Dr. Ana Cristina Atanes, BACP

Dr. Ana Cristina Atanes is a counsellor who blends several approaches to meet each person's needs. She holds a PhD and a master’s degree and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She works in English and Portuguese and brings five years of professional experience to her practice.

Her sessions focus on practical ways to reduce stress and anxiety. She helps people manage depression, addiction, sleeping problems and low self-esteem. She also supports those coping with life changes, trauma and ongoing compassion fatigue.

Her background includes research into stress, burnout and compassion fatigue. That work looked at how mindfulness and self-compassion can help with long-term strain. She uses that research to shape gentle, evidence-informed practices in the room.

Her style is warm and down-to-earth. She listens first, then suggests tools that fit each person’s life. Sessions may include mindfulness exercises, reflection on patterns, and simple skills to handle difficult feelings.

Therapy is available in several online formats. People can expect clear, step-by-step support for practical problems like quitting smoking, managing impulses, coping with chronic pain, or finding a clearer sense of purpose. Dr. Atanes aims to work collaboratively so clients feel understood and able to make steady change.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts without getting ruled by them and choose actions that match their values; it is useful for anxiety, depression and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, which can help with panic, phobias, insomnia and addictive behaviours. Mindfulness Therapy offers simple attention and breathing practices to reduce stress and support coping with chronic pain or burnout.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk through a person’s needs, goals and everyday routine, and then suggest one or a mix of approaches. That decision is collaborative and can be adjusted as therapy moves forward.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different situations. Video calls allow face-to-face contact for deeper conversation, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a busy day, live chat is good for shorter check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options make it easier to keep therapy steady around work, caring responsibilities or travel.