Dr. Andreia Santo, HCPC
Compassionate clinical psychologist focused on connection
- Attachment-focused care
- Evidence-based approaches
- Remote sessions available
About Dr. Andreia Santo
Dr. Andreia Santo is a clinical and counselling psychologist practitioner with a broad and international training background and 16 years of professional experience. She qualified as a psychologist in 2008 after completing a Licenciatura in Psychology of Education and Rehabilitation at the University of the Algarve in Faro, Portugal - a qualification described in her training as academically equivalent to the British Clinical Psychology doctorate. Early in her career she completed a full-time placement at Projecto Integrado de Intervenção Precoçe in Coimbra, delivering psychological assessments and interventions for children and their parents or carers and contributing to projects that promoted social inclusion and emotional health awareness.
Her professional placements also included work in the Portuguese National Health System at the Health Centre of Faro, where she supported all age groups, and a council service placement at Junta de Freguesia da Sé. She undertook postgraduate training in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy accredited by national and European associations, and after relocating to the United Kingdom in 2010 she completed a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma in Family and Systemic Theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Since 2010 she has worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within the NHS before transitioning in June 2024 to focus on independent research into the science of unconditional love and to offer remote clinical work privately. She holds HCPC registration and works with people across a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and family difficulties, grief, parenting challenges, neurodiversity, and issues of intimacy and self-esteem. Dr. Santo combines evidence-based therapies with an emphasis on attachment, compassion, and helping people reconnect with a sense of innate worth and well-being. Her practice is primarily remote and she maintains structured availability, typically not responding on her regular break days.
Her professional placements also included work in the Portuguese National Health System at the Health Centre of Faro, where she supported all age groups, and a council service placement at Junta de Freguesia da Sé. She undertook postgraduate training in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy accredited by national and European associations, and after relocating to the United Kingdom in 2010 she completed a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma in Family and Systemic Theory at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Since 2010 she has worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within the NHS before transitioning in June 2024 to focus on independent research into the science of unconditional love and to offer remote clinical work privately. She holds HCPC registration and works with people across a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and family difficulties, grief, parenting challenges, neurodiversity, and issues of intimacy and self-esteem. Dr. Santo combines evidence-based therapies with an emphasis on attachment, compassion, and helping people reconnect with a sense of innate worth and well-being. Her practice is primarily remote and she maintains structured availability, typically not responding on her regular break days.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
LGBTTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Existential Therapy Hypnotherapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Systemic Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Dr. Andreia Santo have?
Dr. Andreia Santo has 16 years of professional experience in psychological practice and clinical work.
Is Dr. Andreia Santo a registered therapist?
Yes. Dr. Andreia Santo holds HCPC registration. HCPC refers to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom.
In which languages does Dr. Andreia Santo provide therapy?
Dr. Andreia Santo provides therapy in English and Portuguese.
Where is Dr. Andreia Santo located?
Dr. Andreia Santo is based in the United Kingdom.
How can I work with Dr. Andreia Santo as my therapist?
You can work with Dr. Andreia Santo through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Dr. Andreia Santo work with international clients?
Yes, Dr. Andreia Santo works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Dr. Andreia Santo cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Dr. Santo uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns; CBT is practical and often effective for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports people to clarify personal values and build psychological flexibility by learning to accept difficult experiences while committing to meaningful action - it can be helpful for chronic worry, avoidance, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relational patterns shape current relationships and emotional responses, and can be especially useful for people working with abandonment, attachment issues, family dynamics, and relationship concerns.
Finding the right therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Santo works with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences and may blend elements from different approaches to best support progress.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone appointments, live chat, or ongoing text-based messaging to suit different lifestyles, time zones, and accessibility needs. Working remotely makes it easier to maintain continuity of care during life changes and to access registered professionals and therapists without travel, while preserving the therapeutic focus on growth and coping.