Counsellor profile
Dr. Sofia Ferreira, HCPC
Counsellor - stress and anxiety
See online counselling options- CBT
- ACT
- DBT skills
About Sofia
Counsellor and HCPC registrant Dr. Sofia Ferreira has 17 years' experience helping people in the United Kingdom with stress, anxiety, anger and depression. She also works on motivation, self-esteem and confidence. Sofia meets people who want practical ways to cope with day-to-day pressures and repeated worries.
She uses straightforward talking and structured techniques. Sessions often focus on noticing unhelpful thoughts, learning new behaviours and trying small changes between meetings. Sofia draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people cope with difficult feelings and stay focused on what matters to them.
Where worries are more intense, she brings skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy to manage strong emotions and from Motivational Interviewing to build commitment to change. Solution-Focused techniques are used for setting short-term goals and tracking progress. These methods are explained in plain language during sessions.
Sofia works with a wide range of concerns including trauma, eating and sleeping issues, bipolar mood problems, chronic pain and body image. She also supports people dealing with loneliness, guilt, life purpose and ageing questions. The approach is practical and centred on what people want to change.
Sessions are conducted in English and Portuguese, and she accepts international clients. To begin people complete a short matching questionnaire and book their first session through the service. Fees vary by location and use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How her therapeutic approaches work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on actions you value and small steps to live by those values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy brings skills for managing strong emotions, improving distress tolerance and reducing impulsive reactions.Choosing the right approach is part of the work with the counsellor. She will discuss goals, what has helped before and how you prefer to work. Together you can try an approach and adapt it if it is not fitting your needs.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm the current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings around work, family and travel. They can also allow shorter check-ins, reduce travel time and remove the need to be on site for appointments. Registered or accredited professionals, including therapists, use these options to help people keep therapy practical and manageable alongside daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English, Portuguese
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, anger and depression. Other areas include self-esteem, motivation, trauma and eating or sleeping difficulties.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses practical talking, behavioural work and goal setting. Techniques come from CBT, ACT and DBT and are explained in plain language.
How much experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional experience working with a range of mental health and adjustment concerns.
Which professional body is she registered with?
She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, shown as HCPC.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
International clients are accepted. Check any local regulations that may apply where you live.
How are fees and payment handled?
Fees vary with location and are provided through a subscription model. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule your first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.