EMILY DE SOUZA ABRAHÃO
London,UK
Summary
Mental health expert with extensive experience in early childhood education and qualitative research. Utilizes play pedagogy and educational psychological frameworks to enhance learning outcomes. Committed to domestic violence awareness, child and adolescent support, and women's rights advocacy. Proficient in short-term psychotherapy, focused on fostering positive change in vulnerable populations.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Early Years Teacher
Woodentops Nursery
London, UK
2026.04 - 2026.04
- Establishing and sustaining a safe and stimulating environment where children feel confident and learn
- Planning educational and care plans based on play pedagogy approaches (and other psychological approaches), considering children’s needs.
- Assessment and observation
- Adopting multi-sensory teaching strategies to enhance comprehension of abstract concepts.
- Attachment-based settling-in focused.
- Fostered a nurturing environment with interactive storytelling sessions.
- Tailored teaching approaches to meet individual student needs.
- Organised outdoor activities, promoting physical health and wellbeing.
- Liaised with parents and carers regularly for transparent communication about child development progress.
- Employed engaging teaching methods to stimulate interest in learning.
Room Leader
CurioCity Nursery
London, UK
2025.11 - 2026.03
- Planning for babies’ development
- Led daily routines, ensuring smooth transitions between activities for minimal disruption.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents for improved communication and understanding.
- Implemented age-appropriate activities for cognitive development enhancement.
- Monitored children's progress closely, tailoring plans to meet individual needs.
- Ensured the safety of all children under care whilst maintaining a stimulating environment.
- Managed team of staff to ensure effective running of the room.
Childcare Practitioner
Rainbow Nursery
London, UK
2023.06 - 2025.07
- Developed strong relationships with parents, ensuring a cohesive approach to child care.
- Negotiated conflicts between children fairly and effectively, resulting in peaceful resolutions.
- Accompanied children on outings to local parks or trips further afield, expanding their experiences beyond childcare setting itself.
- Encouraged independence amongst children by guiding them towards self-care tasks such as dressing themselves or tidying up toys after playtime.
- Implemented daily routines for children, providing structure and consistency in their day.
- Observed individual progress of each child under care; shared observations during meetings with parents.
- Submitted written reports to parents regarding progress and development of children.
- Documented learning and development milestones of children to determine progress and growth.
- Adhered to policies and procedures and legislative requirements relating to child care.
- Participated in staff meetings to gather more information and updates.
- Observed and supervised children's play activities with stringent care, eliminating accidents and risk.
- Engaged children in stimulating learning-based activities and games.
Portuguese Teacher
Clube dos Brasileirinhos, Salsbury Primary School
London, UK
2023.01 - 2025.04
- Teaching Portuguese to pupils from 3 to 5 years old.
- Planning lessons
- Professional Training provided by the institution.
- Boosted language proficiency by creating immersive learning experiences.
- Introduced authentic Portuguese materials such as films and music into the curriculum, enriching the cultural experience of learners.
- Actively participated in school events, promoting multicultural awareness amongst students (Festa Junina)
- Integrated technology into lessons, making language learning more accessible.
- Spoke clearly and concisely for optimised student comprehension.
- Provided engaging educational resources to broaden student learning tools.
Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant
Ickburgh School
London, UK
2020.09 - 2023.05
- Encouraged student interaction in group settings, maintaining safety and sensitivity to a variety of special needs.
- Assisted with resolving behavioural and emotional issues throughout the day, documenting as required for further planning and risk mitigation.
- Arranged and led activities for students, including one-to-one lessons through PECS to develop communication skills, Physical Education (PE) to develop cooperative learning and social skills, and group sessions to build attention and turn-taking.
Psychotherapist
Latin American Women's Rights Service
London, UK
2019.08 - 2020.05
- Worked with a wide variety of clients suffering from mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and PTSD, provided Latin American Women with tools to assert their rights, personal empowerment, and social change.
- Emotional support provided through brief psychotherapy sessions.
- Participated in Supervision fortnightly
- Facilitated group therapy sessions, enhancing emotional well-being.
- Cultivated empathetic therapeutic relationships to foster trust and open communication.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic care.
- Maintained confidential client records in accordance with legal requirements.
- Specialised in trauma-focused therapy methods, aiding post-traumatic growth.
- Provided client-focused therapy interventions within clinical settings.
- Utilised trauma-informed care to support clients in meeting therapeutic goals.
- Documented client progress in confidential files.
- Documented all patient information outlined in service plans, treatment reports and progress notes.
Field Researcher
Health Surveillance Coordination, COVISA
Sao Paulo, Brazil
2017.11 - 2017.12
- Characterise the victims of violence and accidents assisted in urgent and emergency services, as well as characterise the perpetrators of aggression and describe the main types of violence and accidents assisted in the health service. Apply quantitative interviews with victims of violence and/or accidents at Tite Setúbal Hospital
Psychologist
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
2013.08 - 2017.08
- Worked on the National Policy of Social Assistance: Special Social Protection, Medium Complexity: Specialised Reference Centre for Social Assistance.
- Organising and providing specialised services, programs and projects to high social and personal risk and vulnerabilities with rights violations.
- Provide psychosocial support for women victims of gender-based violence.
- Work cooperatively with other protection services and public policies regarding children, adolescents and women victims of domestic violence and/or any other violation.
Psychologist in Social Service
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
2010.10 - 2012.10
- Psychologist working in the social community area, at the Basic Social Protection, at the Social Assistance Reference Centre.
- The actions developed by my team and me included: psychoeducational groups with families and children, psychoeducational groups with adolescents, counselling sessions, and home visits.
- Multi-professional team meetings and territorialization.
Internship Trainer
Health Ministry, Basic Care Department
Brasilia
2012.01 - 2012.01
- Voluntary internship, participating in meetings and workshops. All of them pertain to the Basic Care Department and the programs and services provided to Brazilians.
Social Adviser
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
2009.07 - 2010.10
- Providing psychoeducational groups for adolescents at risk, living in poverty areas in the city and being absent from school.
Internship
University of São Paulo Medical School (Hospital)
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
2009.03 - 2009.10
- Performed Activities: Nutritional Educational Group, prevention and control of diabetes and hypertension, craftwork group.
- Mental health consulting meeting.
- Team meetings
- Lectures and dialogic classes about: Research in Psychology, Health Psychology and Health Public Policies.
Social Adviser
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
2006.05 - 2007.03
- Psychoeducational Groups for vulnerable adolescents.
Education
Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) - Early Years Education
UCL
2024.09 - 2025.07
Level 2 Certificate - Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities
The Skills Network
City of London, United KingdomCertificate - Special Education
Career Teachers
LondonMaster's Degree - Psychiatric, Psychiatric Nursing and Human Science Program
University of São Paulo, USP
Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, BrazilPostgraduation - Violence and Health
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Fiocruz
Rio de Janeiro, BrazilGroup Psychotherapist and Group Coordinator - Groups and Mental Health
Analytic Group Psychotherapy Society
Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2005.02 - 2009.06
Bachelor's - Psychology
Universidade Paulista UNIP
Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2000.02 - 2004.12
Skills
- Mental health expertise
- Early childhood education
- Qualitative research
- Domestic violence awareness
- Children and adolescent support
- Women's rights advocacy
- Short-term psychotherapy
Certification
Graduate member (GMBPsS) and Graduate Basis (GBC status) for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society
Languages
English
Fluent
Portuguese
Native
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Early Years Teacher
Woodentops Nursery
2026.04 - 2026.04
Room Leader
CurioCity Nursery
2025.11 - 2026.03
Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) - Early Years Education
UCL
2024.09 - 2025.07
Childcare Practitioner
Rainbow Nursery
2023.06 - 2025.07
Portuguese Teacher
Clube dos Brasileirinhos, Salsbury Primary School
2023.01 - 2025.04
Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant
Ickburgh School
2020.09 - 2023.05
Psychotherapist
Latin American Women's Rights Service
2019.08 - 2020.05
Field Researcher
Health Surveillance Coordination, COVISA
2017.11 - 2017.12
Psychologist
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
2013.08 - 2017.08
Internship Trainer
Health Ministry, Basic Care Department
2012.01 - 2012.01
Psychologist in Social Service
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
2010.10 - 2012.10
Social Adviser
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
2009.07 - 2010.10
Internship
University of São Paulo Medical School (Hospital)
2009.03 - 2009.10
Social Adviser
Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance
2006.05 - 2007.03
Group Psychotherapist and Group Coordinator - Groups and Mental Health
Analytic Group Psychotherapy Society
2005.02 - 2009.06
Bachelor's - Psychology
Universidade Paulista UNIP
2000.02 - 2004.12
Level 2 Certificate - Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities
The Skills Network
Certificate - Special Education
Career Teachers
Master's Degree - Psychiatric, Psychiatric Nursing and Human Science Program
University of São Paulo, USP
Postgraduation - Violence and Health
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Fiocruz