Bernardo Couto

My approach is relational, that means that individual experiences and intrapsychic structures derive largely from and are transformations of relationships with significant others. That constituites the relational matrix. I work in the here and now of the session to understand the dynamics one's relational matrix, the unconscions dimensions of the mind, like dreams, and to promote growth and change. In psychotherapy we explore and work through several feelings so that the process gradually becomes more organic. During sessions we will work together to understand the meaning of emotional reactions, thoughts, memories, fantasies, dreams, images and sensations, in an effort to alleviate personal suffering and to expand the capacity for work, love and creativity. Psychotherapy sessions are structured in a 50 minute time frame with a rhythm of once or twice a week. The duration of psychotherapy depends on your initial goals and what we may find on this journey, that  is important for us to continue to explore. Common issues addressed in therapy -Persistent feelings of anxiety and depression are very common and constitute one of the main reasons to start therapy. -Negative life events, like divorce, death of a loved one, physical illness or unemployment can bring you down. -Recurrent maladaptive patterns can also be address in therapy -Confusing and negative thoughts and feelings about you or reality. -Sexuality and its disorders. -Traumatic experience in the past that keeps haunting you and usually are expressed in insomnias, nightmares and panic attacks. -Toxic love relationships

Clinical Psychology/Psychodynamic Psychotherapy 1998-1999 Academic internship at Casa de Saúde do Telhal, Mental Health Hospital 2000-2001 Professional internship at Department of Psychiatry at Hospital São Francisco Xavier since 2001 Private practice-Psychotherapy and psychological assessment of children, adolescents and adults 2001-2013 EspaçoS - Community Center for adolescents and young adults, Psychotherapy and psychological examination. Orientation of academic internships. Intervention in school mental health campaigns. Research into mental health and youth sexuality. Teaching since2019- Teaching at the Portuguese Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotehtrapy Supervision 2018 –2020 Casa Pia de Lisboa, Educational team supervisor since 2019 Psychotherapy Superviser Professional positions 2017- Vice-President at Portuguese Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotehtrapy-Portugal 2018-Member of the board of directors of the Portuguese Section of the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy.

2016 - Specialist in Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology by the Portuguese Board of Psychologists 2008-2012 Certified Psychotherapist - Trained in psychoanalytic therapy, Portuguese Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotehtrapy-Portugal 1994-2000 degree in Clinical Psychology, Universidade Lusófona-Portugal