A life between borders — and stories

I was born in Portugal, lived in Sweden for over a decade, and have spent much of my adult life navigating life across languages, countries, and identities. Along the way, I’ve worked with international organisations, expats, creatives, couples, leaders, and seekers — each carrying their own version of questions like: “Who am I now?” “Where am I going?” or “What’s the meaning of all this?”

My path has moved through many landscapes — both inward and outward. I’ve conducted academic research on consciousness, depression, and the psychological effects of yoga, while also exploring altered states through meditation, personal inquiry, and the thoughtful use of psychedelics. I’ve known the silence of heartbreak, the complexity of starting over, and the quiet liberation that comes with making peace with your own story.

I once met a tall ship captain and spent a season aboard his vessel — a chapter that taught me how to move with the wind and trust in forces beyond control. After that, I lived alone aboard my own boat through the stillness of a Nordic summer — and years later, I built a family with that same man. These experiences offered lessons that deepened what years of formal training began.

They don’t just inform my work — they shape it. They’ve made me a more grounded therapist, a more spacious listener, and a more honest writer.

Why I do this?

I believe freedom is our deepest longing — not just in how we live, but in how we feel. I’ve spent my life exploring both inner and outer worlds in search of that quiet, expansive sense of truth and beauty.
Through therapy, writing, and shared presence, I help others reconnect with their own inner compass — so they can live more courageously, love more truthfully, and create a life that feels like home.

Credentials

• Licensed Psychologist (Portugal & Sweden)

• MA in Clinical and Counselling Psychology

• MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience

• PgD in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Couple’s Therapy & Clinical Sexology

• Specialist in Organisational Psychology

               Languages: English, Portuguese, Swedish — with strong knowledge of French and Spanish.

Writing & What's Next

I’ve published reflective essays on platforms like Tiny Buddha (3M+ monthly readers) and Lifehack (12M+ monthly readers), and I’m now returning to writing with fresh eyes and a deeper voice.

You can follow my latest thoughts and stories on my Substack newsletter, Sanctuary Within — a quiet corner of the internet where I write about inner clarity, transitions, motherhood, creativity, and the art of living truthfully.

I believe stories have the power to heal — especially when we begin to author our own.

Let's Work Together

Through AnaBatista.com, I’m not just offering therapy or consulting — I’m creating a space for depth, growth, and bold inner work. A place where intellect meets intuition. Where ambition and sensitivity coexist. Where you can root into who you are, and rise.

If you're ready for that journey, there are two ways to begin:

• Work with me 1:1 — Therapy and mentoring for expats, high-achievers, and thoughtful souls seeking clarity, calm, and meaning.

• Explore a self-paced course — Guided inner work for anxiety, transitions, and self-reconnection — at your own rhythm.

I’d be honoured to walk alongside you.