Mariliza De Medeiros

Mariliza is a Counselling Psychologist registered with the Health & Care Professions Council, accredited with IPT-UK as a Therapist & Supervisor and has post graduate training in CBT for couples (please see below for details).

Mariliza combines evidence-based approaches such as CBT and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) with a warm and encouraging therapeutic alliance with her clients. Mariliza has special interest in Compassion Focused Therapy, imagery rescripting of early traumatic memories and couple CBT.

Mariliza had over 16 years of experience of working as a counselling psychologist in primary care (IAPT services) in the NHS in addition to private therapy with adults and adolescents. She has extensive experience of helping people achieving their goals in relation to:

improving mood, energy levels, sleep, tackling rumination, self-criticism and other symptoms associated with depression.
overcoming childhood traumatic experiences
addressing unhealthy relationships and changing interaction patterns
forming and maintaining satisfying and healthy interpersonal relationships
creating a more coherent and positive self-identity
processing and overcoming feelings of loss and bereavement
improving communication and regaining closeness in romantic relationships
managing anxiety and accomplishing meaningful goals

Mariliza is able to offer therapy in English and Portuguese.

CBT in couples is an effective way of helping individuals to learn to manage their depression and anxiety as a team with their partner. Additionally, couples are helped to have the most positive, healthiest relationship possible.

We work with couples of any gender and at various stages of development in their relationships to address a wide variety of issues related to depression and anxiety.

Why seek CBT couples treatment?

Partners of individuals struggling to manage difficulties associated with depression and anxiety often want to help, but don’t know how. This treatment helps both members of the couple better understand their symptoms and how to support one another in this process.
This treatment teaches a variety of techniques to help couples combat depression and anxiety as a team. Some of the techniques are similar to CBT individual therapy, but in this treatment partners learn how to help the individual overcome their difficulties and also reduce relationship conflict.
Depression can sometimes make having a healthy relationship more difficult; if you are experiencing relationship concerns, those are addressed as well.
Finally, research suggests that this treatment works as well as, and sometimes better than, individual treatment for depression. Additionally, this treatment can enhance and strengthen relationships, making individuals and couples more resilient.

All clients undergo a thorough assessment screening to determine appropriateness for behavioural couples’ therapy and for the best possible care.

TESTIMONIALS

My daughter’s programme of therapy with Mariliza had a positive impact from very early on. She developed a good rapport with Mariliza and felt able to disclose her thoughts and feelings without feeling judged or ashamed. Mariliza helped my daughter to think about things differently and to make practical changes in her life. At the end of a session, my daughter would often describe the feeling of having a weight lifted off her shoulders, she felt unburdened and as a result radiated a really happy and positive energy. It was like her batteries had been recharged. And now, at the end of it all she feels able to take on the world again with renewed confidence and inner strength. A M-S

"I worked with Mariliza following the death of my 8 year old soon and considerable difficulties I have had since with grief, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mariliza was fantastic with me - kind, understanding, sensitive and able to offer me strategies to help me cope at the darkest time of my life. I felt like I could discuss anything with her. She was always extremely professional and was flexible around my needs. She is an excellent listener and very knowledgeable in these areas. Although I accept these difficulties will probably never leave me, I am much better equipped to cope following our sessions. I could not recommend Mariliza highly enough. " R.T