JANI SANTOS · ACCREDITED COUNSELLOR

Online therapy for people living between cultures

Reconnect with your authentic, unapologetic self.
 
Online counselling for individuals and couples, in English, Portuguese or SpanishMBACP (Accred) · over eight years' experience
 

Some things take root in us before we know to question them. Therapy is the place we begin to look.I work with people who have felt the weight of systems – families, beliefs, cultures, relationships – that weren't built around who they really are. Together, we do the quiet, rigorous work of finding your own ground.Therapy, as I practise it, is relational and embodied – which means we attend not just to the story you bring, but to how that story lives in your body, your patterns and your present moment.

Does this sound familiar?

Many people who come to me feel at least one of these:

  • You grew up with strict rules or beliefs, and you're still working out which ones are really yours.

  • You've built a life in a new country, but part of you still doesn't feel at home.

  • You become a slightly different person depending on the language or the room.

  • You keep ending up in the same relationship patterns, even though you know better.

  • Your body feels tense, numb or on alert, and talking about it hasn't been enough.

  • You and your partner come from different worlds, and the same argument keeps coming back.

If any of this feels close, you don't have to work it out alone.

HOW I CAN HELP

What Becomes Possible Through This Work

Learning to Trust Yourself Again
If you grew up with strict expectations, controlling beliefs, or in places where your voice wasn't fully your own, it can be hard to know what you really want. I help you reconnect with yourself, your values and your ability to make choices that feel true to you.Building Healthier Relationships
Together, we explore relationship patterns shaped by conflict, control, or emotional pressure, helping connection feel safer, steadier, and more authentic.I work with individuals and with couples, including couples from different countries and cultures.Finding Home Within Yourself
Living between cultures, identities, or ways of being can feel unsettling at times. I support you in building a deeper sense of belonging, stability, and connection within yourself.We can work in English, Portuguese or Spanish – or move between them, whatever feels most like you.

First Steps Toward Support

Taking the first step asks something of you, and that's worth acknowledging. The process itself is simpler than it might feel from where you're standing. There's no right way to begin, and nothing you need to figure out first. I'll guide you through every stage, at your own pace.

Step 1 — Reach Out

Simply send a message or book a free 15-minute call. You don't need to know exactly what to say or even what you're looking for yet. Just showing up is enough. We'll take it from there together.
 

Step 2 — Your Welcome Session

This first full session is about you feeling safe and understood - not about having answers. We'll explore what's brought you here, what feels heavy, and what you're hoping for. There's no pressure, no judgement, and no rush.

 
Step 3 — Your Personal Path Forward

After your first session, we'll put together a gentle plan that fits your life, your pace, and your goals. This is where healing starts to feel real - because it's finally yours.
 

ABOUT JANI

Eight years of sitting with complexity

I'm Jani Santos, a BACP accredited counsellor.
I trained because I believed (and still do) that the way we relate to ourselves and others can change.My clinical work is shaped by over eight years of practice with individuals and couples navigating identity, belonging, and the pressure of rigid systems - whether those are families, institutions, or cultures. I am also someone who has lived between cultures. That experience is not incidental to my work. It lives inside how I listen.I work with the whole of you - not just the narrative you've learned to tell, but the patterns beneath it and what your body is quietly carrying; this is what Gestalt, Internal Family Systems, and Embodied Therapy make possible together.
Every part of you developed for a reason, and that's where we begin.

fees & contact

Begin the conversation

All sessions are online, private and confidential. I offer a sliding scale for individuals and couples.Individual sessions: £65-£75 for 50 minutesCouples sessions: £95-£110 for 75 minutesFree 15-minute call: for individuals and couples, to see if we’re a good fitPlatform: ZoomBook a free 15-minute call to see if we're a good fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?The free 15-minute call is there for exactly this. You can tell me a little about what’s going on, ask me anything, and get a feel for whether we’d work well together.

What if I don’t know what’s wrong – I just don’t feel right?That’s a very common place to start. Many people come with a general sense that something isn’t working, and we can explore it together.

How often will we meet, and for how long?Most people come weekly to begin with. Some work with me for a few months, others for longer. We'll review together how it's going.

What are Gestalt, somatic and IFS therapy?They’re approaches that look at what’s happening for you right now, in your body and in the different “parts” of you, not just the story you tell about it. You don’t need to know anything about them. I’ll explain as we go, and we’ll only use what feels right for you.

Thanks for reaching out!

I look forward to reviewing your message and will be in touch as soon as possible.Jani Santos