As a psychology professional, I am passionate about positively impacting people’s lives. It’s a true privilege to sit down with other human beings, have them share their stories, and provide support along their journey.
The therapeutic relationship is unique. What makes it so special is the lack of judgement, the openness, the respect for each other’s time, the trust we build together, the emotional intimacy and the purpose that unites us.
It’s my job to know your story, understand what you want from therapy, and find, together with you, ways to a more satisfying life. I support my clients’ change and personal growth by increasing their awareness of their thoughts, behaviours, and ways of expressing themselves and relating to others.
I started practising as a psychologist in 2011 during my qualification and training in psychology. I had the opportunity to work in different contexts, which became the foundation of my current practice: a mental health ward, a school, a paediatric hospitalisation unit, and two clinics for individual therapy. Following that, I have built my career by offering psychological support within a clinical setting.
In my first experience, I worked for almost two years in a mental health ward (psychiatric hospital) with permanently hospitalised patients. It was a remarkable experience that prepared me to face any other work environment in psychology. Our objective was to promote some improvement in inmates’ quality of life, even in such a limited context. I learned that human health finds a place when we are accepted and validated to be ourselves genuinely. In my current practice, I see the importance of validating one another and ourselves in all relationships, whether friendship, family or love.
My experience in the paediatric inpatient unit lasted one year. My role was to understand the family context and offer brief psychological support to the child’s companion, usually the mother. There, I developed a systemic look at the family and the mental health of each member, where emotions play an important role. It became evident that the child’s symptoms are often closely related to the family’s relational and emotional issues.
At school, a colleague and I worked in organisational psychology for one academic year. Our objective, together with teachers and coordination, was to identify challenges and promote improvements in the teaching and learning process. Some updates were possible, but significant changes encountered institutional barriers within the municipal education department. This experience required us to be resilient, adapting to whatever was possible, and it was a valuable teamwork experience.
Studying diagnoses and therapeutic approaches, building trust with those seeking help, and generating a positive impact on these people’s lives is the daily routine of a profession that is immensely rewarding for me.
I grew up in Florianópolis, on the south coast of Brazil, until I was 31, when I moved to New Zealand and Australia. I’m open to learning about different cultures, meeting new people, and hearing their stories. I did a year of school exchange in Switzerland, which, combined with travels to other countries, broadened my view of the world and the human condition.
I love being in contact with nature, immersed in beautiful landscapes and adventures, especially when I share these moments with my partner and friends. I have played sports since I was little, and they are an important part of my life. I have done cycling, skateboarding, surfing, hiking, snowboarding, camping, and recently climbing.
I also like to let my body loose and dance freely to good music. I admire artistic expression. I am interested in experiences of human growth, whether simple or elaborate, be it an unexpected and transformative encounter with someone or specific types of group or individual therapy.
