Profile / United Kingdom
Dr. Andreia Santo, HCPC
United Kingdom
HCPC psychologist - anxiety and trauma
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- ACT and DBT skills
- English and Portuguese
About Andreia
Dr. Andreia Santo is a HCPC-registered psychologist with 16 years of experience working across child and adolescent services and other settings in Portugal and the United Kingdom. She helps people who are coping with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, parenting pressures, ADHD and a wide range of related difficulties. Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese and she works with international clients.
Her clinical background began with a psychology degree in Portugal followed by placements in early intervention services and NHS settings. She completed a year of postgraduate study in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy accredited by Portuguese and European associations, and later a part-time diploma in Family and Systemic Theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Dr Santo uses several practical approaches in her work, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centred methods and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. In sessions she focuses on noticing patterns of thought and behaviour, practising new skills, and applying small changes between meetings.
Her experience includes psychological assessment and intervention with children and parents during early placements, and many years employed within UK Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services until June 2024. More recently she has been working remotely and pursuing an independent research project on the science of unconditional love.
She asks clients to check session options before booking and notes that the service is not for emergencies. Messaging response times vary and she normally does not reply on her listed break days. To begin, clients follow the platform steps to match and schedule a first appointment.
How her approaches translate to online work
CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing practical changes in behaviour. It works well for anxiety, low mood, sleep and many day-to-day problems by using structured exercises and short homework tasks.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify values and accept difficult feelings while committing to actions that matter. This approach can help when someone feels stuck or overwhelmed by strong emotions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns formed in relationships and aims to improve how people connect and respond to others, which can be useful for intimacy and relationship-related concerns.
Choosing an approach is collaborative. The therapist will discuss goals, try out relevant techniques, and review what helps most. This makes it easier to adjust methods as work progresses rather than committing to a single model up front.
The profile indicates she works remotely. Please confirm the exact session formats on the platform before booking. Online work can make it simpler to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets people use written exercises and in-session screen sharing or worksheets as part of practical skill-building.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English, Portuguese
Frequently asked questions
Which difficulties does she work with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting pressures and ADHD among other concerns.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses practical, skills-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based and Client-Centred methods.
What is her professional background?
She qualified in Portugal in 2008, completed CBT postgraduate study and a family and systemic diploma in London, and has 16 years of clinical experience in Portugal and the UK.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is registered with HCPC and is based in the United Kingdom.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original profile indicates remote working. Confirm current session options on the platform before booking to be sure which formats she is offering.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.