Profile
About Dra. Joana
Dr. Joana Branco Maia combines two distinct qualifications: she is both a licensed physician and a qualified clinical psychologist, with active practice and advanced academic training in both fields. This dual qualification is not merely on paper. It translates into a different way of conducting a consultation: a professional who can assess the patient from both a physical and a psychological perspective, without one aspect overshadowing the other, and who has the competence to treat, not just to refer.
As a physician, Dr. Joana Branco Maia has experience in emergency medicine, general medicine and anaesthesiology. She currently practises as an emergency physician at Hospital da Prelada, in Porto, a high-demand clinical setting requiring diagnostic precision and rapid decision-making. Her background in anaesthesiology gave her advanced skills in perioperative and acute care. She also has experience following up patients on haemodialysis, in mobile medicine, home and hotel assistance to international travellers and local patients, and in telemedicine.
As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Joana Branco Maia is registered with the Portuguese Board of Psychologists (Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, OPP 12055), holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and has specialised training in Clinical and Health Psychology, a research background that complements and deepens her clinical practice. Her areas of psychological intervention include stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia, with specific competence in health psychology applied to weight management and the psychological treatment of chronic pain. She has advanced training in infant mental health and early intervention, including DIR®/Floortime and the Circle of Security model.
In practice, what Dr. Joana offers is something that is not commonly available: a single professional who can support the same person across both their physical and emotional dimensions, without the patient having to repeat themselves, without their life context getting lost between specialists, and without mental health being treated as secondary to physical health.
General medicine and primary care
- Acute illness: respiratory infections, fever, flu, urinary tract infections
- Management of chronic conditions: hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, cholesterol
- Emergency medicine: assessment of acute symptoms and guidance on whether they require true emergency care
- Follow-up of patients on haemodialysis: assessment and clinical guidance
- Travel medicine: pre-travel consultations, vaccination, travel prescriptions
- Mobile medicine: guidance for international travellers in Portugal
- Medical certificates, statements and prescription renewals
Clinical and health psychology
- Anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia: psychological assessment and intervention
- Health psychology: psychological support for weight management and chronic pain
- Perinatal and infant mental health: support for parents, early intervention, DIR®/Floortime, Circle of Security
- Developmental disorders in childhood: assessment and guidance
- Integrated physical-mental health approach, for patients with chronic conditions that have a psychological component
Her approach: Dr. Joana Branco Maia practises genuinely holistic medicine, not as a philosophy, but as a real competence. Her simultaneous training in medicine and clinical psychology allows her to identify and treat both the physical and psychological factors contributing to a patient's wellbeing, in a single consultation, with a single professional. For patients with conditions where the physical and emotional are intertwined, chronic pain, insomnia, weight management, chronic illness with an emotional impact, this integrated approach is especially valuable.
Important note: If you are experiencing a psychological crisis or thoughts of self-harm, contact the SNS24 Crisis Support Line on 1024 or call 112. Do not wait for an appointment.
Qualifications
- Médica de Clínica Geral — Divisão Geral, Ordem dos Médicos (OM 64572)
- Psicóloga Clínica — Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP 12055)
- PhD em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento
- Especialização em Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde
- Médica de Urgência — Hospital da Prelada, Porto
- Formação em Anestesiologia
- Experiência em hemodiálise, telemedicina e medicina móvel
- Formação avançada em DIR®/Floortime e Circle of Security — saúde mental do bebé e intervenção precoce
FAQs
Is Dr. Joana Branco Maia both a doctor and a clinical psychologist?
Yes. Dr. Joana Branco Maia is registered with the Ordem dos Médicos (OM) under number 64572 and with the Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP) under number 12055. You can verify her medical registration at ordemdosmedicos.pt and her psychologist registration at ordemdospsicologos.pt. This dual qualification with active practice in both fields is exceptionally rare.
What does Dr. Joana offer in online consultations?
Dr. Joana offers two integrated aspects in online consultations. General medicine: acute illness, management of chronic diseases, emergency medicine, follow-up of patients on hemodialysis, travel medicine, certificates, and prescription renewals. Clinical psychology: anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia, health psychology (weight management and chronic pain), perinatal and infant mental health (DIR®/Floortime, Circle of Security), and an integrated physical-mental health approach.
What is the integrated medicine-psychology approach and why is it relevant?
Most patients with chronic diseases, persistent pain, sleep problems, difficulties in weight management, or cardiovascular conditions also have a psychological dimension that significantly influences the course of the disease and the response to treatment. Normally, these two dimensions are treated by different professionals in separate consultations, leading to a loss of context and continuity. Dr. Joana is both a doctor and a clinical psychologist — she can assess and treat both dimensions in the same consultation, with the same professional, without the patient needing to repeat themselves or manage two parallel processes.
What are DIR®/Floortime and Circle of Security, and when are they recommended?
DIR®/Floortime is an intervention model for children with developmental disorders — namely autism spectrum disorders and other sensory and relational processing difficulties — focusing on emotional development, relationships, and communication. The Circle of Security is an early intervention program focused on secure attachment between parents and children, especially in the early years of life. Dr. Joana has advanced training in both models and can guide parents and families dealing with issues of child development, early relational difficulties, or concerns about their children's emotional and social development.
How can I schedule an appointment with Dr. Joana Branco Maia?
Select an available time on this page to schedule directly with Dr. Joana Branco Maia. Payment is securely processed at the time of booking — the consultation is confirmed after payment is completed. You will immediately receive a calendar invitation. Consultations are conducted via secure video call in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. If you are experiencing a psychological crisis or thoughts of self-harm, please contact the SNS24 Crisis Support Line (1024) or call 112.
What are Dr. Joana Branco Maia's qualifications?
Dr. Joana Branco Maia is a doctor registered with the Ordem dos Médicos (OM 64572, General Division) and a clinical psychologist registered with the Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP 12055). She holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and has specialization in Clinical and Health Psychology. She works as an emergency doctor at Hospital da Prelada, Porto, with training in anesthesiology and experience in hemodialysis, telemedicine, and mobile medicine. She has advanced training in DIR®/Floortime and Circle of Security for infant mental health and early intervention. She consults in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
