Livia Pontes has more than 10 years’ experience in psychology practice, having worked in two of the largest public hospitals and psychiatric institutes in South America (Institute of Psychiatry, General Hospital of the University of São Paulo Medical School and the Integrated Mental Health Care Centre of the Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital) and in her private practice.

In the United Kingdom, she works in her own private practice and also works as a cognitive-behavioural therapist for the NHS.

During this period, Livia has treated people from different age groups with a variety of difficulties, ranging from the everyday challenges we sometimes face (low self-esteem, family and relationship problems, stress, bereavement, etc.) to various psychiatric and neuropsychiatric disorders. Having lived in Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom, Livia is sensitive to how different customs, cultures and immigration influence and have an impact on behaviours, cognition, beliefs and mental health in general.

She obtained her degree in psychology (Hons) from Mackenzie Presbyterian University (São Paulo - Brazil), and went on to specialise in the areas of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuropsychology, acquiring Post-Graduate Diplomas both from the Institute of Psychology of the University of São Paulo and the Institute of Psychiatry of the University of São Paulo Medical School, where she received a scholarship from FUNDAP. She has also completed an advanced training course in Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York.

In 2011 she gained her Master in Sciences (MSc.) degree from the University of São Paulo Medical School (FMUSP). Her research, which focused on improving attention and memory in patients with schizophrenia, became a book in 2012, published by the largest publisher on health sciences in Brazil (Artmed). This publication, the title of which translates as “Attention and Memory Training in Schizophrenia: A Practical Handbook” was the first manual published in Brazil in this field of study. She has also published several other articles on various topics in scientific journals and book chapters.

In the UK, Livia has had her qualifications recognized by the British Psychological Society (BPS), and obtained the title of Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol). This professional title is defined by the BPS as the "gold standard reference for professional recognition and reflects the highest standards of knowledge and experience in psychology."

As a professional who is highly committed to keeping her knowledge updated, Livia constantly participates in congresses, conferences and courses in various parts of the world. In Brazil, she remains registered with the Regional Council of Psychology (CRP).

In the area of education, she has taught in specialisation courses at the postgraduate level in neuropsychology at the General Hospital of the University of São Paulo and the Neurological Institute of São Paulo (INESP / Portuguese Charitable Hospital). Between 2006 and 2008, at the invitation of Mackenzie Presbyterian University (São Paulo, Brazil) she was an assessor on undergraduate examining boards.

She also has a blog: www.onyourbestbehaviour.com