ANA CATARINA PIRES PINHEIRO DA MOTA

Ana Catarina Pires Pinheiro da Mota is an Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Education and Psychology at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), School of Human and Social Sciences, and an Integrated Researcher at the Psychology Center of the University of Porto (CPUP) since 2010.

Her educational background includes:

• Clinical Psychology degree, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde – Norte (2002)
• PhD in Psychology (Psychological and Family Consultation), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto (2008)
• Post-Doctorate in Psychology (Residential Care for Children and Youth), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto (2014)

She is a Specialist in Clinical and Health Psychology, Psychotherapy (OPP), and a certified Psychotherapist by the Portuguese Society of Client-Centered Psychotherapy (2014). Her research examines attachment, individuation, and psychosocial adaptation in adolescents/young adults across family configurations, with focus on residential care systems and therapeutic interventions.

Dr. Mota has authored over 100 publications, coordinated FCT-funded research projects, and served on national/international evaluation panels. She directed UTAD's Psychology undergraduate and master's programs from 2015-2021.