Kassel Counseling · Lisbon & Mafra, Portugal
Steven & Arlette Kassel are two California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapists providing professional relationship-centered counseling & integrative mental health support to the English-speaking community building their lives in Portugal.
Our practice combines decades of clinical experience with evidence-informed approaches that foster emotional resilience, healthier relationships, and meaningful personal growth.
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Support for adults navigating anxiety, transition, identity, and the weight of building a life abroad.
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For mixed-nationality and long-distance relationships working through communication, culture, and change.
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Support for families building a shared life, including parenting across cultures and generations.
Beyond Counseling: Education, Innovation & Professional Development
We believe that improving mental well-being at the cultural level extends beyond providing individual & couple's counseling — our practice is also developing as a hub for innovation in mental health education, research & professional training.
Our long-term vision includes educational programs for the international community, relationship and wellness workshops, professional research & consultation, and collaboration with registered Portuguese professionals and organizations to promote emotional well-being and integration in Portuguese communities.
About Us
With over 30 years of combined practice, we bring warmth, depth & practical expertise to our work with individuals, couples and families. We are California-licensed Marriage & Family Therapists who relocated to Portugal to build a counseling practice for people navigating exactly what we once did: an uprooted, in-between life.
Our work draws on family systems, neuroscience-informed methods, and evidence-based approaches — grounded, warm, and never one-size-fits-all.
What We Support
Services
One-to-one support for adults navigating life's challenges.
Communication, connection, and conflict resolution.
Brain- and body-based tools for regulation and calm.
Practical, evidence-informed support for change.
For those building a life in a new country.
Our Approach
We practice an integrative approach to counseling developed over decades of clinical experience, using both scientific and creative methods with a focus on practical strategies.
We believe meaningful change happens when insight, relationships, and the nervous system are addressed together — not just processing past experiences in the hope that insight alone leads to change.
Getting Started
Get in Touch
Start with a brief 15–20 minute no-charge consultation phone call to find out if our approach is a good fit for your needs. Consultations can be scheduled with either Arlette or Steven.
Step 1
Tell us briefly what's bringing you to counseling.
Step 2
We'll send a short questionnaire covering fees, availability, and your goals.