Maria Clara Pimenta
Psychological Counsellor & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Counsellor
Therapy is a space for awareness, to gently meet your inner world, ease pain, and make room for calm, connection, and healthier ways of being. A step toward less suffering and more wholeness, a step we’ll take together.
I specialise in:
About me
I’m a trained and accredited Psychologist and Counsellor, with a postgraduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I’ve been working as a Clinical Psychologist for the past five years, following an additional year and a half of experience as a volunteer trainee, which laid a strong foundation for my professional journey.
Now based in the Netherlands, I come originally from Brazil and spent five transformative years living as a nomad, immersing myself in a variety of cultures and ways of life. These experiences have deeply influenced my perspective on identity, belonging, and the emotional complexities that comes with living abroad. I have also struggle myself to find a psychotherapist that can deeply understand this background. So, I bring this rich, multicultural lens into my work, offering a compassionate approach to therapy; one that honors the individuality of each person. We all carry different stories, shaped by where we come from, how we love, and how we identify, whether as an expat, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, in non-monogamous relationships, or simply as a person navigating a unique path. All of these parts matter. We all deserve space, care, and respect in our therapeutic process.
I'm especially passionate about supporting adults (expats or not) who struggle with anxiety, burnout, and people-pleasing patterns—such as difficulty setting boundaries, perfectionism, overextending for others, neglecting their own needs, low self-worth, and feeling stuck in unbalanced relationships.
I also have extensive experience working with people living with ADHD and borderline personality disorder. Alongside this, I've supported clients through a broad range of challenges, including depression, grief, domestic abuse, self-harm, body image concerns, and family difficulties.
I speak:
Location:
Media Gallery
Approach
From my perspective, therapy is about more than fixing problems, it's about creating space for awareness. By gently turning toward your inner world, we can begin to understand what’s been holding pain in place. With compassion and curiosity, we’ll uncover the patterns that no longer serve you and make room for calm, connection, and more healthier ways of being. It’s a journey toward less suffering and more wholeness, one step at a time, together.
My approach is mainly based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focus in recognizing, understanding, and challenging difficult thoughts and their influence on emotions, and behaviors. It also offers a way to look deeper at the patterns and beliefs that often lie beneath the surface.
At the same time, I truly believe that each person’s path is unique. That’s why I adapt every session to fit the individual I’m working with, their needs, their pace, and their goals. While CBT is my foundation, I also draw from other approaches like Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), both of which share roots with CBT but bring their own valuable tools and insights.
Being a psychotherapist means I’m always learning. I keep exploring new methods and perspectives so I can be as present and helpful as possible for the people who trust me in their healing process.
Experience
2020–present – Private practice as Clinical Psychologist
2021 – Founder of a therapeutic group focused on romantic relationships
2020 – Volunteer professional at DASU (Office for Health Support of the University Community)
2018–2019 – Clinical Psychology Intern at GIPSI (Early Intervention Group for First-Episode Psychosis)
2018–2019 – Clinical Psychology Intern, providing therapy for children and adolescents
2018 – Volunteer in a research group on individuals living with HIV/AIDS at the University Hospital of Brasília
Education
2023 – Extension course in Emotional Regulation
2023 – Extension course in Suicide and Self-Harm Management
2023 – Extension course in CBT for Bipolar Disorders
2023 – Extension course in Schema Therapy
2021 – Postgraduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
2020 – Bachelor's degree in Psychology (Teaching Degree)
2019 – Applied Psychology and Bachelor's degree in Psychology
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Insurances
