Trauma-Informed Counsellor for Anxiety, Trauma & Emotional Wellbeing | Otavia Pires de Camargo

Otavia Pires de Camargo

Counsellor

Pronouns: She/Her

About Otavia

Feeling Overwhelmed, Disconnected or Stuck

In a world that often feels fast-paced and uncertain, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or as though you’ve simply had enough. Many people come to therapy when they are struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, or carrying the lasting weight of past trauma.

A Trauma-Informed and Compassionate Approach

As a trauma-informed counsellor, I support adults in gently reconnecting with themselves, helping them tune into their body’s sensations and nervous system in ways that foster regulation, safety, and awareness. Together, we explore both past experiences and present patterns, gaining a deeper understanding of what may be holding you back and identifying habits or ways of coping that no longer serve you.

Often, unresolved experiences from the past can quietly shape how we relate to ourselves, others, and the future, keeping us stuck in cycles of fear, pain, self-protection, or disconnection. Part of our work together is creating space to process these experiences safely and gradually let go of what no longer needs to define your life.

How We May Work Together

I offer a warm, grounded, and compassionate space where we can explore who you are beneath the stress and survival patterns. My approach combines talking therapy with mindfulness, somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and deeper reflective work.

I also draw on philosophy and concepts of wisdom that can guide us toward greater self-understanding, resilience, and emotional balance. Through this process, you can begin to develop new ways of thinking, relating, and being that support a more authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling life.

Supporting Lasting Change

I work collaboratively and at your pace, drawing on over a decade of experience supporting people through anxiety, trauma, emotional pain, relationship difficulties, and life transitions.

I believe that even in times of uncertainty, it is possible to reconnect with yourself, build resilience, and move towards a life that feels more aligned and grounded. I feel honoured to support clients from around the world as they rediscover their sense of self.

I’m here to walk alongside you on that journey.

Begin Therapy with Otavia

I’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to reach out if you’d like to begin this work together.

Areas of Specialism

Anxiety, Stress & Emotional Wellbeing

  • Anxiety

  • Stress

  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Health Anxiety

  • Fear of Abandonment

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Confidence

  • Low Self-Esteem

  • Motivation

  • Depression / Low Mood

Trauma & Attachment

  • Trauma

  • Attachment Problems

Relationships & Family

  • Family Conflict

  • Parenting Issues

Sleep & Physical Wellbeing

  • Sleep Problems

  • Insomnia

  • Pain Management

Work & Life Stress

  • Work-Related Stress

Anger & Behavioural Challenges

  • Anger Management

Therapeutic Approaches & Models

  • Mindfulness          

  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

  • Integrative Therapy          

  • Person-centred therapy          

  • Psychodynamic therapy    

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Mindfulness          

  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

  • Solution Focused Therapy

  • Systemic Family therapy                

  • Somatic Bodywork through the breath, mindfulness and awareness practices

  • Acceptance and Forgiveness

Otavia works with

  • Adolescents (16 - 18 Years)                   

  • Adults (19-65 Years)

Speaks fluent

  • English

  • Portuguese

Professional Training & Accreditations

  • MA Transpersonal Arts Counsellor

  • BACP Registered 403871

  • Systemic Family Therapy Online

  • Self Healing processes with EFT training Online

  • Child Psychotherapy

  • Development of human consciousness

  • Mindfulness / Meditation

  • BA (HONS) Architecture South Bank University

Client testimonials

Calm, compassionate, and deeply supportive therapy with Otavia.

“I’ve been working with Otavia for almost a year and a half, and I can’t recommend sessions with her enough. She brings a very calm, kind energy to every session and creates a space where I feel completely safe to open up. I’ve been able to explore some really personal, long-standing challenges with her, and she’s helped me make sense of things I’ve carried for a long time. She also gives me practical tools that I can use in day-to-day life, which has been very helpful. I’ve learned a lot about myself and continue to grow with each session. Having her support has made this journey feel so much less overwhelming and I’m incredibly grateful to have her support.“ S.L.

Empowering Therapy with Otavia: Practical Tools and Lasting Insights

"My sessions with Otavia were my first experience with therapy, and they were incredibly valuable. I gained many meaningful insights and really appreciated having a safe space to share my thoughts and feelings openly. I also found it helpful to be reminded of things I may have already known deep down, as well as to receive validation and confirmation for my feelings. The sessions equipped me with practical tools that I now use in my everyday life. I warmly recommend working with Otavia.” Annonymous

Guiding Self-Awareness and Mindfulness

"I have been so glad to have Otavia as my therapist! She always listens and really guides me through my thoughts and emotions, helping me gain self-awareness and becoming more mindful. I have seen great improvements in myself in just under 3 months." – Vanya

Getting to the Root of the Problem

"Otavia is brilliant, extremely helpful, and gets down to the root cause of the issues I've been struggling with. I love the analogies she offers and visuals for me to use as tools to help myself. She is incredibly kind and understanding—I highly recommend her!" – Susanne

Creating a Safe and Supportive Space

"I've been seeing Otavia for the past few months, and I'm incredibly happy with her abilities in making me feel comfortable and heard." – Awrad

Empowering Change Through Effective Techniques

"Otavia Pires is an amazing professional! Online therapy provided me with a safe space to explore my thoughts and feelings. The techniques used, such as tapping, were effective in managing my anxiety. Thanks to her, my communication with my parents and colleagues improved significantly, and my self-esteem has grown. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking quality psychological support!" – Lucas

Enhancing Relationships and Self-Understanding

"I had weekly therapy sessions with Otavia for four months. I felt instantly at ease when speaking with her and found her to be incredibly knowledgeable and an excellent listener.

As the weeks progressed, my outlook on life became more positive, and I gained a sense of control over my personal relationships. Otavia helped me strengthen my assertive communication skills while also encouraging empathy and self-awareness. Her mindfulness coaching was unparalleled, and I left each session with effective meditation techniques to manage anxiety and nurture my inner child.

I highly recommend Otavia to anyone looking to improve their quality of life, better connect with themselves, and enhance their relationships with others."* – Rebekah

Compassionate Support for Personal Growth

"I was a patient of Otavia for 3 months, and during this time, I experienced significant growth. She helped me unlock internal issues with a lot of care and understanding. Her approach was essential in helping me better understand my challenges. I’m very grateful for the support and clarity she brought to my process!" – Danielle

"Warmth and Understanding That Truly Makes a Difference"

"Otavia oozes warmth and understanding. She is very knowledgable, non-judgemental, kind and supportive. She clearly is in the right profession and I am very lucky to have found her.” - Gabrielle 

"A Compassionate Therapist Who Instills Optimism and Confidence"

"Otavia is such a warm and compassionate therapist. She really seemed to empathise with my problems, and her calm, measured and confident approach immediately made me feel reassured and optimistic. Our sessions are well-structured and professional and she gives me a set of clear and easy things to work on before our next session, so nothing ever feels too overwhelming. I’d recommend her in a heartbeat". - Suzy

"Helping Children Overcome Fears and Achieve Milestones"


"I have definitely seen a change in Jake during the last couple of weeks! He even opted to take part (last minute) in the end of year 6 show yesterday and I was completely amazed! Bearing in mind I had to physically take him into school for 3 mornings when the auditions first started, because he was so scared! This is a huge achievement for him". - Sally