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, O Profeta em “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.

Sleep…

It all started by accident…

In 2016 I got to choose where I was to do my internship and finally actually BE a Psychologist.

I must confess I didn’t fully know what I was getting into. Yet I ended up spending most important years of my training falling in love with sleep…

I realized that looking at someone’s night is looking at all their universes. What happens to us, the way we see, understand and interact with ourselves, with other people and with the world, old wounds that need to be seen and integrated… Sleep holds everything.

On the other hand, I’ve also realized the enormous impact that poor sleep has on our quality of life and daily functioning, at every level.

And all of this led me to try and understand sleep even further by pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology where I’ve dedicated myself to research and clinical practice of Sleep Psychology, particularly, Insomnia.

Services

  • Psychotheray

    Being human isn’t easy.

    The challenges of our external world can many times manifest in our internal world. They make us feel uneasy, an emotional distress that acts as a warning that something in us needs to be looked at.

    Emotional well-being is achieved when we open up space in us so that these emotions and the information they hold can be processed and integrated

    Symptoms of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, problems in our relationships, difficulties in making decisions and taking charge (…) or simply the feeling that something isn’t right can be a sign that something in us needs to me cared for.

    That’s where therapy comes in.

    This appointment aims to help you understand your internal world and deal with the emotional discomfort that stops you from feeling full and in peace in your life.

    The journey isn’t easy and it takes courage.

    I welcome each of my patients in a space of deep compassion and safety, where, together, we look at what needs to be looked at and walk the path to a full life.

    I stand still so that you can dive within and have a beacon to come back to.

  • Sleep Psychology

    Sleep is a natural and central process for human well-being, promoting physical, mental and emotional recovery.

    Sleep can be influenced by several factors, such as stress, anxiety, depression or grief. On the other hand, poor sleep can cause anxiety, depression and emotional and physical distress overall.

    When someone is having trouble sleeping, it’s imperative to understand how these difficulties are manifesting, how they’ve developed and what is maintaining them. Only then can we define the best treatment plan and reestablish a healthy sleep.

    The main therapeutic focus of the Sleep Psychology appointment is the treatment of Chronic Insomnia through a specialized intervention – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).

    CBT-I is a specialized psychological intervention that acts on sleep regulation processes and on the psychological mechanisms that are maintaining the sleep difficulties in order to break Insomnia’s vicious cycle.

    This is the first line treatment for Insomnia, that is, the recommended treatment by internation guidelines.

    Whenever Insomnia is associated with other emotional conditions, such as anxiety, depression or grief, the conditions are addressed simultaneously through an integrated approach and individualized therapeutic plans.

Schedule your appointment

Appointments last 60 minutes in both formats, honouring all ethical and deontological principles underlying the practice of psychology.

Face to face Appointments

+351 93 433 8827 / +351 968 351 351 Av. da Boavista n.º 1015, Sala 201, 2º andar
4100-128 Porto

Online Appointments

In video call format via the platforms: Whereby, WhatsApp (or other, to be named).

To book your appointment, please contact me or fill out the form and I’ll get back to you (details below).

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.

If you would like to be contacted by phone, please leave your contact details.

Your opinions

  • I started seeing Dr Mariana on the advice of my pulmonologist, and it was undoubtedly a turning point in getting to know myself and realising that I was worse off than I thought. In years of counselling I went through various phases of focus: sleep, anxiety, despair, changing jobs, bereavement, obesity... It was fundamental for me to find myself as a woman and, despite the falls, to get up and face the challenges that arose, and even with fear, to go ahead.

    A.

  • When I went to see Dr Mariana, I confess that I felt that therapy wasn't going to help me because I thought there was no solution other than pills. The insomnia made my nights a nightmare, as I spent them counting the hours I would still be able to sleep and looking at the clock. During the day I had no energy and felt very tired. With Dr Mariana's help I was able to sleep well again and have energy for everyday life. Thank you so much.

    D.

  • When I came to see Dr Mariana I couldn't sleep, I slept three or four hours a night and when I did I couldn't rest my head. I always felt tired with low self-esteem, always very anxious and angry, but thanks to the sessions with the doctor everything changed. She helped me to accept what was bothering me, to see things and problems in a different way, to relieve my anxiety without having to resort to medication, to accept my relationship with sleep, to understand the process and to create essential routines to regain a relaxing, peaceful and restful sleep. The methodologies were simple, effective and effortless. The next thing I knew, I was someone else, not suffering from anxiety, without fears and sleeping peacefully.

    R.

  • Dr Mariana Miller helped me over a period of about a year while I was being followed for insomnia. Dr Mariana accompanied me and provided me with the necessary tools to overcome difficult moments in my life. For me, Dr Mariana was more than psychological help; she was a mentor, confidant and guide, without prejudice or judgement. She was able to help me overcome the stresses of my daily life and I now sleep more peacefully without the need for medication. It was a long road, but it paid off, and Dr Mariana taught me to value myself and to feel that before taking care of others, I had to take care of myself. She also helped me overcome feelings of guilt and focus on the positive things in my life. I appreciate all the help, empathy and professionalism that Dr Mariana gave me, because she helped me to be the best version of myself and that I deserved to be happy! Thank you so much.

    M.