Cognitive Behavioural Therapy · Lisbon
CBT Therapist in Lisbon: Andrea Santos Vermelhudo
Andrea is a psychologist specialising in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and integrative therapies. She works with young adults and adults who are dealing with anxiety, depression or personality difficulties, using an evidence-based approach in a safe and welcoming space.
Who Andrea is
Andrea Santos Vermelhudo is a communicative, creative and empathetic psychologist. Her work is grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy and integrative approaches, and she also has training in psychological coaching and crisis intervention.
She has experience working with young adults and adults who are dealing with anxiety disorders, depression and personality disorders. Her goal is to support the growth and empowerment of each person who comes to see her, while keeping to the highest ethical and professional standards.
Credentials
- Full member of the Portuguese Psychologists’ Association (Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses), professional licence no. 19377
- Holder of the European Certificate in Psychology (EuroPsy)
- Specialist training in cognitive behavioural and integrative therapies, psychological coaching and crisis intervention
What is cognitive behavioural therapy?
Cognitive behavioural therapy, usually called CBT, is a structured, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy. It is based on a simple and practical idea: the way we interpret situations, the feelings that follow and the things we do are connected. When one of these parts changes, the others tend to change too. CBT helps people notice these links, test them, and gradually build more useful responses.
CBT was developed in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably through the work of Aaron Beck, and it has since become one of the most thoroughly studied forms of psychotherapy. A large review of meta-analyses found that the strongest evidence for CBT exists for anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, bulimia, anger problems and general stress. A separate review of meta-analyses described the evidence base of CBT as very strong overall, and found that CBT outperformed comparison conditions in a number of trials.
CBT is not a set of tricks to think positively. It asks you to look carefully at what is happening, to name the patterns that keep a problem going, and to try out small changes between sessions. The work is collaborative: you and your therapist agree on what matters most, and you decide together how to move forward.
How CBT understands a problem
Most CBT approaches work with three connected parts of experience. Looking at them separately often makes a difficult situation easier to understand.
Thoughts
The interpretations we make about ourselves, other people and the future. Under pressure these can become automatic, rigid or unhelpfully harsh.
Feelings
Emotions such as anxiety, sadness, anger or shame. They are shaped by our thoughts, and they also shape what we notice and what we do next.
Behaviour
What we avoid, what we do to cope, and how we respond to others. Avoidance in particular can keep anxiety and low mood going for a long time.
A typical example: someone who fears being judged at work might think “if I make a mistake, everyone will see I am not good enough”. This thought brings anxiety, which leads to avoiding speaking up in meetings. The avoidance then seems to confirm the original belief. CBT helps break this cycle by examining the thought, gathering evidence, and trying small steps that test what actually happens.
What Andrea works on
Anxiety
Persistent worry, panic, social anxiety and health-related fears. CBT for anxiety focuses on recognising the thinking patterns that feed the worry, reducing avoidance, and gradually facing situations that have been feared.
Depression and low mood
Low energy, loss of interest, withdrawal and self-critical thinking. CBT for low mood works on the link between activity, mood and thinking, and helps rebuild a daily life that feels meaningful again.
Personality difficulties
Long-standing patterns in how someone relates to themselves and others, for example recurring conflicts, difficulty trusting, or intense emotional reactions. The work is slower and more structured, and it focuses on specific, recognisable patterns and on building new skills.
Life transitions and adjustment
Moving country, changes at work, relationship difficulties and the stress that comes with them. Many of these concerns are common among people living far from home.
What a CBT session looks like
CBT is usually a collaborative and active process. Sessions have a structure, but they are not rigid, and they follow what matters to you.
Assessment
In the first sessions we talk about what brings you in, what you have already tried, and what you would like to be different. Together we agree on a few concrete goals.
Understanding the pattern
We map the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour in the situations that matter to you, and identify the patterns that keep the problem going.
Practice between sessions
Small, planned experiments and exercises help you test new responses in daily life. We review what happened and adjust the plan at the next session.
Most people notice a difference within the first few months of regular work. The number of sessions depends on the goals and on the nature of the difficulty, and it is discussed openly during the assessment.
CBT for expats living in Lisbon
Living abroad brings its own pressures: adjusting to a new language and culture, building a social network from scratch, and managing work or family responsibilities at a distance. CBT is well suited to these situations, because it focuses on practical problems and on the specific thoughts and habits that make adjustment harder.
Andrea works in English and Portuguese. The session format is confirmed when you book, so you can choose what works best for your situation.
When CBT may not be enough
CBT is a strong and well-researched approach, but it is not the right fit for everyone or for every situation. Andrea works integratively, which means she draws on other approaches when they fit better. For some people, a more exploratory or relationship-focused therapy is more helpful, and Andrea can talk this through with you and suggest alternatives.
If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, call the emergency number 112 or go to the nearest emergency department. A therapy session is not the right place to manage an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Is CBT the same as positive thinking?
No. CBT does not ask you to pretend things are fine. It helps you look at the evidence for and against a thought, and to find a more accurate and workable way of seeing a situation.
How long does CBT take?
It depends on the goals and the difficulty. Many people work with a time-limited plan and review progress regularly. The length of therapy is agreed together during the assessment.
Do I need to do homework?
CBT usually includes short practices between sessions. They are designed to fit into daily life, and they are discussed and adjusted with you. You are never expected to do something you are not ready for.
Is CBT only for anxiety and depression?
No. CBT is used for many difficulties, including anxiety, low mood, stress, sleep problems and some personality-related patterns. The best approach is decided in the first sessions.
What language are sessions in?
Andrea works in English and Portuguese.
Ready to take the next step?
If you would like to explore CBT with Andrea, you can book a session through our booking page.
New to CBT and want to read more first? See our article CBT Therapy: What It Is, How It Works, and Who It Helps Most, or meet the rest of our team on the About us page.