About grief
Grief after a loss is a natural process with no fixed timeline. Support can help when pain does not ease over time, when the loss was sudden or traumatic, or when it becomes very hard to carry on with daily life.
Psychoanalysts work with psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy, which explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape present feelings and relationships. It is usually a longer, in-depth process. Training and titles vary by country: check each professional’s background.
Getting mental health care in Portugal
Public health system · Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS)
Psychologists work in SNS primary care centres (centros de saúde) and hospitals, accessed through the family doctor. Waiting times are long: the Ordem dos Psicólogos reported waits of about six months for a first psychology appointment. University students can obtain free sessions through the government cheque-psicólogo programme.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP). Registration with the OPP is a legal requirement to practise psychology, privately or in the SNS. Search by name or cédula number in the OPP member search. Search the official register
- Ordem dos Médicos. Doctors, including psychiatrists, must be registered with the Ordem dos Médicos. Search the official register
Urgent help in Portugal
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: ordemdospsicologos.pt, dn.pt
Signs to look out for
Grief can bring sadness, longing, anger, guilt, disbelief, tiredness and even physical aches, and it often comes in waves. There is no right timeline. It may help to seek support when the pain stays just as intense for a long time, you cannot carry out daily tasks, you feel life has lost all meaning, you avoid everything linked to the loss, or you feel stuck in guilt or anger.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Most people do not need therapy to grieve, but support can help when grief is especially difficult. Grief-focused therapies, including cognitive-behavioural approaches adapted to prolonged grief, and meaning-centred or narrative approaches, have growing evidence. Psychologists and psychotherapists with experience in bereavement are the usual professionals. Support groups and family therapy can also help, especially after the loss of a child or a sudden death.
When to seek urgent help
If the pain of loss leads to thoughts of ending your life, wanting to join the person who died, or harming yourself, contact your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department straight away. Seek prompt help too if you stop eating or drinking, or if alcohol or other substances have become your main way of coping.
What you can do in the meantime
Allow yourself to feel what comes, without forcing it or rushing it. Keep basic routines like sleep and meals, and accept practical help from others. Talking about the person who died, sharing memories or creating small rituals can help. Be aware that anniversaries and special dates may be harder. Reliable information about grief can reassure you that what you feel is common.
What does a psychoanalyst do?
A psychoanalyst works with people who want to explore how early experiences, desires, conflicts and unconscious patterns influence how they feel, relate and choose today. Day to day they listen closely, help connect present difficulties with personal history, and pay attention to dreams, repetitions and the relationship with the analyst. Sessions are usually frequent and the process tends to be long-term.
When to see a psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysis or psychodynamic therapy may suit you if you notice repeating patterns in relationships, a persistent sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction, or want to understand yourself in depth and are open to a longer process. If you need quick relief for a specific symptom, such as panic attacks or a phobia, a structured approach like CBT may be more appropriate first.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Portugal cover psychological care?
Psychologists work in SNS primary care centres (centros de saúde) and hospitals, accessed through the family doctor. Waiting times are long: the Ordem dos Psicólogos reported waits of about six months for a first psychology appointment. University students can obtain free sessions through the government cheque-psicólogo programme.
How do I check that a psychoanalyst is licensed in Portugal?
Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP): Registration with the OPP is a legal requirement to practise psychology, privately or in the SNS. Search by name or cédula number in the OPP member search.