What we’re about
We are a strong and diverse professional community of Lisbon-based women with various coaching, therapeutic and healing specialisms, who meet regularly to share our knowledge and experiences, support each other and give back to the wider community.
Our vision
To be an inspiring women’s community for Lisbon-based therapists, coaches, healers and similar practitioners - supporting them to provide high-quality holistic therapy, coaching and expertise to the wider Lisbon and international population.
Our mission
Guided by our four core values - support, connection, growth and curiosity - we aim to:
- Cultivate and maintain a nurturing community in which our members can ground, connect, engage and flourish;
- Facilitate the sharing of diverse therapeutic and coaching-related expertise among our members, in order to develop our knowledge bases and the quality of our practices; and
- Give back to the wider Lisbon and international community through the sharing of our knowledge, experience and resources.
Our events
Our regular events (previously hosted under the “Happy in Lisbon: Expat Ladies and Local Sisters” group) include panel discussions, informative presentations, and social events (e.g. picnics, dinners, hikes), as well as ad hoc events organised by our members.
While we are currently a women-presenting community only, some of our informative events are open to men (please check the event description).
We would also love to help facilitate and collaborate with an equivalent therapists, coaches and healers community for men - so if you would be interested in running this, please let us know!
For any general questions about our community or events, please feel free to reach out to one of the Hosts (Claire, Irena, Kat or Samantha).
We look forward to meeting you!
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Somatics in Nature: An Afternoon of Guided Forest BathingParque da Pedra, Lisboa
Come enjoy an afternoon exploration of Forest Bathing with Nature-based therapeutic coach, Kayla Nickells. Forest bathing walks are designed to open the door to the healing properties of nature and finding peace and calm within. Unlike a typical nature walk or hike, forest bathing focuses on slowing down, tuning into your senses and deepening your connection with the natural world through all of your senses. We accomplish this through a series of simple, sensory “invitations.”
This event is relevant for all therapists and coaches who are interested in expanding their mindfulness and nature-based practices, as well as anyone who is generally interested in developing their embodied awareness and connection with the natural world. This is an inclusive event open to all genders, and will include discussion as well as experiential invitations.
Practicalities
The specific location is Mesas de pic-nic in Parque de Monsanto (please refer to the map). This location is most easily reached via car, but you can also catch bus number 702 from Campolide to Serefina or 61B from USF Sete Rios to Serefina, and then walk about 9 minutes to the location. If you would like to use the message board to arrange shared rides, please feel free to do so! In the event of rain or high winds, we will send a notification and reschedule to Sat April 26th.There is no charge for attendance but we recommend a voluntary donation of at least €5 (cash only) for those who are willing and able to contribute, to help cover administrative costs and to support our presenter.
If you have any questions about this event, please feel free to reach out to Kat LeRoy.
About the Presenter:
Kayla Nickells holds a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with specialized training in attachment and trauma-informed Somatic Experiencing, Nature-based therapies, and Family systems work (couples/families/nature-based play therapy). During her 11 years founding and directing outdoor preschools and elementary schools in the US, Kayla began exploring somatic and socio-emotional work with her students and their families in natural settings and realized this was the part of her work that brought her the most joy. Kayla has been working with clients 1:1, in group and retreat facilitation, and with couples and families in a therapeutic setting, since 2022. She has been working with children and families in nature-based settings since 2014. You can learn more about her work via Instagram @kaylajnickells. - Therapeutic Book Club: “How to Know a Person" by David BrooksPão da Vila, Lisboa
For our next meeting of the Therapeutic Book Club, we'll discuss How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks
From Goodreads: As David Brooks observes, “There is one skill that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society: the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen—to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and understood.”
And yet we humans don’t do this well. All around us are people who feel invisible, unseen, misunderstood. In How to Know a Person, Brooks sets out to help us do better, posing questions that are essential for all of us: If you want to know a person, what kind of attention should you cast on them? What kind of conversations should you have? What parts of a person’s story should you pay attention to?
Driven by his trademark sense of curiosity and his determination to grow as a person, Brooks draws from the fields of psychology and neuroscience and from the worlds of theater, philosophy, history, and education to present a welcoming, hopeful, integrated approach to human connection.
The Therapeutic Book Club is aimed at self-discovery and self-reflection by exploring relevant themes and connecting with others in a safe environment. The group decides by vote which book will be read for the next meeting. The books are therapeutic in nature covering themes such as childhood trauma, anxiety, stress management and healthy relationships.
We are an open and non-judgemental group that welcomes a diversity of ideas and perspectives. This is also an inclusive event open to all genders.
Previous books we have read and discussed include Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic by Esther Perel, and The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté.
There is no charge for attendance but we recommend people purchase at least one drink at the venue. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Anita (Niah) Sommers or Kat LeRoy.
