Marcia Batalha

My primary therapeutic orientation is systemic, which means I understand people's experiences within the context of their relationships, families, communities and cultures. I integrate other evidence-informed approaches, including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) whenever they best support a client's individual needs and goals.

In our work together, I pay attention to the stories people tell about themselves and the systems they belong to, whether that is a family, a workplace or the cultures that have shaped and continue to shape their lives. I believe that our understanding of who we are is shaped through our relationships with others. Therapy offers a space to revisit these relationships, make sense of what we have lived through, and create new possibilities for understanding ourselves and relating to others. Above all, I offer a genuine, consistent, honest, and compassionate presence where you can bring whatever you are facing and feel heard, understood, and supported.

I welcome new clients who are currently living in, or have been displaced by, areas affected by war and are seeking psychological support. I believe that access to mental health care should not be limited by financial circumstances, and I am committed to offering flexible fees whenever possible to help make therapy more accessible. If this applies to you, please feel free to get in touch so we can discuss the options available.

If none of the available appointment times suit you, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'll be happy to discuss flexible scheduling options whenever possible.

I work with adolescents, adults and couples across a broad range of human experiences, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, relationship difficulties and the challenges of living between cultures and countries. I welcome couples of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures.

My clinical work is primarily informed by a systemic perspective, which allows me to consider psychological difficulties within the context of a person’s relationships, experiences and wider circumstances.

My experience includes working individually and in groups with adults experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, as well as with children and families from socially vulnerable backgrounds. This work has included systemic and narrative approaches, as well as clinical experience in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Metacognitive Therapy.

Earlier in my career, I worked as an organisational psychologist in multinational organisations, with experience in recruitment, HR business partnering, training and talent development.

I hold a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Ispa in Lisbon, a Graduate Diploma in Emotional Health for Babies, Children, Young Adults and Families from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) in Brazil. I am currently in training in Systemic and Family Therapy at the Sociedade Portuguesa de Terapia Familiar (SPTF) in Lisbon.