André grew up as a transnational youth. He was born in Brazil and immigrated to the United States at age 8, returned to Brazil for high school, and back to the United States for college. He speaks Portuguese and English and has spent the last 13 years working in the field of ESL education, first as an ESL teacher, and then the Director of ESL for the Salem Public Schools. He is excited to take the social justice advocacy work he has done in the public schools and apply it to the counseling field.
André believes that therapy should fit each client, and that there is no “one size fits all” approach. He operates from a place of unconditional positive regard and acceptance for each client, and uses the skills he has learned from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to work with clients to co-create achievable goals to work towards throughout the course of therapy. With a person-centered background, André believes that each client has the potential to overcome each of life’s challenges, and that therapy is a way to draw out, practice, and strengthen those inner resources. He is eager to listen to you and support you on your journey towards becoming your best, most authentic, self.
André has completed his Master’s degree in Education, as well as his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGs) in Educational Leadership. He is currently finishing his second Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Salem State University and is earning his LMHC.
“the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting — no more — and then it motivates one towards originality and instills the desire for truth.” – Plutarch