Online CBT Therapist for Anxiety & Perinatal Mental Health – Anjelena Santos

Anjelena Santos is a BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist offering online therapy for anxiety, trauma and perinatal mental health. With over 15 years’ experience working in NHS services and private practice, she specialises in helping women who feel overwhelmed, anxious or stuck in patterns of overthinking and self-pressure.

Anjelena Santos BABCP accredited online CBT therapist specialising in anxiety and perinatal mental health

Anjelena Santos BABCP accredited online CBT therapist specialising in anxiety and perinatal mental health

Start therapy with Anjelena

Anjelena Santos

BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)

Pronouns: She/Her

Hi, I’m Anjelena, a BABCP psychotherapist with over 15 years’ experience working across NHS services and private practice.

I typically work with women who often appear to be coping well on the outside - yet inside feel anxious, overwhelmed and constantly under pressure. Many find themselves stuck in patterns of overthinking, people-pleasing, and holding themselves to impossibly high standards — leaving them exhausted, disconnected from themselves, and unsure how to slow down without feeling guilty.

My work is grounded in a trauma-informed approach. Trauma is less about what happened, but more about how experiences made us feel at the time. Moments in life that left you feeling unsafe, rejected, ashamed, abandoned, or powerless can shape the beliefs you hold about yourself and how you relate to others and cope day to day. 

Together, we'll identify how these patterns show up in your life and build strategies to break free from what’s keeping you stuck. Our work will focus on helping you move out of survival mode and towards a deeper sense of safety, balance, and self-trust. Along the way, we build practical tools to help you feel calmer, set clearer boundaries, and reconnect with a more grounded and fulfilling way of living.

I specialise in perinatal mental health therapy, helping women experiencing postnatal anxiety, birth trauma, intrusive thoughts and postpartum depression. I help mums move from feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and disconnected from themselves, weighed down by guilt, anxiety and intrusive thoughts, to feeling like themselves again, finding more calm, confidence and joy in motherhood. 

If you’re ready to move out of survival mode and start feeling calmer, more in control and more connected to yourself, I’m here to help you take that next step. I know starting therapy can feel daunting, and finding the right fit is key to making meaningful, lasting change. That’s why I offer a free initial consultation, a chance for us to ask each other a few questions and give you a clear idea of what to expect from our sessions.

Area of specialism

  • Perinatal trauma and perinatal mental health difficulties

  • Anxiety

  • Trauma

Anjelena specialises in CBT for anxiety disorders, trauma therapy, and perinatal mental health support, including therapy for birth trauma, postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts after birth

Commonly Treated Difficulties

Anxiety Disorders Treated

  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Panic attacks

  • Health anxiety

  • Social anxiety

  • Agoraphobia

  • Phobias

Trauma & PTSD

  • Childhood trauma

  • Complex PTSD

  • Birth trauma

  • Sexual assault trauma

  • Road traffic accident trauma

Perinatal Mental Health

  • Postnatal depression

  • Postpartum anxiety

  • Intrusive thoughts after birth

  • Pregnancy and baby loss.

LGBTQIA+ and Diversity Competencies

Anjelena has actively sought continued professional development in a number of diversity and inclusion in therapy trainings. This has included;

  • Fostering Queer Joy: Affirming Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with LGBTQIA+ Youth and their Families

  • Acceptance Commitment Therapy for Gender Identity

  • Addressing Unconscious Bias & Systemic Microaggression

  • Working with and adapting for Autism (ASD/ASC)

  • Delivering CBT with autistic clients to improve mental health

  • CBT for adult ADHD: Helping clients turn intentions into actions

Therapeutic Approaches & Models

  • Trauma-Focused CBT

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)

  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) 

  • Somatic Interventions

  • Polyvagal Interventions


  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) is a structured, evidence-based form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) designed to help people recover from the emotional and psychological effects of trauma.

    Trauma can affect how we think, feel, and experience the world. After distressing events such as accidents, abuse, violence, loss, medical trauma, or other overwhelming experiences, people may develop symptoms such as intrusive memories, anxiety, avoidance, nightmares, or feeling constantly on edge.

    Trauma-Focused CBT helps people process these experiences safely, understand how trauma has affected them, and gradually reduce the distress linked to those memories.

    How Trauma-Focused CBT works

    TF-CBT combines practical CBT strategies with trauma-specific techniques to help people:

    • Understand how trauma affects the brain and body

    • Reduce distressing thoughts, memories, or flashbacks

    • Gently process traumatic memories in a safe and supported way

    • Develop tools to manage anxiety and emotional overwhelm

    • Rebuild a sense of safety, control and confidence in daily life

    Therapy moves at a pace that feels manageable, with the focus on building coping skills and emotional stability before working more directly with trauma memories.

    Is Trauma-Focused CBT effective?

    Trauma-Focused CBT is one of the most widely researched treatments for trauma and is recommended by clinical guidelines, including those used by the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), for conditions such as post-traumatic stress.

    Many people find that TF-CBT helps them feel less overwhelmed by the past and more able to move forward with their lives.

    What to expect in therapy

    Sessions are collaborative and supportive. Together with your therapist, you will develop practical tools to help you feel safer and more grounded, while gradually working through the impact of the trauma in a way that feels contained and manageable.

    The aim is not to forget what happened, but to help the memory lose its emotional intensity, so it no longer disrupts your present life.

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a practical, evidence-based form of therapy that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

    When we feel anxious, low, or overwhelmed, our thoughts and behaviour patterns can sometimes keep difficulties going. CBT helps you notice these patterns and develop healthier ways of thinking and responding, so you can feel more in control.

    Together with your therapist, you learn practical tools to manage challenges such as anxiety, panic, low mood, trauma, or stress. CBT is usually structured, goal-focused, and collaborative, helping you build skills that you can continue using long after therapy has finished.

  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is a psychological approach designed to help individuals develop and cultivate compassion towards themselves and others to enhance well-being. Developed by Dr. Paul Gilbert, CFT is grounded in the understanding that compassion can be a powerful motivator for change, helping to alleviate feelings of shame, self-criticism, and negative self-image.

    CFT therapy combines techniques from cognitive-behavioural therapy, evolutionary psychology, social psychology, and neuroscience. It focuses on teaching individuals skills to regulate difficult emotions, develop self-compassion, and build inner strength to face life's challenges. CFT is particularly effective for those who struggle with self-criticism and high levels of shame and can be applied to a range of psychological conditions, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

  • Somatic interventions in therapy involve a body-centered approach, focusing on the connection between the mind and body in the healing process. These interventions are based on the understanding that trauma and stress can manifest physically in the body, often in the form of chronic pain, tension, or other somatic symptoms.

  • A perinatal CBT therapist is a therapist specially trained to support people experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties during pregnancy and in the first year after birth (the perinatal period).

    This stage of life can bring significant physical, emotional and lifestyle changes. While it can be a joyful time, many people also experience challenges such as anxiety, low mood, panic, intrusive thoughts, birth trauma, or difficulties adjusting to parenthood.

    A perinatal CBT therapist uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact during this period, and to develop practical tools to manage distress and regain confidence.

    Perinatal CBT therapy can help with:

    • Postnatal depression

    • Anxiety during pregnancy

    • Panic attacks

    • Birth trauma or traumatic birth experiences

    • Health anxiety about your baby

    • OCD and intrusive thoughts after birth

    • Adjustment to becoming a parent

    Sessions focus on helping you feel safe, supported and understood, while building skills to manage difficult thoughts and emotions. Therapy is tailored to the realities of life with a baby, recognising the pressures, fatigue and identity changes that many parents experience.

    Perinatal CBT is recommended by UK clinical guidance, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), as an effective treatment for common mental health difficulties during pregnancy and after birth.

    Working with a therapist who understands the specific emotional and psychological challenges of the perinatal period can help you feel more confident, supported and able to navigate this important stage of life.


Anjelena Works with:

  • Adolescents (16 - 18 Years)

  • Adults (19-65 Years)

  • Elderly (65+ Years)

Languages spoken fluently

  • English

  • Russian

  • Brazilian Portuguese

Why Work With a Specialist Perinatal CBT Therapist?

Pregnancy and early motherhood can bring enormous change. Working with a therapist who understands perinatal mental health can help you navigate anxiety, trauma, and emotional adjustment during this period.

Anjelena has specialist training in perinatal CBT therapy, supporting women experiencing postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, birth trauma and adjustment to motherhood.

Client Testimonials

Empowering Change with Compassion and Expertise

“Anjelena was the light in my life when I needed it the most. She equipped me with life long tools and changed my perspective that I will carry through my life forever. She gave me the confidence and helping hand to get me where I am today and believed in me when I didn't. On top of un-tying all the knots in my brain she was a bundle of joy and really easy to talk to. I will definitely be going straight back to her if life throws another challenge at me.” Beth

Overcoming Dark Moments with Confidence and Support

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support and expertise over the past 6 months. Your support helped me overcome some very dark moments in my life. I feel more reassured and confident in facing the world with all the tools and skills I have learnt." - Ayesha 

I can wholeheartedly recommend Anjelena to anyone struggling postpartum.

“I can wholeheartedly recommend Anjelena to anyone struggling postpartum. After the birth I had, I was constantly anxious and on edge, I didn't recognise myself anymore. After only a few sessions I started to feel like myself again. My sleep and relationships improved massively. I understood why I was reacting the way I was and there was nothing wrong with me. I was enjoying spending time with my baby for the first time since he was born. By the end I feel like I made peace with the birth experience I had - which I never thought I would. I now feel so much more confident and ready to focus on the future and can't thank you enough

A Perfect Balance of Professionalism and Warmth

"Anjelena is lovely. She struck the perfect balance of professionalism and being real and treating you like a person, being friendly, not cold and like you`re just a patient. She was so insightful and helpful and I just can`t say enough how great she is." - Amy

Start therapy with Anjelena

Professional Training & Accreditations

  • Fully accredited BABCP membership number: 00001--4237 2017 – 2018

  • Royal Holloway University of London Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (IAPT Programme)

  • University College London Postgraduate Diploma in Low Intensity Cognitive

  • King’s College London MSc Clinical and Forensic Psychology (Distinction)

  • Roehampton University (2008) Undergraduate Degree (BSc) in Psychology & Counselling (Distinction)



  • Attachment and Compassion Focused Therapy (2024)

  • Interpersonal Processes in CBT (2024)

  • Developing Meta-competencies in CBT (2024)

  • Chairwork in CBT in Practice (2024)

  • Compassion Focused Therapy in Practice (2023)

  • Perinatal Mental Health Training – West London NHS (2019)

  • Level 1–3 Somatic Therapy for Trauma (2024)

  • Breastfeeding Trauma and Grief (2025)

  • Compassion Focused Therapy for the Self-Critical Mind (2024)

  • Using Compassion Focused Therapy to Work with Shame-Based Trauma Memories (2024)

  • Loss, Grief and PTSD Linked to Traumatic Bereavement (2024)

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma (2023)

  • OCD Presentations in New Parents (2022)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Practice (2023)

  • New Parents and Infants Mental Health (2022)

Find My Therapist Online
 

Follow us:

 
Cart (0)