Mariana Miller
Psychologist
“…And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth…”
Kahlil Gibran, the Prophet in “The seven spiritual laws of success”
I’m a Clinical Psychologist since 2017 and I work with adults and teenagers.
To me, choosing to be a psychologist is choosing to live in a constant state of self-discovery and change. It’s impossible to look at another without looking at ourselves first. So, I quickly understood that the knowledge I eagerly search in books and courses is not enough. We Psychologists need to deep dive into our wounds. We need to know them inside out. To tidy up our own home so that we can help someone else with theirs.
So that’s how I’ve been working to help whoever chooses my chair. And that’s how I can say with a full heart that I love what I do and each person I work with.
How I can help
Being human is no easy task.
I started my clinical practice with a very solid foundation right out of gate, but that same structure - at times too structured - eventually made me realize that there is no magic protocol that fits all… I realized that each person is unique and holds within themselves several worlds that deserve to be explored and recognized. Only then can the human being develop and break free from what no longer serves them.
But more importantly, I discovered that each person holds within themselves the potential to heal all wounds. The therapist is simply a guide to the journey within.
It was with this knowledge, which I also acquired through my own therapeutic process, that I began to look for different approaches to add to my 'therapist's toolkit.' Today I integrate into my practice different approaches that are more than just a set of techniques - they are tools to help facilitate the journey of everyone who walks through my door.
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The challenges of the outside world often mirror an inner struggle that is not visible to the outside world. They stir an emotional discomfort that acts as a quiet alarm, signaling that something within us needs attention. Emotional well-being flourishes when we create space for these emotions - and the stories they carry - to be processed and integrated. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, difficulties in relationships or decision-making (...) or simply the nagging feeling that "something isn't quite right" are signs that a part of us is calling out to be heard. Individual therapy aims to help you understand your inner world and navigate the emotional discomfort that holds you back, within a safe and nurturing space.
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Systemic-Focused Therapy is an integrative approach with humanist roots. It views individual experience through the wider lens of relationships, family dynamics, and life history. Over time, we each build our own way of seeing the world, ourselves, and others. Sometimes, however, these lens becomes rigid and begin to cause suffering -particularly when certain things that act as triggers happen. It can sometimes feel like we are "out of place" or “out of sorts” with our own life, as if something doesn't quite fit, or as if we keep repeating certain patterns despite our deepest desire to change. This work invites a broader gaze at our story, exploring not just individual experiences but the relational and family threads that, consciously or not, influence the way we feel, think, and position ourselves in the world today.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an approach originally developed to treat traumatic experiences and the emotional impact of difficult memories. It is based on the principle that, sometimes, our brain’s natural information processing gets "stuck," causing certain experiences to remain vivid in the present - as if they are being relived with the same intensity, even though they belong to the past. Through bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or other alternating stimuli), EMDR facilitates communication between the brain’s different processing systems, helping these experiences finally find their place in the past.
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Third-generation therapies - including Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Compassion - are a different approach within Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In this approach the focus shifts from the content of our thoughts to the way we relate to our inner experience. It embraces the idea that psychological suffering is a natural part of being human- and that the constant struggle to avoid or eliminate it can, paradoxically, make it stronger. Integrating mindfulness and compassion practices helps us create a safer inner space, where it becomes possible to stay with our experience - even when it’s difficult or painful.
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Sleep is a natural and fundamental process for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It is during sleep that the body recovers, regulates, and integrates what has been experienced throughout the day.
When difficulties with sleep arise, they rarely have a single cause. They may be related to emotional, cognitive, or behavioral factors, or to periods of increased demand or transition in life.
Insomnia is one of the most common difficulties in this area and, when it becomes persistent, it may cease to be merely a symptom and instead function as an independent disorder, maintained by a set of mechanisms that reinforce themselves over time.
At times:
sleep becomes a space of tension rather than rest
increased worry or vigilance about sleep emerges
patterns are created that, unintentionally, end up perpetuating the difficulty
In this context, it is important to understand not only how the problem manifests, but also how it developed and what is maintaining it.
Sleep-focused therapy is based on a specialized psychological intervention (CBT-I), aimed at the regulatory processes of sleep and the factors that contribute to its dysregulation. This type of intervention is currently recommended internationally as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia.
Consulta Presencial ou Online
In-Person Session
Available in Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto, in a calm setting that allows for greater closeness, comfort, and a safe space.
Online Session
Sessions conducted remotely, allowing for greater flexibility and convenience. Held via video call through platforms such as Whereby, WhatsApp (or another, if preferred).
You may schedule an appointment contact me using the form below or through the available contact details.
📍Clinica Dharma, Rua Dr. Ilídio Sardoeira 35, 4400-017 Vila Nova de Gaia
📞+351 925 268 951
📍UTERUS, Av. da Boavista n.º 1015, Sala 201, 2º andar, 4100-128 Porto
📞+351 93 433 8827
+351 968 351 351
📍Integrative Academy, Avenida do Bessa 344, 1ºEsq, 4100-012 Porto
📞+351 933 407 181
How can I help you?
Please use this space to ask any questions you may have.
If you would like to make an appointment, please get in touch with me using the available channels:
marianamillerpsi@gmail.com
+351 925 268 951
If you prefer, fill out the form and I will contact you as soon as possible.
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