1. Psychodynamic and ISTDP — Understanding the Roots of Your Struggles

For those who feel their current difficulties are rooted in past experiences and childhood patterns that repeat in their adult relationships, the dynamic approach can be deeply insightful. In this approach we make sure you can access, understand and express your feelings and thoughts in a constructive manner.

Why Choose Dynamic Therapy?

• Deeper work: it helps bring unconscious conflicts and defensive mechanisms to light, revealing what truly drives your life decisions.
• Past meets present: a core focus is examining how early attachments influence your current interpersonal relationships and self-esteem.
• Best for: clients dealing with chronic depression, attachment issues, or repeated relational difficulties. It’s a popular therapy choice for expats seeking a deeper sense of self-identity while navigating life abroad.

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

For clients seeking emotional breakthrough, we offer ISTDP. This model accelerates the dynamic process by actively focusing on helping you overcome the unconscious resistance that keeps difficult feelings (like anger, guilt, or grief) repressed. ISTDP aims for significant emotional and relational change in a shorter time frame compared to traditional psychodynamic therapy.

Research on ISTDP: video · more about ISTDP: IEDTA site

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Effective, Practical & Solution-Focused

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is one of the most highly recommended and evidence-based forms of treatment. It’s a short-to-medium-term approach, perfect for clients seeking concrete tools to manage specific symptoms.

Key Benefits

• What it helps with: CBT is often the first-line treatment for individuals dealing with panic attacks, and managing workplace stress or the stress of relocation.
• How it works: it focuses on the link between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You learn to identify and challenge irrational thought patterns and replace them with constructive ones.
• Best for: those who need quick, measurable results and are ready for active homework and skill-building exercises.

More on CBT. Building on these evidence-based skills, some clients also find it helpful to think of emotional wellbeing as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time fix — see our piece on Emotional Fitness training.

3. Humanistic and Existential Therapy — Focusing on the “Here and Now”

This school of thought emphasizes your growth potential, freedom of choice, and authenticity. It’s less about diagnosis and more about the quality of the therapeutic relationship.

Core Approaches Available

• Client-Centered Therapy (Carl Rogers): the focus is entirely on your current experience. The therapist provides unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness, creating the conditions necessary for your natural development and healing.
• Gestalt Therapy: concentrates on “here and now” awareness. It helps integrate fragmented thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. It is often effective in treating burnout and difficulties with emotional expression.

4. Systemic Therapy — Healing Relationships (Couples Therapy Lisbon and Family)

Systemic therapy treats emotional issues not as an individual problem, but as a symptom of dysfunction within a larger system — most often the family or a couple.

Focused on Relational Health

• Interconnectedness: a change in one family member affects the entire group. This therapy identifies and modifies unhelpful communication patterns and rigid roles.
• Best for: couples, family conflict, parenting challenges, or dealing with the impact of significant life transitions on a relationship.

Ready to Start Your Therapy Journey in Lisbon?

Choosing an approach doesn’t have to be a final decision today. The essential first step is the initial consultation. During this session, our English-speaking psychologist/therapist in Lisbon will help you assess your challenges and collaboratively determine the best therapy path for your unique needs. Our therapists are trained in the following approaches: psychodynamic, integrative, ISTDP, body-oriented (somatic) work, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Contact us today to book your first therapy session in Lisbon. We offer appointments both in our central Lisbon office in the Avenidas Novas area and through convenient online therapy, making support accessible wherever you are in Portugal and the world.