- Addiction counselling
- Guilt and shame
- Attachment focus
About José
José Pereira is a counsellor and psychotherapist with an MSc in Counselling and 22 years of experience. He holds BACP membership and has focused much of his work on addiction and compulsive behaviours since 2003. He works with stress, anxiety, addiction, relationship and family concerns, and depression in individual therapy.
He spent many years in residential treatment settings. Roles included counsellor, senior counsellor, head therapist and clinical manager. He oversaw multidisciplinary teams and worked individually with people over extended periods to support longer-term change.
His day-to-day approach is integrative. He draws on cognitive behavioural ideas and acceptance and commitment ideas alongside attachment-based thinking and dialectical behaviour techniques. That means sessions can include practical exercises, attention to relationships, values-based steps, and skills for handling intense emotions.
He has particular experience with addictive behaviours and associated problems such as codependency, control issues, drug and alcohol addiction, hoarding and compulsive habits. He also works with family of origin difficulties, communication problems, abandonment and feelings of emptiness. Guilt and shame are named areas he addresses in therapy.
José offers work in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish. He also runs psycho-educational workshops and interpersonal groups in addition to one-to-one therapy. For people weighing next steps, he asks for a short matching questionnaire and a first session to agree goals and practical arrangements.
Background and approach: His long experience in residential services shaped a focus on sustained change. Sessions often combine practical relapse-prevention skills with conversations about attachment and relational patterns. He adapts methods to what a person needs in the room, and uses measurable steps where they help.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small committed steps in that direction. It uses practical exercises to shift unhelpful reactions and can be useful for anxiety, guilt and compulsive patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns. It looks at how connection and past wounds affect trust, closeness and shame reactions, and can help when relationship patterns keep repeating.Finding the right approach is part of the work. José will discuss different methods and help decide which fits a person's goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and may change as therapy progresses, with a mix of exercises, conversation and skills practice used where helpful.
Confirm current session options before booking as formats are not listed here. Many people find online sessions fit into busy lives by reducing travel and making it easier to schedule shorter check-ins or evening appointments. Online work can allow focus on practical skills, values-based planning and emotion regulation exercises in the moment. If language needs matter, note he offers sessions in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish and will arrange the practical details during the first meeting.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English, Spanish, French, Portuguese
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and family concerns, and depression. Additional areas include guilt and shame, abandonment and attachment issues.
How would he approach feelings of guilt or shame?
He uses an integrative approach that may combine cognitive behavioural strategies, acceptance-based techniques and attachment work. Sessions typically explore the feelings and introduce practical steps to notice and respond to them differently.
What is his professional background?
He has 22 years' experience working mainly in addiction and compulsive behaviour services and has held senior clinical roles in residential treatment settings.
What credential does he hold and where is he based?
He is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.
Can international clients work with him?
He accepts international clients. Confirm practical arrangements and any session formats before booking.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a working relationship?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session to agree goals and practical details.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.