Our team
Hello and welcome! At Jacaranda Wellbeing, we are passionate about supporting individuals, families, and organizations through life’s transitions. With experience in both local and international contexts, we understand the unique challenges that come with change – whether you’re an expat adjusting to life in Portugal, a parent navigating family dynamics, or a leader striving to foster resilience within your team.
Our mission is to help teenagers, parents, teachers, and organizations develop stronger emotional connections, better communication, and the tools to grow with confidence. We believe that creating a shared emotional language is essential to building meaningful relationships with ourselves and others.
At Jacaranda, we bring kindness, authenticity, and a vision for a supportive future to everything we do. Let’s work together to create a path toward greater wellbeing and a stronger sense of belonging.
Soraia Jamal
Psychologist | Certified Coach | Facilitator
I’m a psychologist, coach and facilitator.
I have a degree (2001) and a Master’s in Psychology from ISCTE (2008), a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from the Catholic University of Lisbon (2019) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Children and Adolescents (2024).
I’m a certified Coach and I’m currently finalising my specialisation in Constructivist Psychotherapy.
With almost two decades of experience in the field of military aviation in the Portuguese Air Force, I have held various leadership positions, including School Counselor at the Air Force Academy, where I focused on improving the social and emotional well-being and performance of students. As a coach, I played an important role in developing emotional skills in future military personnel, facilitating the successful training of aeronautical pilots.
As a psychotherapist, I have offered support for mental health challenges and school or family concerns with children and adolescents. I have conducted vocational guidance processes for teenagers, including valuable parental counselling for parents in this context.
Passionate about parenting programmes with a Mindfulness approach, I led the implementation of the international “On The Parenting Journey” programme in Portugal.
As a trainer, teacher and facilitator in various professional contexts, I have had the opportunity to develop workshops, courses and training for companies, schools and postgraduate programmes that address relevant and current issues and promote fundamental skills for performance and well-being in high-performance contexts.
I’m currently very dedicated to learning about and implementing the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, an approach in which I’m certified at level 1.
I am a member of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists (OPP) – professional licence no. 3470.
Isabel Gonçalves
Clinical Psychologist | Psychotherapist
I am a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist. I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from ISPA (2006), a postgraduate degree in Psychological Coaching (2022), and training in various evidence-based psychotherapy techniques, including PBSP, EMDR, ET, and CBT. Currently, I am furthering my education in Integrative Psychotherapy at ISPA. I am also a Coach and Trainer.
With experience in both the corporate world and clinical settings, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the pressures individuals face in different environments. This diverse background enables me to offer a holistic approach in my practice, whether supporting clients dealing with workplace issues or those facing personal challenges.
As a psychotherapist, I provide support for a wide range of mental health challenges, working with individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a confidential, non-judgmental environment. With a passion for intercultural understanding, I work with the expatriate community and am fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French, which allows me to connect and communicate with expatriates from various backgrounds.
As a trainer and facilitator in multiple professional contexts, I have developed workshops, courses, and training programs for companies and individuals, addressing relevant topics and fostering essential skills for performance and well-being.
In our sessions, I bring my humanity, all of my personal and professional experiences, and everything I have learned throughout my years of life, practice, study, and training. During consultations with me, we will establish a relationship that forms the foundation of our work. We will converse, I will listen, and after an initial assessment — which may require more than one session — we will outline an intervention plan.
Currently, I am committed to expanding my knowledge and implementing new therapeutic approaches to enhance my practice and better serve my clients.
I am a member of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists (since 2010, with a specialization in Clinical and Health Psychology, license number 9154), a EuroPsy Psychologist with specializations in Clinical and Health Psychology as well as Work and Organizational Psychology (Credential: PT-065960-202012), and an International Affiliate Member of the American Psychological Association (since 2021).
