Gabriella Maceiras | Psychodynamic Psychotherapist for Young Adults
Online Psychotherapy for Young Adults | Anxiety, Low Self-Esteem, Relationships & Trauma
Pronouns: She/Her
✓ Over 30 years' experience in mental health and psychotherapy
✓ More than 20 years as a Clinical Specialist within NHS CAMHS
✓ Registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
✓ Specialist in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy
✓ Experienced in anxiety, depression, trauma and low self-esteem
✓ Helps with relationship difficulties, attachment and emotional wellbeing
✓ Supports young adults navigating life changes, identity and independence
How Gabriella Can Help
Gabriella Maceiras is a highly experienced psychotherapist offering online therapy to young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, trauma and emotional distress.
With over 30 years of experience in mental health, including more than 20 years as a Clinical Specialist within NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Gabriella brings a wealth of understanding to the emotional and psychological challenges that can arise as we move into adulthood.
Young adulthood can be a time of significant change and uncertainty. Whether you're navigating university, starting your career, developing relationships, becoming more independent or struggling to understand your emotions, these transitions can sometimes feel overwhelming.
You may find yourself experiencing persistent anxiety, low mood, self-doubt, difficulties in relationships or patterns of thinking and behaviour that seem hard to change. Sometimes these difficulties are connected to earlier experiences, family relationships or feelings that have never been fully understood or processed.
Gabriella offers a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can explore these experiences at your own pace.
Her psychodynamic approach goes beyond simply managing symptoms. Together, you can begin to understand how your past experiences, relationships and emotional patterns may be influencing how you feel about yourself, relate to others and respond to challenges today.
Gabriella has particular experience supporting people who have experienced childhood difficulties, trauma, family conflict, attachment difficulties and challenges with emotional regulation. Her additional training in family therapy also gives her a valuable understanding of how family dynamics and relationships can continue to shape our experiences into adulthood.
Her aim is to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, build emotional resilience, improve your relationships and feel more confident navigating life's challenges.
Areas Gabriella Can Help With
Anxiety, Depression & Emotional Wellbeing
Anxiety and persistent worry
Social anxiety
Panic attacks
Low mood and depression
Low self-esteem and self-criticism
Perfectionism and fear of failure
Loneliness and isolation
Emotional overwhelm
Difficulties managing or expressing emotions
Relationships, Attachment & Self-Esteem
Difficulties forming or maintaining relationships
Relationship anxiety and insecurity
Fear of rejection or abandonment
Attachment difficulties
Trust and intimacy difficulties
Family conflict and challenging family relationships
People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries
Understanding recurring relationship patterns
Trauma & Difficult Past Experiences
Childhood trauma and adverse experiences
Complex trauma
Emotional neglect
Abuse and difficult family experiences
Bereavement and loss
Family separation and divorce
Difficulties trusting others
Understanding how past experiences affect present relationships and emotional wellbeing
Young Adulthood & Life Transitions
Adjusting to university or independent living
Academic pressures and expectations
Career uncertainty and workplace stress
Developing independence from family
Identity and sense of self
Friendship difficulties
Managing change and uncertainty
Feeling lost, stuck or unsure about the future
Building confidence and self-understanding
Neurodivergence & Emotional Difficulties
Emotional difficulties associated with ADHD
Emotional difficulties associated with autism
Feeling misunderstood or different from others
Difficulties expressing feelings and needs
Emotional regulation challenges
Relationship and social difficulties
Gabriella has significant experience supporting young people affected by self-harm and significant emotional distress. My Therapist Online is not an emergency or crisis service. If a young person is at immediate risk, please contact emergency services or an appropriate crisis-support service.
Therapeutic Approaches & Models
Gabriella's Therapeutic Approach
Gabriella primarily works using psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, helping you explore the deeper emotional experiences and relationship patterns that may be contributing to difficulties in your life.
Psychodynamic therapy recognises that our experiences growing up, including relationships with important people in our lives, can influence how we see ourselves and relate to others in adulthood.
By exploring these experiences in a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship, Gabriella can help you develop greater emotional awareness, recognise unhelpful patterns and find new ways of responding to yourself and others.
Her extensive experience in child and adolescent psychotherapy and additional training in family therapy provide a particularly valuable perspective when working with young adults experiencing difficulties connected to their upbringing, family relationships, attachment or transitions into independence.
Therapeutic approaches:
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Attachment-informed Therapy
Family and Systemic Therapy
Additional Therapeutic Approaches
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Interpersonal Therapy
Person-Centred Therapy
Mindfulness
Solution-Focused Therapy
Couples Therapy
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Systemic Couples Therapy
Gabriella works with:
Who Gabriella Works With
Gabriella offers online individual psychotherapy for young adults aged 18–21, including those experiencing emotional difficulties, relationship challenges, anxiety, low self-esteem or the lasting effects of earlier life experiences.
She particularly welcomes young adults who would like to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their emotions and the patterns that may be affecting their relationships and wellbeing.
Her extensive background in child and adolescent mental health also makes her particularly well placed to support young adults as they navigate the transition from adolescence into independence.
Children (Under 10 years)
Adolescents (10 - 15 Years)
Adolescents (16 - 18 Years)
Young adults
Families of the above client groups, as necessary
Professional Training & Accreditations
Registered member of the British Psychoanalytic Council - BPC Registration number 25848
Over 20 years as a Clinical Specialist within Lambeth CAMHS, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Specialist experience working with children, teenagers, young adults and families
Member of the Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists
Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy – Tavistock Centre
Postgraduate Diploma in Family Therapy – Institute of Psychiatry, Maudsley Hospital
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Infant Observational Studies
Registered Mental Health Nurse - NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) Registration Number is 87Y1490E
More than 30 years’ experience in mental health nursing and psychotherapy
Client Testimonials
Helping a Child Through Family Separation
“Gabriella saw our 11 year old son, who had begun struggling during the break up of my marriage. Gabriella built a therapy relationship with him, to enable him to trust her. She maintained a very professional role and kept us generally informed. She built up the trust, meeting him weekly for six months. We feel we have got our boy back from his troubles and cannot thank Gabriella enough. We can highly recommend her, she has an approach which our son found engaging and he was able to work through his fears and worries.” Sarah
Restoring Confidence After Bullying and School Stress
“Our 15 year old daughter was finding lots of things getting on top of her , particularly at school. She had been bullied and was feeling hopeless about forthcoming exams. We found the right therapist in Gabriella, who was able to use her experience and make a connection with our daughter. Our daughter now feels more in control of herself and has improved so much in both her mood and general outlook to life.We have to thank Gabriella for her professionalism and her ability to connect” Lisa
FAQs
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Gabriella works with children, teenagers and young adults up to the age of 21. She can also work with parents and families where this would support the child or young person’s therapy.
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Family therapy is a way of working with the whole family, rather than just one person. When a child or young person is struggling, it often affects — and is affected by — everyone around them. In family therapy, we come together to understand the patterns, pressures and communication difficulties within the family unit, and how each person experiences them. It's not about finding someone to blame; it's about helping the family understand each other better, so relationships can improve and everyone feels more able to support one another. Sessions may involve the whole family, or just parents, depending on what's most helpful.
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Psychodynamic therapy is based on the idea that our current feelings and behaviours are often shaped by past experiences — sometimes in ways we're not fully aware of. Rather than only managing symptoms, this approach explores what lies beneath them: early relationships, past events, and patterns that keep repeating. For children and young people, this might happen through talking, or through play and creativity. By making sense of these underlying experiences in a safe, trusting relationship with the therapist, difficult feelings become easier to understand and manage — and lasting change becomes possible.
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Gabriella supports teenagers experiencing anxiety, low mood, emotional regulation difficulties, low self-esteem, trauma, self-harm, bullying, school pressures, friendship problems and family change. She also works with neurodivergent young people, including those with ADHD or autism.
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Online therapy provides a regular, private space in which a young person can talk and explore their feelings from a familiar environment. Gabriella adapts sessions to the young person’s age and communication style. With younger children, this may include creative activities or play as well as talking.
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Parental involvement depends on the child’s age, needs and individual circumstances. Gabriella will discuss this clearly at the beginning of therapy. She may meet with parents separately, involve them at agreed stages or recommend family sessions where these would be helpful, while also respecting the young person’s need for a confidential therapeutic space.
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After completing the My Therapist Online registration by clicking the button “Start therapy with Gabriella”, you can have a free 15-minute introductory call with Gabriella. This gives you an opportunity to discuss the main concerns, ask questions and consider whether she feels like the right therapist for the child or young person.