ABOUT
About me
My name is Vânia Sofia. I am a Psychologist/Neuropsychologist, full member of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists (OPP). I am passionate about the little things/details of life, music, cinema, writing, poetry, sport, nature especially the sea, animals, science and development.
I have a master’s degree in Neuropsychology and specialization in Mindfulness, having already worked in various therapeutic environments: clinics, hospitals, social centers, municipal chambers.
I worked as well at a scientific level in the area of neuroscience research thus gaining significant experience at the therapeutic level and research into development from children to adults, as well as family support.
My goal is to provide a better quality of life by enhancing all your cognitive/emotional abilities, allowing harmony between being and well being as well as positive parenting.
“YOU CAN’T STOP THE WAVES BUT YOU CAN LEARN TO SURF THEM”
– Jon K. Zinn –
I believe that life is made up of several positive and negative moments, but that we can all find balance through the way we consciously look at each situation.
We deserve love, affection, respect and understanding and a person in our life at the right time can help the development path in a light, positive way, allowing us to flourish.
On my personal journey, I learned that every detail of our life is important.
My intervention can be used in art, science, meditation, nature, games, in self-awareness and growth.
These are fundamental tools for promoting well-being.
As a health professional and well-being promoter, I focus on providing their development through a joint creative and scientific process.
I believe that all people are experts in their own lives and that all their experiences lead to an interpersonal journey, creating a path towards self-knowledge, allowing them to develop their potential.
If you are curious about working with me, please continue reading below about my professional training and qualifications. I hope this information is useful and I am happy to answer any questions.
My Background
I started my first steps as a neuropsychologist in the curricular internship focused on the pediatric area in Neurodevelopmental pathologies (Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, rare diseases, cancer, developmental delay).
With these pathologies comes the learning difficulties, low self-esteem, depression, isolation, anxiety, the same as Parenting.
I fell in love with the way of Intervening in this context through lots of play promotes group and individual emotional and cognitive abilities, offering these kids a new look at their difficulties, enhancing their acceptance, social integration and strategies to improve their learning.
After that, I carried out my professional internship in neurodegenerative pathologies (dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, among others) and normative or pathological aging, stroke, epilepsies), the objective of my intervention was to allow a better quality of life and acceptance of the disease, using its likes to intervene, promoting self-knowledge, relaxation, slowing degeneration, cognitively empowering.
I was also actively involved in volunteering in children’s homes / people with developmental delays, paralysis, as well as helping family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Later I developed several projects at the city council in order to raise awareness of the importance of supporting families in need and the elderly in the health and educational sphere.
After that, I dedicated myself to research in neurosciences, thus contributing a small part to promoting the improvement of intervention techniques in neurological pathologies.
I returned to the clinical field more fulfilled, with more knowledge on how to intervene with people of all ages with different pathologies, as well as in terms of psychological support in the context of Covid-19.
I always use my positivity, even with adults that need to play. I use the power of nature and relaxation in order to help them on this journey.
I returned to the pediatric environment with a full heart, helping each child and family to promote their abilities, their creativity, small moments of happiness.
Accepting the crying, the anger, the despair, embracing a hug of love and small details of love to make your life better.
I will always be a student, I am currently a PhD student in Psychology in order to promote my abilities, and I have already completed several training courses in the field of psychology/psychiatry in order to increase my knowledge to provide the best for the people I work with.
Qualifications & Training
Psychologist, Master in Clinical Neuropsychology – Neuropsychological Assessment and Intervention, ISMAI
PhD student in Psychology – UALG
Effective member of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists (OPP)
ADVANCED POST-UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZATION IN MINDFULNESS, COMPASSION AND HEALTH
Supervisor certified by the Order of Psychologists
Scientific publications in the International Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience (November 2019), MEDICON (October 2019) and 2nd National ADHD Congress (October 2019)
Certified trainer by the Scientific-Pedagogical Council for Continuing Training
Course in Psychoanalysis – Center of Excellence
Course in MCBT – Mindfulness – Reach mindfluness
Secretary at the National Association of Neuropsychology – ANN
Participation in seminars and workshops in the areas of Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, Neurology, Neurofeedback, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Positive Emotions and Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection; Data Protection
Training Certifications OPP :
Psychological Intervention in Problems Related to Alcohol ‐16th edition; The role of the psychologist in palliative care
Training at the Order of Psychologists in terms of: Addictive Substances; Palliative Care;
Implementation of Psychology Services in the NHS and Health Literacy; interpersonal communication and information sharing 32nd edition; Intervention for Children and Young People at Risk
Effective member of the Order of Psychologists, Professional Card 20534
Professional Achievements
Founder of the Intensive Intervention Program for children/adolescents with ADHD (development and application of the program, techniques based on cognitive rehabilitation and mindfulness) – registered in Order of Portuguese Psychologists (OPP)
Neuropsychology intervention in the context of learning difficulties and neurological diseases
Neuropsychological Assessment; Cognitive Rehabilitation. Cognitive Rehabilitation Interventions; 3rd Generation Therapies; Personality Disorders; Behavior, Neurodevelopmental, Neurodegenerative Pathologies; Computerized cognitive assessment (from 8 years old)
Clinical and Health Psychologist (Disruptive Behavior and Personality Disorders; Adjustment Disorders; Grief; Covid-19)
Neuropsychologist/Researcher – Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra in neuroimaging, cognitive stimulation and neurofeedback projects in the pediatric (ADHD and ASD) and adult (Stroke and Prolactinoma) classes with the partnership of the STIPED project and Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra
Experience as a neuropsychologist (Assessment and Intervention in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Pathologies)
Professional Internship in Neuropsychology at the Centro Social e Paroquial de Figueiró
Curricular internship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at Policlínica Êbam, Spain
Trainer in various MDC training courses within the scope of Neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative pathologies; Reviews; Epilepsy.
Supervisor at MDC certified by the Order of Psychologists
