Dr. Ana Cristina Atanes , BACP

Dr. Ana Cristina Atanes brings a clear, person-centred approach to therapy. She combines psychological perspectives with mindfulness to help people manage stress, anxiety and addiction-related concerns. Dr Atanes uses plain language and steady guidance so conversations stay focused and practical.

Her practice supports people dealing with low self-esteem, depression, panic and sleeping difficulties. She also helps those coping with chronic pain, chronic fatigue, burnout and compassion fatigue. Career stress, anger and difficulties with life changes are included in her work too.

Dr Atanes holds a BACP registration and completed postgraduate research at master’s and PhD level. Her academic work looked closely at stress, burnout and compassion fatigue and how mindfulness and self-compassion can help. This background influences a calm, evidence-aware way of working.

In sessions she draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioural ideas, psychodynamic thinking and a client-centred stance. Mindfulness practices form a steady part of the work when useful. Conversations aim to be grounded, present-focused and paced to each person’s needs.

She provides therapy in English and Portuguese and works with adults aged 18 and over. Her style suits people who want straightforward conversation, practical coping strategies and an emphasis on developing kinder self-care habits.

Appointments are offered online and by phone in the United Kingdom, including arrangements for international clients when appropriate.

Approaches to change and how they work online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and to commit to actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, low mood and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns and builds practical skills to change behaviours and reduce distress, which is often helpful for panic, social anxiety and sleep problems. Mindfulness Therapy focuses on present moment awareness and self-compassion practices to reduce stress and manage burnout or chronic pain.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk about what feels most relevant and try different techniques together, checking in about what helps and what doesn’t. Goals and methods are shaped around each person’s needs and preferences rather than a fixed programme.

Online therapy can fit into busy lives because it removes travel and offers flexible formats. Video calls work well for face-to-face conversation and working with mindfulness exercises. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when you need a shorter check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging allow ongoing support between calls and can suit people who prefer writing or need quick, paced contact. Registered and accredited professionals can offer these options to match different schedules and communication preferences.