José Pereira, BACP

José Pereira is a counsellor and psychotherapist who holds an MSc in Counselling, a master's level qualification in the study and practice of counselling, along with several specialised credentials in Addiction Counselling. He has worked in the field of addiction and related disorders since 2003, developing extensive experience with compulsive behaviours, substance addictions and the mental health challenges that often accompany them.

Across more than two decades José has worked primarily in leading residential treatment settings, serving in roles such as Counsellor, Senior Counsellor, Head Therapist and Clinical Manager, and overseeing multidisciplinary teams. He has worked individually with clients over extended periods, enabling long-term and sustainable recovery and change. As an integrative practitioner he draws on a broad range of models and techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Relapse Prevention, psychodynamic, systemic and Gestalt approaches to tailor treatment to each person’s needs.

He also facilitates psychoeducational workshops and interpersonal psychotherapy groups in addition to one-to-one therapy. Fluent in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish, José supports clients from diverse backgrounds and accepts international referrals. He holds membership of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - reflecting his professional standing and ongoing commitment to clinical standards.

Approaches for online recovery and relationship work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being driven by them, and focuses on identifying values and taking meaningful action - it can be useful for anxiety, stress and patterns that get in the way of living as desired.

Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns of relating and emotional responses, helping clients understand and change difficulties in close relationships, family dynamics and feelings of abandonment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical strategies to identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, supporting work with anxiety, depression, addictions and compulsive behaviours.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. José works collaboratively with clients and registered professionals to choose or adapt methods based on each person’s needs, goals and preferences, adjusting the focus as therapy progresses.

Online therapy with José is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options make it easier to access ongoing care from home or when travelling, and to continue momentum between sessions while fitting therapy into everyday life.