Psychologist & Sexuality Specialist

Mariana Mendes Barcelos e Santos

As a certified Psychologist and Sexuality Specialist from Brazil, Mariana Barcelos offers a therapeutic space where clinical expertise and profound human understanding meet. Grounded in an existential-phenomenological approach, her work honors the unique lived experience of each individual, focusing on themes of identity, intimacy, and desire. She has dedicated her career to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, with a particular focus on the experiences of sapphic women. As a lesbian woman and the co-founder of a pioneering LGBTQIA+ psychological clinic, she brings a rare combination of professional knowledge and authentic, lived empathy to her practice, creating a truly safe and affirming environment for clients to explore their most authentic selves.

Location: Brazil

 

Locally qualified: Psychologist & Sexuality Specialist

 

Qualified worldwide: Sexuality Specialist & Relationship Counselor

 

Book a Consultation
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1. Individual Psychotherapy

This is a confidential, one-on-one space dedicated entirely to you and your unique lived experience. In these sessions, we can delve into topics such as sexuality, desire, self-esteem, anxiety, and personal growth. Using an existential-phenomenological approach, our conversations will focus on helping you find meaning, clarify your values, and build a life that feels authentic and fulfilling.

3. LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy

As my core specialty, I provide therapy that is deeply attuned to the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is a space free from judgment where we can address specific issues such as coming out, navigating queer relationships, overcoming internalized stigma, and exploring gender and sexual identity. My lived experience as a lesbian woman enriches this work, particularly in supporting sapphic individuals.

2. Couples Therapy

For couples seeking to strengthen their bond, I offer a supportive environment to explore relationship dynamics. We will work collaboratively to improve communication, navigate conflicts, and deepen both emotional and physical intimacy. My practice is affirming of all relationship structures and is focused on helping you build a more resilient and connected partnership.

4. Trauma-Informed Support

For clients who have experienced trauma related to sexuality, relationships, or violence, I offer a gentle, trauma-informed approach. Healing is a process that cannot be rushed. My focus is on creating a secure environment where you can process your experiences at your own pace, reclaim a sense of safety, and rebuild a foundation of trust and resilience in your body and relationships.

My Services

How We Can Work Together

My practice is built on creating a warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental space where you can feel safe to explore the most personal aspects of your life. Whether you are seeking to understand your identity, deepen your intimacy, or navigate life's challenges, my goal is to accompany you on your journey with empathy and clinical expertise. Below are the primary ways we can work together.

Explore My Services

Specialist in

Unfiltered Talk on Sex, Desire & Sapphic Identity

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Your Story, Your Meaning, Your Freedom

I believe therapy is not about diagnosing what is 'wrong,' but about courageously exploring what is true for you. My approach is grounded in the conviction that you are the ultimate expert on your own life. My role is to be a dedicated partner in making sense of your story, honoring your world exactly as you see it, without judgment or assumption. Together, we will navigate the profound questions of identity, desire, and connection, creating a space where you can reclaim your freedom to choose a life that feels authentic and deeply meaningful.

Take the First Step
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Sofia and Clara

She gave us a space where we felt truly seen.
My clients Experience

Journeys Toward Wholeness: Real Stories of Transformation

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Identity, Affirmation & Empowerment

Much of my work is dedicated to creating a safe space where you can explore and celebrate who you are, free from societal expectations. I specialize in helping women and LGBTQIA+ individuals navigate the complexities of identity, overcome internalized stigma, and build unshakeable self-acceptance and confidence.

  • For a woman feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of motherhood, we worked to clarify her own authentic desires and values.

  • For a lesbian client struggling with internalized lesbophobia, we reframed her experiences to find pride and freedom in her identity.

  • For a transgender client navigating their transition, we focused on building resilience and self-acceptance against social challenges.

Navigating Relationships & Intimacy

I help individuals and couples build healthier, more connected, and more fulfilling relationships. My approach focuses on improving communication, setting healthy boundaries, and creating a safe space to explore desire, intimacy, and sexual health without shame or judgment.

  • For a couple stuck in a cycle of conflict, we developed tools for active listening and emotional regulation to foster connection.

  • For a client feeling shame around their sexual desire, we worked to reframe their perspective and develop healthier intimacy.

  • For an individual who repeatedly entered unbalanced relationships, we identified underlying patterns to help them build stronger boundaries.

Begin Your Journey

Healing from Trauma & Building Resilience

Therapy is a gentle and patient process of healing from past wounds. I provide a secure, trauma-informed environment where you can process difficult experiences, manage anxiety and depression, and rebuild a sense of safety and agency in your life and relationships at your own pace.

  • For a survivor of sexual trauma, we focused on reclaiming a sense of safety and rebuilding trust in their body and relationships.

  • For a client who experienced homophobic violence, we worked to process the trauma while simultaneously affirming their identity.

  • For a woman experiencing depression linked to suppressing her identity, we guided her to embrace her authentic self and regain energy.

Our Process

A Look Inside Your Therapy Process

It starts with a welcoming first session focused on building trust and understanding your story. We then explore your unique world together, uncovering the deeper meanings behind your experiences. From there, we define what truly matters to you through a flexible, client-led goal-setting process. Our ongoing sessions are dedicated to deepening this insight and supporting your continued growth, ensuring you feel seen and in control of your journey at every step.

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Heterosexual Women Orgasm Frequency
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Lesbian Orgasm Frequency
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Gay Men's Orgasm Frequency
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Are you

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Taking the first step is often the most courageous one. If you're ready to gain clarity, understand the patterns shaping your life, and build a more empowered future, I invite you to connect. I offer a confidential, non-judgmental space to explore if my approach is the right fit for you. Let's begin the conversation.

Schedule an Introduction

Special Focus

Lived Experience & Clinical Expertise

A unique foundation of my practice is the deep integration of clinical excellence with my authentic, lived experience. As both a certified Psychologist and a lesbian woman, I offer more than just a therapeutic method; I provide a space of profound, inherent understanding. This approach is particularly powerful for those who have felt they must translate their identity or justify their experiences in other settings. It allows our work to bypass preliminaries and go deeper, fostering a connection built on shared context and genuine empathy, helping you feel not just heard, but truly seen.
Mariana Barcelos
Psychologist & Sexuality Specialist
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