Portugal, completing a Licenciatura in Psychology of Education and Rehabilitation, which is academically equivalent to a British clinical doctorate.
Background and approach
Early in her career she worked in an established early intervention service, carrying out assessments and offering support to children and parents and taking part in projects to promote emotional wellbeing.
After moving to the United Kingdom in 2010, she completed postgraduate study in family and systemic theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and spent many years working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the NHS. That NHS work finished in June 2024 and she now focuses on remote practice and independent research into emotional wellbeing.
Her approach draws on Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-based work alongside cognitive and client-centred methods. Sessions typically involve listening, noticing patterns in people’s stories and trying out different ways to respond to difficult feelings. She aims to help people find clearer values and make changes that fit their real lives.
Outside clinical work she is interested in science, nature, art and travel. She asks clients to note that weekends and some days are set aside for rest, and replies to messages may not always be immediate.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship issues among the things Andreia works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Depression
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Hypnotherapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Andreia among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Andreia directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Andreia directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How her approaches work online
Dr Andreia Santo often blends Narrative Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-based ideas. Narrative Therapy helps people separate themselves from unhelpful stories they repeat, so they can see alternative ways of being. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on values and small actions that move someone toward a life they care about. Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and helps people notice and change those patterns.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. She will discuss options in early sessions and decide with each person which methods fit their needs and goals. The process is collaborative and can change over time as new priorities emerge.
Online sessions can be delivered by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging, offering flexibility for different situations. Video calls are useful for a full conversation and visual cues, phone sessions are handy when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or live chat can support quick check-ins or short reflections between meetings. These options make it easier to fit sessions around work, family and travel while keeping the therapeutic focus.
Common questions about this listing
What issues does this counsellor help with?
She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship stress, addictions, grief and trauma. There are also specialist focus areas such as ADHD, attachment issues and chronic pain.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and person-centred, using Narrative Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy alongside cognitive and attachment-based ideas. Sessions tend to focus on people’s stories and practical steps they can try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 16 years of professional experience, including long-term work in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within the NHS and earlier roles in Portuguese early intervention services.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, HCPC, and practises from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese, and international clients are accepted.
In what formats are sessions delivered?
Therapy is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions run on a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What steps should I take to begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Andreia are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Andreia where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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