Eva Afonso

I’m a clinical psychologist and IFS therapist. My work is grounded in self-compassion, emotional processing, and a deep respect for each person’s inner experience. I offer a calm and supportive space to slow down and gently get to know — from a place of presence — what hurts or feels overwhelming. Not just to talk about it, but to feel it, hold it, and allow it to shift. The main model I work with is Internal Family Systems (IFS). It’s a gentle and powerful approach that helps you explore the different emotional layers within — like the parts of you that protect, push, collapse, or carry pain. Maybe there’s a part of you that always stays busy, and another that feels tired or unseen. Maybe you feel stuck in anxiety or sadness, or overwhelmed by emotions you can’t quite name. IFS doesn’t pathologize these experiences — it helps us meet them with curiosity and compassion, so they can begin to soften and find relief. My work is also trauma-informed and body-aware. I pay close attention to the nervous system and the physical cues that tell us what feels too much or just right. Sessions may include grounding, gentle pauses, or noticing what’s happening in the body — especially when words don’t feel like enough. I see therapy as a collaborative process. Each session, we tune in together to what feels most alive or in need of attention in that moment. There’s space to reflect on the process itself — to notice what’s working, what isn’t, and to stay connected to what truly matters to you. While there’s no fixed path, we hold a sense of direction: the desire for more inner ease, clarity, or freedom — whatever feels meaningful for you. As we begin to listen more closely to what’s inside, and build a different kind of relationship with it, something often shifts. There’s a little more space. And in that space, there’s room for joy, creativity, playfulness, and connection — not as something we chase, but something that naturally returns when we’re no longer at war with ourselves. If you’re curious about working together, I offer a free 30-minute introductory call. It’s a space to ask questions, share what’s bringing you here, and see if this feels like the right fit.

My clinical experience has included both social and private practice settings. During my professional internship, I worked in a public support center for immigrant women of lower socioeconomic status, many of whom were pregnant or navigating early motherhood. This experience deeply shaped my sensitivity to the complexity of emotional suffering, particularly in contexts of trauma, cultural dislocation, and vulnerability. Since then, I’ve been working in private practice, offering individual therapy sessions with a focus on emotional processing, trauma healing, and compassionate inner connection. My work is grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), supported by a trauma-informed, body-aware approach. I continue to develop my clinical practice through ongoing training, supervision, and a deep commitment to holding space with care and respect.

My academic journey in psychology has taken place across the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal, allowing me to learn from diverse clinical perspectives and cultural contexts. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Tilburg University (Netherlands), where I received a strong scientific and research foundation with a focus on human behavior and mental health. I then completed a Postgraduate Degree in General Health Psychology in Spain, deepening my clinical understanding and preparing me for therapeutic work. I also completed a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at ISPA – Instituto Universitário in Lisbon, with a specialization in psychodynamic approaches. Alongside my academic studies, I completed Level 1 training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy through the IFS Institute, which now forms the core of my therapeutic approach. I continue to build on this foundation through ongoing psychotherapy training with the Sociedade Portuguesa de Terapias Construtivistas, as well as continued learning in trauma-informed care and body-based models such as Polyvagal Theory.