Psychotherapy & counseling

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Ritva Morales

Brussels
Psychotherapy & Counseling

Anxiety, stress, depression, burn out, relationship and family issues, life changes, trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, alcohol and substance abuse, and other personal matters. We all face personal life challenges at times. I provide a confidential service, and a collaborative, non-judgmental approach, where you can freely express yourself, and where we will work together towards your goals.

Individual psychotherapy and counseling offered to English speaking clients and Expats

Languages spoken: English, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian.
Client focus: Adults.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over twenty years of experience, based in Brussels, Belgium.

Registered with the Belgian Commission of Psychologists
Approval as a Clinical Psychologist by the Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Health
Registered Psychologist with the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations EFPA
Licensed Psychologist in Norway and in Denmark
Licensed Therapist (LMHC) in New York State, USA

Professional  Membership:
Member of the Flemish Association of Clinical Psychologists 
The Belgian Federation of Psychologists 
The British Psychological Society 
Norwegian Psychological Association 
European Federation of Psychologists’ Association 

Ritva L. Morales, MSc, GMBPsS, LMHC
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Psychotherapist

Psychotherapy and Counseling

I help you to navigate with various life challenges, adverse events, anxiety, job stress, depression, mental health issues, substance abuse, drug addiction, or other issues that may may be interfering with your ability to function effectively, and affect your psychological wellbeing, relationships, or productivity at work.

My Areas of Clinical Expertise Include:

• Anxiety and Worry
• Panic Disorder
• Social Anxiety
• Depression
• Life Transitions
• Work-related Stress
• Relationship Issues
• LGBTQ+ Issues  
• Identity Issues
• Grief and Loss
• Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD)
• Self-defeating Behaviors
• EAP Counseling
• Addictions
  

Treatment Approach

I utilize Integrative Therapy, that combines different therapy modalities and evidence-based treatment, to fit the needs of the individual client. In my practice, I integrate various psychotherapeutic methods and orientations, depending on the client’s unique background and presenting concerns.

These approaches include solution-focused brief therapy, cognitive behavioral, client-centered, insight-oriented, culturally sensitive, strength-based, mindfulness-based, and psychodynamic approaches. I may also incorporate the use of other methods in order to tailor my psychological services to the client’s needs.  

My main focus is on the here and now, but I may explore the client’s past to provide insight on how early experiences and relationships, and unresolved issues, continue to influence the present, in terms of thoughts, feelings, behavior and current relationships, and how they may impact the day-to-day life.

Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy involves you, the client, talking to the psychotherapist about your issues and concerns, as well as your goals. The session focus may be on current or past issues, problems, feelings, relationships, etc. Together we explore the aspects that are contributing to your distress, and what no longer works, including unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We explore how you can better handle difficult and painful thoughts and feelings. We examine how the past still may influence your behavior today. We learn how to identify unhealthy patterns and how to change them for healthier ones.

Individual psychotherapy sessions are normally 60 minutes in length. The sessions are scheduled usually weekly, especially in the beginning. The frequency may vary depending on your individual needs.

Psychotherapy may be time limited brief therapy, or as long as several years, depending on the client’s needs and personal goals. Toward the end of treatment, the frequency of sessions may be reduced to encourage client autonomy.

Online Therapy

The sessions are provided online via Zoom services.

To schedule an online session, please contact me by email:  RLMorales@protonmail.com

Ritva L. Morales, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Psychotherapist

Languages spoken: English, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish.
Age: Adults

Licensed Clinical Psychologist Ritva Morales

Experience

Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist with over twenty years of experience.

I have provided Counseling and Psychotherapy in Europe and in the USA. My experience includes: Mental Health Counseling and Psychotherapy; CBT – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression; I have worked within a Primary Care Mental Health Team for NHS – National Health Service in UK; University Counseling Services within the City University of New York – CUNY; Employee Assistance Program – EAP counseling; provided Counseling Services for Active-Duty service members and their families; and Outpatient and Inpatient Psychological Treatment for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders.

As an expat psychologist myself, I understand the challenges of adjusting to a new country, challenges of multicultural couples, and how those challenges may impact psychological well-being, family, other relationships, and work.

License

• Registered Psychologist with the Belgian Commission of Psychologists (Registration number: 582211571)
• Approval as a Clinical Psychologist from the Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Health (Visa number 350751)
• Member of the Flemish Association of Clinical Psychologists (VVKP)
• Registered Psychologist (EuroPsy) with The European Federation of Psychologists’ Association (EFPA)
• Licensed Psychologist in Norway
• Licensed Psychologist in Denmark
• New York State – USA Licensed Therapist (LMHC)

Education and training

I was raised in a Nordic country, Finland, and internationally educated: in Scandinavia, UK, and the USA. I graduated from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2001, with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (Danish title “cand.psych”, which is protected by Danish state law), after having previously completed two Bachelor’s degrees: BA in Psychology at the University of Copenhagen, and BSc in Education, at Stockholm University. Subsequently I completed a supplementary educational training of two-years’ duration,  and I thereupon received the Authorization (License) as a Psychologist in Denmark.

Later, I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice Interventions for Mental Health - Primary Mental Health Care, in Evidence-Based Interventions (CBT - Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) at the University of Manchester, the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences.

Ritva L. Morales, MSc, GMBPsS, LMHC
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Psychotherapist

To schedule a session:

Please include your full name, and your contact information. Please briefly describe the reasons for which you are seeking a psychologist. 

Please note that the therapy service is currently online only. The sessions take place conveniently online using Zoom video conferencing.

Ritva Morales, MSc, MBPsS, LMHC
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist

Email: ritva.morales@yahoo.com

Registered Psychologist with the Belgian Commission of Psychologists.
Visa as Clinical Psychologist by the Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Health
Registered Psychologist by EFPA – The European Federation of Psychologists’ Association.
Member of the The Belgian Federation of Psychologists
Member of the Flemish Association of Clinical Psychologists
Member of the Norwegian Psychological Association
Member of The British Psychological Society

Brussels, Belgium

Online Therapy Corner does not offer crisis counseling or emergency services. If you feel you are in crisis, call your doctor or emergency line in your area, or go to your nearest emergency room / hospital. In Belgium you can call confidential and anonymous suicide prevention/crisis lines 24/7:  
EN- Community Help Service (CHS): +32 (0)2 648 40 14
FR – Suicide prevention/crisis /line: 0800/ 32 123
NL – Suicide prevention/crisis line: 1813