Dr. Andreia Santo , HCPC

Dr. Andreia Santo is a clinical psychologist and researcher with a long track record of working across child, adolescent and family services. She qualified as a psychologist in 2008 after completing a Licenciatura in Psychology of Education and Rehabilitation at the University of Algarve in Faro, Portugal, a qualification the biography notes as academically equivalent to a British clinical psychology doctorate. She completed a full-time placement at Projecto Integrado de Intervenção Precoçe in Coimbra, delivering psychological assessment and interventions for children and parents while supporting projects on social inclusion and emotional health.

Her early professional placements included nine months at the Health Centre of Faro within the National Health System and thirteen months in a local council service. Following initial training, she completed a one-year postgraduate programme in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy accredited by the Portuguese Association of Behavioural Therapy and the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. In 2010 she relocated to the United Kingdom and undertook a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma in Family and Systemic Theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr. Santo has worked in various NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) roles in the UK, with NHS employment concluding in June 2024. She is registered with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) and brings 16 years of professional experience to her clinical work. She currently focuses on an independent research project on the subject of Unconditional Love Science and provides remote clinical work, including private practice and remote work for third-party services. Her practice covers a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, eating and sleeping problems, parenting and career issues, ADHD and bipolar conditions, and related areas such as attachment difficulties, codependency and chronic illness.

Dr. Santo describes a commitment to promoting unconditional self-love and to helping people reconnect with a sense of ease and joy. She is passionate about psychology, science, nature, art, travel and food, and continues to develop an innovative clinical approach she hopes to share in different settings. This service is not for emergencies; she usually takes breaks on Sunday and Monday and will reply to messages as soon as possible, though responses may be delayed due to a busy schedule. Appointments are subject to her calendar availability, and prospective clients are invited to make enquiries.

Therapeutic approaches and remote care

Dr. Andreia Santo draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy when working with clients. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most to them and build practical strategies to act in line with their values while learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on the patterns of relating formed in early relationships and supports clients in developing safer, more secure ways of connecting with others. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns with structured techniques to reduce symptoms and build coping skills for issues like anxiety, depression and stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Andreia Santo collaborates with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences, and she adapts the work over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy with Dr. Santo is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and life circumstances. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from various locations, reduce travel time and allow clients to choose the mode of connection that feels most comfortable for them.