Alicja Ligeza profile details
About Alicja
The relationship between the client and the counsellor is essential for a successful outcome.
I'm Alicja Ligeza (formerly Alicja, Szalinska), the therapist you'll work with if you choose therapy at Lisbon Counselling. Let me tell you a little more about myself and how I work with clients as a psychotherapist.
How do I work?
I work with clients in person in Lisbon and online. I am a qualified therapist with a diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and an MSc in Clinical Psychology.
In my clinical work, I use predominantly person-centred talking and creative therapy as well as brain-based therapy.
I value a client-led approach, but at the same time, I can offer treatment methods, techniques and strategies to help my clients achieve their well-being goals.
I firmly believe in empowering my clients. I create a highly-attuned client/counsellor relationship and a safe, nurturing and non-judgemental environment, in which we explore issues and work together towards gaining insight, finding relief, personal growth, psychological resilience, and the changes the client desires.
Who can benefit from this type of therapy?
The person-centred approach is right for clients who are ready for self-exploration and need help tapping into their inner resources.
It is helpful for individuals who wish to recognise what is right for them and what they need to become the most fulfilled version of themselves - to 'self-actualise'.
As a person-centred practitioner, I see my clients as fundamentally capable and equal to the counsellor, and we work together to explore both their issues and the resources available to them.
I use empathy, congruence and acceptance to create a powerful therapeutic relationship and an environment in which a person can become empowered and thrive.
While the therapy process is client-led, I offer treatment methods, techniques and strategies to help my clients achieve their well-being goals.
What type of clients tend to work with me?
I work with individuals, and I support adults in all stages of life.
I have worked with clients to resolve problems around family and romantic relationships, stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, bereavement and relocation.
I can also help clients in improving self-awareness, finding relief and achieving personal growth.
Counselling for the international community in Portugal - why choose to talk to me?
I see myself as a multicultural person. I spent my childhood and teenage years in Poland. In my adult life, I have lived in Scotland, England and Portugal.
Migration is a major life event and I can relate to the experience of moving and settling into a new country.
I'm aware that it can be both an exciting and challenging time, and I enjoy helping international communities in Portugal navigate their new reality and a different culture.
The majority of my website is written in English. However, I also provide essential information about therapy in Polish.
Clients can choose from appointments in Lisbon's city centre therapy room (off Avenida de Liberdade) or online sessions.
Working online through Zoom or WhatsApp allows me to successfully offer expat therapy to clients locally as well as in other parts of Portugal such as Porto, Coimbra, the Silver Coast, or the Algarve.
What is my background?
I trained as a counsellor in the historic city of York in England and I hold a diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
I continued my professional education in Warsaw, Poland and I also hold an MSc in Clinical Psychology.
During my training I worked in the National Health Service in England, seeing clients in two busy GP clinics, and I am qualified and experienced in therapy for adults.
Before I became a therapist, I earned a degree in BA (Hons) in Business Management from a university in Edinburgh and I enjoyed a 10+ years career in entrepreneurship and marketing.
Today, my business acumen and first-hand knowledge of workplace pressures enable me to empathise with clients who face challenges at work.
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and my qualifications and clinical work comply with the strict requirements and ethical framework for mental health professionals.
BACP membership, professional insurance and regular supervision enable me to conduct a safe and professional practice.
Alicja Ligeza can help with the following areas of counselling
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Depression
- Family & Relationships
- Migration
- Self Esteem
- Stress
- Trauma
If you are unsure if Alicja deals with your issue, please email in confidence →
Ways we can work together
- Person Centred
Qualifications, training and experience
Psychotherapist
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- MSc in Clinical Psychology
Testimonials
I just wanted to say thank you so much for the help and support you've given me through our sessions.
My parents are visiting until Monday and I've seen them a few times. I really enjoyed the visit because I was much less triggered and I was able to regulate my emotions much better around them. I feel more confident and comfortable in myself and I know it's because of our sessions! I have had a few emotional wobbles where I need to remember the technique you taught me to help me relax my body so that I can process better and it's helping, I think!
Thank you so so much! I hope I never have to be in the position where I need to come back, but I am happy to know that I can if I need to. Thank you!
Frequently asked questions
What are your fees?
I charge 90€ for a single session.
How long is a session?
A standard 'counselling hour' is 50 minutes long. Most clients find it a comfortable amount of time, on a weekly basis.
However, if you would prefer longer sessions please get in touch.
How many sessions do I need?
It is difficult to answer as it very much depends on a personal situation as well as goals and expectations of the client. Short term counselling usually involves 6-8 sessions and it is suitable to address a specific issue.
For more complex issues or when an issue isn't clear, more sessions may be needed. I am also available for long term counselling.
Do I need to attend sessions every week?
I see clients on a weekly basis.
Evidence-based studies show a link between weekly therapy sessions and positive outcomes for clients. Having frequent sessions helps to build and strengthen the client/counsellor relationship, which in turn improves the quality of therapeutic work.
Weekly sessions also allow the client to create their self-care routine and they are essential for maintaining the momentum of the therapeutic process.
When more time goes by between appointments, some of the richness of the experiences in the previous session can fade and it is harder to pick up where we left off. In every session we need time to re-build rapport, trust and the sense of safety and to re-engage. The entire counselling process slows down.
Is Brainspotting effective?
Client testimonials and the studies available make a compelling case for efficacy of Brainspotting.
Research published in the Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology in 2017 found Brainspotting to be more effective than either EMDR or CBT. A more recent pilot study from 2021 showed Brainspotting to be more effective than Body Scan Meditation in reducing memory-related distress. It also provided early evidence confirming that Brainspotting helps to down-regulate the amygdala and promotes coherence between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System activity. Another study, carried out in 2016 amongst the survivors of Sandy Hook school shooting in the USA showed that Brainspotting was self-reported by the participants to be a more effective therapeutic intervention than e.g. EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, CBT or Neurofeedback.
Do you accept health insurance?
In general, I do not. I operate a self-pay practice and I do not work directly with any health insurance providers. Most of my clients pay for our appointments directly.
In the past some clients have been able to claim from their insurance providers e.g. Cigna, but this is not guaranteed and it will depend on the terms set by individual insurance companies.
How do I make a payment?
You can make the payment via a bank transfer to an ActivoBank account:
FULL NAME: Alicja Ligeza
IBAN: PT50 0023 0000 4567 7656 7679 4
SWIFT: ACTVPTPL
Payments via MB Way are the easiest and quickest card payment option available for clients who use the MB Way app. The mobile number for MB Way payments is 931 426 386.
Payments must be made minimum 24h before the session to confirm the booking.
What's your privacy policy?
Your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was provided for.
I comply with the current data protection legislation including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
What happens if I can't make it to a session?
I have a standard 24h cancellation policy. If you need to cancel or re-schedule an appointment, please let me know minimum 24h before the session time by email or by phone (voicemail is fine) to make sure that no charge will be made. Missed sessions and cancellations made less than 24h before the appointment will incur a full session fee. The cancellation or missed appointment fee may be waived only under exceptional circumstances.
Payments for late cancellations and missed appointments should be settled in full before the next session.
If your question is not listed here, please email Alicja.
Alicja Ligeza
Psychotherapist
Here to support you in confidence.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, PortugalEmail Alicja Ligeza
Working together
- I charge 90€ for a 50-minute session. A standard 'counselling hour' is 50 minutes long. Most clients find it a comfortable amount of time, on a weekly basis. However, if you would prefer longer sessions please get in touch. Short-term counselling usually involves 6-8 sessions and it is suitable to address a specific issue. For more complex issues or when an issue isn't clear, more sessions may be needed. It is common to initially agree to work together for 6 or 8 sessions and to plan a halfway review. I am also available for long-term counselling.
- In Person, Online
- You can request a free no-obligation video call to discuss what you are looking for in therapy, how I work with clients and to ask any questions you might have
English, Polish
