Testimony from Inês Pereira Leite, an alumna of the Faculty of Education and Psychology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP). Her academic and professional journey demonstrates how training in Psychology can open doors to demanding and socially relevant fields, such as Clinical Psychology.

Inês Pereira Leite completed her Master’s degree in Psychology at FEP-UCP in 2023, choosing to specialise in Clinical and Health Psychology. She currently works as a clinical psychologist at Hospital CUF Porto, where she combines daily practice with continuous learning. A typical day involves providing consultations and investing in further training through workshops, short courses or postgraduate programmes, as she believes Psychology requires constant updating. “I think I will always be a lifelong student, as Psychology is a field that demands continuous learning and development,” she says.

Motivation and impact on people’s lives

Among the skills acquired during her Master’s, she highlights active listening, observation skills and ethical competencies, but stresses that empathy was the most important of all. Each day brings a special moment: when she realises she has made a difference in someone’s life, even if only during the session. “What motivates me most in my work is knowing that change is always possible - sometimes difficult and slow, but possible,” she shares.

Looking back, she acknowledges that she will always be a lifelong learner because Psychology requires ongoing development. It was at FEP-UCP that she truly discovered this was her path, thanks to the support of lecturers and the curricular units that provided the essential knowledge to become the professional she is today. Among the professors who left a mark, she highlights Professor Patrícia Oliveira-Silva, who introduced her to the fascinating world of neuroscience and supervised her thesis.
 

The future of Psychology and advice for students

Inês believes in a promising future for Psychology in Portugal. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that mental health exists and should never be overlooked. She also considers this a field that artificial intelligence will never fully replace, because Psychology is built on human contact and presence. To current students, she leaves a simple yet valuable piece of advice: “Make the most of your degree, the university and the lecturers - even the curricular units you don’t enjoy. In the future, everything will make sense.”