Leonor Sousa

Born in Lisbon, I studied at the Lycée Français for 15 years, completing high school in 2013 and earning the Baccalauréat in literature. I then pursued a degree in Arts and Humanities at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon, focusing primarily on Culture and Society, Philosophy, and Cinema. It was during the third year of my studies that I began my personal journey in therapy and, simultaneously, stumbled upon psychotherapy through a well-known book by Irvin Yalom. That day, I discovered my calling and realized the importance of having a more practical and active role in helping others. Recognizing the complexity of human beings, my years of dedication to humanistic studies, and my profound sensitivity and attentiveness to others, I found in psychotherapy a way to assist patients in navigating the world with less suffering and greater meaning. Thus, I changed my path and enrolled at the Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA), where I completed an integrated master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. I had the opportunity to intern in the psychotherapy department of Instituto Superior Técnico, where I provided weekly support to several students. Young and open-minded, what interests me most is the experience of the other, free from judgment or moralizing. The other—present, different, unique—with whom I work to build a relationship of trust and a network of meanings that can help the patient break free from imposed conditioning and embrace greater authenticity.