Dr Marcela Matos is a Clinical Psychologist and Auxiliary Researcher at the Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Portugal. For over 15 years, Dr. Matos’ research and clinical interests relate to evolutionary clinical psychology, compassion focused therapy, contextual behavioral therapies and contemplative approaches. She has extensively researched compassion, shame experiences and memories, their traumatic qualities and centrality to personal identity, and their association to mental health difficulties.
Currently, her main research focus is on applying and testing the efficacy of compassion-focused group interventions in promoting mental and physical well-being in several populations, and investigating their impact on epigenetic mechanisms and physiological stress responses, and has been the lead on a global research project exploring the protective role of compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Matos has published over 80 international peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on the topics of compassion, shame, self-criticism, emotional regulation, psychopathology and well-being, covering a diverse host of clinical and non-clinical populations. She has authored over 180 scientific communications presented at international scientific conferences.
She is a founding and Executive Board member of the Global Compassion Coalition, where she chairs the Science Committee, an affiliate member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation, and member of the Portuguese Association for Mindfulness.