Online Therapy in English & Portuguese
Internal Family Systems Therapy
for deep, lasting healing of the mind, body and soul
A return to relationship - with yourself, your body, and the source of intelligence that moves through all of it.
Something deeper is at play here.
You’ve probably already noticed this:
- You can understand yourself and still not change.
- You can see the pattern clearly and still repeat it.
- You can want something deeply & still do the opposite.
- You can promise yourself things & break them hours later.
This is not lack of discipline. It’s not because you’re broken. It’s what happens when different parts of you are trying to lead at the same time, pulling in opposite directions.
The Paradigm shift
Most approaches ask:
How do we get rid of this?
Control the anxiety.
Silence the inner critic.
Override the reaction.
But what if that’s not the problem?
What you call anxiety, self-criticism, avoidance, or anger is often coming from parts of you that learned how to protect something vulnerable. They are not random. They are not mistakes. They are responses that once made sense. They are the map of what you had to survive.
IFS asks something different:
What is this part trying to protect?
Not to eliminate it.
Not to fight it. But to understand it.
And when these parts are finally listened to, they no longer need to work so hard to keep you safe.
The anxiety doesn’t grip the same way. The inner pressure softens. Reactions don’t take over as quickly. You don’t have to fight yourself as much just to feel okay.
IFS understands the human psyche as a system made up of different parts.
the mind as a living ecosystem
You don’t have one mind. You have many voices. One that wants rest. One that pushes you forward. One that fears being hurt again. One that tries to keep everything under control. Voices that contradict each other. Pull in different directions. Undo what the others try to build. And yet – all of them are trying, in their own way, to help you. Nothing is wrong. Different parts of you learned to survive in different ways.
Over time, you may begin to recognize these patterns inside you:
Manager Parts
The ones that try to hold everything together. Anticipate problems. Stay in control and make sure nothing falls apart.
Firefighter parts
The ones that take over when it’s too much. When something inside is about to break open. Shut things down. Numb, distract, react anything to stop the overwhelm.
Exiled parts
The ones that carry what was too much to feel. Grief, fear, shame, loneliness. The parts that learned to stay hidden.
Your Self
The “You” that is not overwhelmed. Not reactive. Not trying to fix anything. Just present, clear, and able to lead.
THE HEALING PORTAL
When parts are truly heard, the system begins to reorganize itself around Self-Leadership.
And something remarkable happens: What you thought was the problem reveals itself as protection. The parts you tried to bypass were guarding something essential. You don’t heal by winning against yourself. Healing happens when you stop treating yourself like the enemy.
MANY PEOPLE BEGIN TO NOTICE
- The mind loses its grip
- The body stops bracing
- Reactions slow down
- Something steadier takes the lead
- Creativity returns, not as effort — but as signal
HOW THE WORK HAPPENS
We move slowly. And nothing is forced. We listen. We follow what is already there. There is no need to perform. No need to explain everything perfectly. Sometimes we speak. Sometimes we pause. Sometimes we simply notice what a part of you is trying to show. Over time, something begins to shift: Your inner system experiences something it may not have known before. Rewilding. Reparenting. Rebirth.
the three pillars of my work
Parts Work & Self-Leadership
Internal Family Systems provides a compassionate and structured way of understanding the many voices inside us and restoring inner leadership.
Animism & Relationship with the Living World
Healing does not happen only inside the mind.
It happens through relationship – with body, land, ancestors, and the more-than-human world.
Nature is not scenery.
It is kin.
Cultural Healing & Systemic Awareness
Many wounds are not purely personal.
They arise from cultures shaped by disconnection, oppression, and systems that neglect care.
Healing ourselves is inseparable from participating in the healing of the wider world.
Compassionate Therapy for
OFFERING INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND COUPLES/FAMILY THERAPY
Inner Clarity
The noise begins to make sense. You can hear yourself again — without confusion, without overwhelm.
Self-Trust
Less second-guessing. A steadier sense of what feels true, and the capacity to follow it.
Relational Depth
Less performance, less protection. More honesty, more presence, more real connection.
Emotional Range
The ability to feel without collapsing. To stay with yourself — even in what once felt too much.
WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
Single Session
A space to orient. To bring one situation, one pattern, one question into focus.
88 EUR
Monthly Package
For when you want continuity. A steady space to work with what unfolds in real time.
266 EUR
Intensive Container
6 months of intensive support.
For when something in your life can no longer be ignored. This is where deeper patterns can unfold and shift.
1222 EUR
Couple/Family Therapy
A guided space to listen beneath patterns of conflict or distance. Together we explore what each person is protecting and support more understanding, safety, and connection.
120 EUR
Sliding scale spaces are available when finances are a barrier. Talk to me – no one gets left behind.
frequently asked questions
IFS Therapy
Do I need to know anything about Internal Family Systems before we start?
No. Many people arrive without knowing any IFS. We simply start from where you are.
What happens in a session?
In our sessions we talk, listen, and gently explore your inner experience.
Internal Family Systems understands that we all have different “parts” inside – protective parts, hurt parts, wise parts.
We move slowly and respectfully, helping each part be heard so healing can happen without force.
You don’t need to believe anything.
You don’t need to perform.
We work at your pace.
Is this spiritual therapy?
No belief is required.
Some people connect with nature, ancestors, or transpersonal experiences; others don’t.
We follow what feels true and respectful for you.
Do you work with complex trauma or PTSD?
Yes, gently and at your pace.
IFS is a trauma-informed approach that honours safety and consent.
Do you diagnose or prescribe medication?
No. These sessions are therapeutic and integrative, not medical consultations.
IFS therapy supports many people, but it may not be appropriate during severe psychiatric crises that strongly affect perception of reality. In those situations, urgent medical care is the safest first step.
If medical support is needed at any point, I will suggest consulting a healthcare professional in your area.
Do you work with activists or people carrying collective grief?
Yes. Many people come feeling affected by the wider world. That is welcome here.I offer space for grief that is personal or collective, always with care for your capacity and wellbeing.
Do you work with physical symptoms related to stress?
Yes. Many emotional struggles show up in the body. As a medical doctor, I understand the connections between nervous system stress, inflammation, hormones, sleep, digestion, and chronic tension.
In our work we can gently explore both the emotional and physical aspects of what you’re experiencing, while also making sure appropriate medical care is in place when needed.
We move slowly and respectfully, listening to what your body is trying to say.
How do I know if this work is right for me?
If something in you feels a small sense of relief or curiosity reading this, that may be enough to try.
If not, I trust you will find what is right for you.
What if I need to stop therapy later?
You are free to stop at any time.
This work depends on your willingness.
You are invited to listen deeply to your timing and your needs.
Your pace is wise.
about me
What is your training?
I am a Medical Doctor (Medical License No 63386 – Portuguese Medical Association) trained in Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS Institute Level 3), Integrative Medicine, Clinical Herbalism and Plant Spirit Healing. I am also a lifelong student and researcher of European indigenous animist and shamanic traditions.
Why combine medicine, psychotherapy, and nature-based animistic perspectives?
Because we are not isolated minds.
We are bodies with rhythms and chemistry.
We are hearts shaped by relationship and ancestry.
We are beings rooted in land and community.
And we are also shaped by culture – by social expectations, injustice, and oppressive systems that affect our lives.
Not everything that hurts in us is a personal failure.
Some burdens are personal.
Some are collective.
When care honours all these layers, healing becomes more respectful and more honest.
We can tend what is yours to heal, while also recognising what belongs to the wider world.
Safety
What if I feel overwhelmed during a session?
We slow down. We pause. We respect your nervous system. IFS therapy honours your rhythm and your pace. Nothing is forced, and you are always free to pause, slow down, or change direction.
Healing doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Can I come if I’m highly sensitive or neurodivergent?
We find each other!
Many highly sensitive and neurodivergent people feel at home here.
Our inner timing does not always match social timing – and that is not a mistake.
Sometimes learning, healing, and creativity happen in a different rhythm, a time outside of time. It may feel chaotic, but it often has its own organic order.
We don’t need to fight ourselves.
There is too high a price in doing that.
Come hang out with me and together we can find a pace that honours your nervous system and your way of knowing.
What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?
That is very understandable.
Different approaches resonate with different people, and timing matters too.
IFS therapy offers a very different approach to more traditional methods, a gentle way of listening to the parts of you that may not have felt safe in other settings.
If there’s one drop of curiosity, we can explore together.
What if I don’t know what to talk about?
That’s completely okay.
We can begin in silence, with a feeling, with a question, or with something very ordinary from your day.
There is no need to perform or prepare. There is no expectation to meet.
What if I don’t know what to talk about?
That’s completely okay.
We can begin in silence, with a feeling, with a question, or with something very ordinary from your day.
There is no need to perform or prepare. There is no expectation to meet.
What if I cry or feel emotional?
That is welcome.
Emotions are part of the body’s way of releasing and reorganising.
We move gently and with care so you stay grounded.
What if I’m not sure therapy is right for me?
You’re welcome to listen to your timing.
There is no pressure to continue.
What if I’m not sure therapy is right for me?
It’s important to find someone who feels like a good fit.
Our first session can be a gentle conversation to sense whether working together feels right for both of us.
You are under no obligation to continue.
Practical Questions
Are sessions online or in person?
Online, via Zoom. Alternative platforms can be used if it fits you better.
In which languages do you work?
English and Portuguese.
How long is a session?
55 minutes
How often should I come?
You decide! Usually weekly, but may vary or fluctuate.
Are there sliding scale options or sponsorships?
Yes, I reserve a small number of reduced-fee spaces.
If finances are a barrier right now, you are welcome to write to me and we can explore what feels possible.
Priority is given to people who face systemic barriers to accessing care, such as those in the global majority, facing migration challenges, caregiving responsibilities, disability, or financial hardship.
You are welcome to share only what feels comfortable. We will find a respectful path if we can.
Do you offer a discovery call?
At this time I don’t offer separate intro calls.
Our first session can be a spacious conversation to see if working together feels right for both of us.
There is no pressure to continue if it doesn’t feel like a fit.
You’re also welcome to email me any questions or whatever you might need to know for perfect clarity.
What is your scheduling & cancellation policy?
Appointments can be booked through the form on the website.
Payment is required up to 24 hours to secure your booking.
Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the session will be refunded at 50%.
Missed sessions without prior notice are not refundable.
After payment and confirmation, you will receive all the details by email.
How many sessions will I need?
Every journey is different. Some people come briefly with great results, others stay for long-term personal development.
Can I stop anytime?
Absolutely.
Gift a session
Offer a session as a gesture of care — a quiet space to be heard, supported, and gently accompanied through whatever season they are walking.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
you’re welcome to begin.
My consultations offer a safe, ethical and compassionate space where you can explore your inner story with presence and depth. I use the approach of the IFS (Internal Family Systems) model, combined with clinical experience, somatic practices and a keen listening to your needs – on a path of reconnection with yourself, your rhythms, parts and cycles.
Blogs & Resources
Reflections and resources to help you meet your inner world with curiosity and compassion.
What Do You Mean, “Turn Inward”? There’s Nothing There
For many people, the beginning of IFS is not difficult because they are broken, blocked, or incapable of inner work. It is difficult because they were never taught what it actually means to turn inward.
How Internal Family Systems helped me prepare for Birth
I moved through birth the way you move through a storm you’re trying to survive. Bracing. Enduring. Praying for it to have mercy on me. Birth, as I understood it then, was something to get through. Something to manage. Something to survive. I didn’t question it.
How to Help Children Transition to a New School
What a school transition taught me about grief, safety, and alternative education in Portugal. Starting a new school is not merely adjusting to a new timetable or teacher. Something far more delicate is taking place.