About me - Psychotherapist Mihaela Oancea

Mihaela Oancea

psychotherapist, Somatic Experiencing© practitioner, trainer

Hi. I’m Mihaela.

Those who know me know that psychology isn’t just a profession for me—it’s a passion. I’ve always been fascinated by discovering and understanding how we end up emotionally and mentally in uncharted territory, and how we can move from suffering to a state of well-being; how difficult experiences—such as abuse or neglect—heal; and how we can trust others and life again. I’ve wondered how we repair or restore balance to a relationship that’s valuable to us when it’s going through a crisis or a difficult period, how to find our place in this world, and how to find hope when life feels like chaos. I found different answers in the courses and training I’ve taken or gained from my varied professional experiences. Many of them I learned from the people I’ve worked with, from clients.

I personally needed answers to some of the situations mentioned above and felt that my family, friends, or partner couldn’t help me. That’s why I chose to go through individual therapy myself. A therapist has more information and more knowledge about how to offer support; they can help us understand how we ended up in these unexpected places and know how to guide us in finding our way.

How I work

In my work, I am always mindful that every person has the ability to make their own decisions in their best interest. I work to promote independence and empower clients to make free choices. Therapy is based on collaboration and the relationship between therapist and client. That is why, for me, dialogue and providing a supportive, safe, and non-judgmental environment are a priority.

Therapeutic plans are designed individually, for and together with each client, so that they meet the specific needs of each person. I focus on helping the client understand what they are experiencing and the circumstances of the situations they are going through, and on helping them tap into the resources they already possess before learning new ones. Together, we clarify what the difficulties are and what the priorities are; we look for ways to move beyond suffering; we find realistic goals, meaning, and, above all, hope. Trust is an important part of successful psychotherapy.

To maintain an optimal level of competence and customer care, I regularly attend supervision sessions and continue to develop professionally.

2012 - prezent

Psychotherapist, trainer, and Biodanza instructor in training

I work in private practice at the Oancea Mihaela-Cristina Psychology Practice

I am currently involved in, and have previously collaborated on, various educational projects with NGOs:

I am a mentor for international volunteers in the European Solidarity Corps program through the A4Action association
I served as a trainer in the national vocational training program for foster parents as part of the "TEAM-UP: Advancing the Quality of Alternative Child Care" project
I worked as a psychologist on the LEAP project and provided psychological support to refugees from Ukraine and other affected individuals

Biodanza Instructor at the Biodanza.ro Community

2014 - 2021; 2021 - present

Psychotherapist

From 2014 to 2021, I worked with the “Oana Nicolau” Clinic, and since 2021, I have been affiliated with the Regina Maria Private Healthcare Network

2019 - 2023

Volunteer

I volunteered with Cruse Bereavement Support in the UK, providing support to people experiencing loss and grief.

I also volunteered for Yellow Door UK, providing counseling sessions for people with a history of sexual and/or domestic abuse, and co-facilitated groups for programs on Emotional Regulation, Changing Relationship Patterns, and Childhood Trauma and Abuse

2016 - 2021

Counselor, trainer, mental health support

For a few years, I lived in the UK, where I worked with people diagnosed with mental illness. My role was to develop and implement, together with these individuals, personalized plans to restore their ability to manage daily life and their mental illness, so that they could reintegrate into society and have sufficient knowledge and tools to understand and manage their mental illness.

Also in the UK, I worked with nonprofit organizations and facilitated workshops on anxiety, depression, improving self-esteem, stress management, developing healthy relationships, mindfulness, and emotional regulation with community members who were primarily diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but also with other mental health disorders.

2012 - 2016

Psychologist, trainer, mentor, volunteer

Ever since I was a psychology student, I have been involved in various activities with adolescents and young adults, facilitating courses on communication, conflict resolution, and emotional management. I have developed activities for civic education and community development programs for children and young people to teach them about ethics, anti-corruption, civic engagement, and administrative structures. I have created and implemented non-formal educational projects, most of which were funded by the European Union, using non-formal educational methods such as games, forum theater, storytelling, World Café, and the living library.

Credentials:

Professional courses and certifications:

Specialization in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – EMDR Romania
Introductory Course in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Oxford Cognitive Centre
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – British Isles DBT Training
Motivational Interviewing (MI) – Southampton Healthy Living
Various professional development courses: working with trauma, personality disorders, complex needs, the use of art therapy in counseling, addiction and abuse, early memories—a way to access our unconscious goals, working with dreams from an Adlerian perspective, methods of non-formal education and socio-educational activities, and group work
Biodanza Instructor (in training) – IBF Rolando Toro School of Biodanza, Bristol
Certified Trainer – Bucharest Education Foundation
Psychotherapist – Training in Adlerian Therapy – Romanian Association of Adlerian Psychotherapy
Master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychodiagnosis – Ecological University