About me
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or disconnected from the things that matter to you?
Perhaps you've been coping for a long time, but your usual ways of managing things no longer seem to be working. You may be struggling with anxiety or low mood, feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, lacking confidence in yourself, or finding that difficult thoughts and emotions are getting in the way of the life you want to live.
Therapy can provide a space to slow down, understand what is happening, and develop new ways of responding to difficulties. It can also help you reconnect with what matters to you and take meaningful steps towards the life you want.
I'm Dr Ana Costa, a Clinical Psychologist, and I have over 15 years of clinical experience working with adults in both the NHS and private practice. I offer online therapy to adults across the UK and internationally, where appropriate, in both English and Portuguese.
My approach is warm, collaborative and compassionate. I don't see you simply as a collection of symptoms or problems to be fixed. Instead, we'll work together to understand your experiences, what may be maintaining your difficulties, and what you would like to be different.
You don't need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. You may know exactly what you want help with, or simply have a sense that you're not feeling like yourself and something needs to change. We can work that out together.
What I can help with
I commonly work with adults experiencing:
Anxiety, worry and panic
Depression and low mood
Low self-esteem, self-criticism and perfectionism
Stress, burnout and feeling overwhelmed
Trauma and PTSD
Social anxiety and difficulties with confidence
Relationship and communication difficulties
Difficulties around eating and body image
Anger and difficulties managing emotions
Work-life balance and life transitions
Feeling stuck, lost or unsure about the direction of your life
How I work
My main therapeutic approaches are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I may also draw on mindfulness, compassion-focused and DBT-informed techniques depending on your needs.
Therapy with me is collaborative. You are the expert on your own experience; I bring psychological knowledge, therapeutic skills and a different perspective. Together, we can make sense of what you're experiencing and identify what might help.
In our sessions, we may explore:
- How your difficulties developed and what might be keeping them going
- Patterns in your thoughts, emotions and behaviour
- New ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings
- How to manage anxiety, stress and emotional distress
- Your values — what is genuinely important to you
- How to build greater self-compassion and confidence
- Practical steps towards the life and relationships you want
I don't believe therapy is about eliminating every difficult thought or emotion. Rather, it is about developing greater flexibility in how you respond to difficulties, so that they have less control over your life and you have more freedom to move towards what matters to you.
My style is supportive and compassionate, while also helping you make meaningful changes. The pace and focus of therapy will be tailored to you, and we can work either towards specific goals over a shorter period or explore difficulties in greater depth over a longer period.
Online therapy
I work exclusively online, offering sessions to adults across the UK and, where appropriate, internationally.
Online therapy can provide the same private, focused therapeutic space as face-to-face work, while allowing you to access support from somewhere comfortable and convenient for you. Sessions are held via secure video, and I encourage you to join from a private space where you can speak freely.
Taking the first step
Looking for a therapist can feel daunting, particularly if you're unsure whether therapy is right for you or whether we'll be a good fit.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation call where we can briefly discuss what brings you to therapy, what you're hoping for, and whether I might be the right person to support you. There is no obligation to continue.
If we decide to work together, we'll begin with an initial session where we can explore your circumstances, understand what you would like to change, and agree on how we might work towards your goals.
And if I feel that another professional or type of support would be better suited to your needs, I'll be honest about this and help you consider the most appropriate next step.
If you'd like to find out whether therapy with me could be helpful, you're very welcome to get in touch.
You can email me at ana@dranacosta.com, and I aim to respond within 24 hours.
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, with extensive training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I also hold a PhD in Psychology from Keele University.
My clinical training and experience includes:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Solution-Focused Therapy
I have worked within the NHS in adult mental health, as well as in private practice, with over 15 years of clinical experience. I have supported adults experiencing a wide range of psychological difficulties and have worked with people from diverse cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
I offer therapy in both English and Portuguese and work exclusively online with adults across the UK and internationally, where appropriate.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£100.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£100 – individual 50-minute session
£80 – reduced fee for a limited number of appointments for those who are unemployed, on a low income, or in full-time education.
When I work
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Further information
Please feel free to email me if you'd like to check availability or have any questions about therapy.
I understand that choosing a therapist can feel daunting, and it can be difficult to know whether someone will be the right fit for you. I'm very happy to answer any questions you may have about my approach or what therapy with me would involve before you decide whether you'd like to proceed.
I believe it's important that you have the information you need to make a decision that feels right for you. I've also experienced therapy myself, so I understand from both sides how important it is to feel comfortable, listened to and understood.
I aim to respond to enquiries within 24 hours.
