Sumários
Rights, attitudes and protection of LGBTI+ people in Portugal
27 Março 2026, 10:00 • Lígia Monteiro
"This session explores the historical, political, and clinical evolution of sexual and gender diversity in Portugal, from medical pathologization to contemporary movements for sexual justice. Through critical engagement with the DSM and ICD diagnostic systems, it interrogates how psychiatry and psychology have both reinforced and challenged heteronormativity and cisnormativity. Drawing on the minority stress model and intersectional theory, this session examines the mental health disparities affecting LGBTI+ people and presents recent national evidence on conversion practices, their prevalence, and their devastating consequences — including increased psychological distress, self-harm, and suicidality. The class culminates in a collective reflection on Portugal’s 2024 law criminalizing conversion practices, the ethical duties of psychologists, and the limits of legal reform. Students are invited to imagine a psychology grounded in rights, repair, and radical affirmation — one that refuses neutrality in the face of injustice and embraces the full promise of sexual justice."
The role of loss: Grief as a trajectory for change and wellbeing
4 Dezembro 2025, 14:00 • Lígia Monteiro
Grief is a process that implies to deal with theloss of a loved one or a relationship that ismeaningful. This process may result in cognitive overload and confusion, emotionaldysregulation, social withdrawal, andloneliness. Although grief symptoms are common and part of a healthy psychosocialfunctioning and adaptation process, whendisregarded or left untreated thepsychological suffering associated with theloss may become a disorder itself, prolongedgrief disorder. To prevent the development ofthis condition, grief interventions are designed to facilitate the acceptance of theloss and the development of a newlife. Leaves, an internet-based CBT intervention, creates the opportunity to engage in a healthy grief journey, increasewellbeing and decrease loneliness. Thedevelopment and the test (randomized controltrial) of Leaves intervention will be discussedand insights from research on grief processes will be the basis of a conceptual exercise thataims to address loss acceptance andidentification processes.
UC Presentation
14 Novembro 2025, 09:00 • Lígia Monteiro