Positive Psychology in Portuguese, connecting researchers, students, and practitioners across the Portuguese-speaking world.
PURPOSE
Why this Chapter exists
The IPPA Portuguese-Speaking Chapter was created to connect the Lusophone community to the global ecosystem of Positive Psychology, bringing together professionals, researchers, and students from Portuguese-speaking countries around the world.
Our mission is to reduce language barriers, expand access to scientific knowledge, and build real bridges between local communities and the international field. This is IPPA’s first language-based Chapter, an open, collaborative model designed to grow.
TEAM
Who’s behind it
The Chapter is coordinated by a team of professionals committed to IPPA’s mission and to expanding Positive Psychology across the Lusophone world.
- Board: Helena Marújo
- President: Bianca Kislansky.
- Initiator: Diego Burger.
- Events, Programming & Scientific Coordination: Miriam Rodrigues, Douglas Pereira, Sonia Ramos, Rita Lopes, Inês Sottomayor.
- Communications & Institutional Outreach: Sonia Ramos, Ricardo de Sá, Miriam Rodrigues, Paula Senra.
- International Liaison: Bianca Kislansky, Gustavo Arns, Henrique Bueno and Diego Burger
- Translation Support: Inês Sottomayor.
- Strategic Advisors: Kiko Kislansky, Andrea Perez, Sara Ascenso.
THE CIRCLES
How we work
The Chapter’s core activity is the IPPA Bi-Monthly Circle: free, open, online meetings dedicated to evidence-based Positive Psychology.
Each session runs 90 minutes, based on the structure below, which may be revised as needed:
- 50 min: featured presentation or case study
- 30 min: moderated panel with specialists
- 10 min: community interaction and closing
Free. Online. Open to all: because democratizing access to scientific knowledge is central to our mission.
As part of the community, you also receive:
- IPPA Global newsletters and communications in Portuguese
- Selected materials and publications curated by the team
- Access to a Portuguese speaking WhatsApp community for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and connection among researchers, students, and practitioners.
Next Steps
6 August 2026: Inaugural meeting: the origins of the Chapter and the future of Positive Psychology in the world
September 2026 onwards: IPPA Bi-Monthly Circles begin
JOIN US
This project is yours too
The IPPA Portuguese-Speaking Chapter is an open, collaborative space, still being built. Whether you research, practice, or are simply curious about Positive Psychology, there is a place here for you.
Portuguese Leadership
Name: Sara Ascenso
Associate Professor of Health and Wellbeing at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester) and Honorary Professor of Psychology at University College London (UCL). Researcher and Wellbeing Lead at the Centre for Music Performance Research (RNCM). Clinical Psychologist with a Master’s degree and PhD in Applied Psychology, specializing in wellbeing in the arts sector. Guest Lecturer and Executive Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Applied Positive Psychology at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lisbon. Member of the boards of the Greater Manchester NHS–Universities Student Mental Health Service and the European Network for Positive Psychology.
Name: Rita Lopes
Dr Rita Lopes’s background includes a number of industry and academic settings over the past seventeen years, across multiple countries. Her research and academic focus relate to positive occupational psychology and workplace dynamics, with a particular interest in workplace well-being and innovative research methods and methodologies. She is especially interested in contributing to a better match between academic and professional settings, boosting real-world change.
Name: Inês Sottomayor
Specialist in the development of emotional and behavioral competencies in children, adolescents, families, and educators. Through her proprietary DREAM® Method, which integrates science, practical application, and meaningful transformation, she works to create healthier, more conscious, and balanced environments across family, educational, and corporate settings. With a multidisciplinary background in Applied Positive Psychology, Applied Neuroscience, and Child and Adolescent Coaching, she is the author of Aprender a Ser (Learning to Be) and the creator of practical tools such as the Dreams Come True card deck, used by hundreds of families and professionals throughout Portugal. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Psychology of Emotions and Wellbeing at the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon. After years of designing physical spaces as an architect, she discovered her true passion in human development: helping people design their dreams with purpose, structure, and emotion. This unique combination of strategic thinking and empathy shapes her work, where every project becomes a meaningful step toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Name: Helena Águeda Marujo
Helena Águeda Marujo holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Lisbon. She is an Associate Professor at the School of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP) of the University of Lisbon, where she also serves as Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair in Education for Global Sustainable Peace. For over a decade, she was the Deputy Coordinator of the Human Resource Development Policy Coordination Unit and of the Master’s and Doctoral programs in Human Resource Development Policy. Thirteen years ago, she created and began coordinating the Postgraduate Program in Applied Positive Psychology at the same institution. She is a full researcher at the Centre for Public Administration and Public Policies (CAPP). She has published eight books and over 80 articles in scientific journals and serves on the boards of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) and the European Network of Positive Psychology (ENPP), having received several awards recognizing her work in the fields of peace education and public happiness.
Name: Paula Paixão Senra
She is a social scientist and science communicator with a professional background in Positive Psychology, science communication, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and workplace well-being. She holds an Executive Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology (ISCSP-UL), a postgraduate degree in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ISCAP, Porto), and a Master’s in Science Communication from the University of Trento (Italy). She has also completed specialized training in Positive and Empathic Leadership (ISCSP-iFOR) and Wellbeing @ Work (Trinity College Dublin). She is a founding member and President of the Portuguese Association for Positive Psychology and Human and Social Flourishing (APPFHS) (2023–2026) and is a certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator.
Brazilian Leadership
Name: Miriam Rodrigues
Miriam Rodrigues is a Clinical Psychologist (CRP 06/69391) and the creator of Positive Emotional Education, a psychoeducational program focused on social-emotional competencies and wellbeing that has been implemented across all Brazilian states and in countries including Chile, Argentina, the United States, Japan, and Portugal. She is the author and co-author of more than 30 books on Positive Psychology, Cognitive Therapy, and Emotional Education. She is a specialist in Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Medicine from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and holds a postgraduate qualification in Emotional Management in Organizations through the Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) program, offered in partnership with Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, she has worked extensively with children, adolescents, adults, and groups. She also serves as a clinical supervisor and mentor in the development of social-emotional curricula, therapeutic resources, and therapeutic games. In addition, she facilitates self-practice and self-reflection groups for professionals, promoting mental health and wellbeing. Her work received international recognition in 2022 when she was featured in The International Handbook of Positive Psychology: A Global Perspective on the Science of Positive Human Existence (p. 115), which highlighted her contribution to the implementation of Positive Psychology in schools across South America.
Name: Gustavo Arns
Gustavo Arns is the founder of the International Congress on Happiness, co-founder of the Center for Happiness Studies, with branches in Brazil, Canada, and Argentina, and President of the Brazilian School of Holistic Sciences. He is a business consultant and international speaker. He holds a Master of Arts in Happiness from Centenary University (USA). In recognition of his contributions to peace, he received the Gusi Peace Prize in the Philippines. He is the author of Is It Possible to Be Happy? A Dialogue Between Science and Spirituality (co-authored with Monja Coen), a finalist for the 2025 Jabuti Prize, and The Happy Chicken Dilemma (co-authored with Leandro Karnal). Gustavo is also a faculty member in the postgraduate programs in Positive Psychology at PUC-RS and PUC-PR, the MBA program at UNICAMP, and the postgraduate program in Organizational Psychology at USP.
Name: Henrique Bueno
Henrique Bueno is the Founder and CEO of Wholebeing Institute Brazil. He holds a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology from the University of East London and is a specialist in Happiness and Happiness at Work. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the first global Master’s program in Happiness Studies, led by Professor Tal Ben-Shahar at Centenary University.Henrique is an international speaker, facilitator of programs on happiness, leadership, and communication, and a guest lecturer at several universities. His keynote speeches, workshops, and cultural transformation projects focused on mental health, happiness, and wellbeing have impacted thousands of people through events in Brazil, Portugal, Colombia, and the United States, as well as through collaborations with numerous companies and public institutions across Brazil.
Name: Ricardo de Sá
Ricardo de Sá is a licensed Psychologist (CRP 05/30403), Arts Educator (Performing Arts), and actor. He holds a Master’s degree in Management Systems with an emphasis on Social Responsibility from the Federal Fluminense University (UFF), an MBA in Organizations and Strategy (UFF), a specialization in Positive Psychology from UCAM, and a specialization in Aesthetic Education from UNIRIO. He is also trained in Schema Therapy through the Wainer Group, completed an executive management program at INSEAD (France), and is a certified Personal and Executive Coach through the Integrated Coaching Institute (ICI). He is the author, alongside Professor Sonia Ramos, of Faces of Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Working with Human Qualities – Positive Psychology and Schema Therapy, as well as co-author of several other books. Ricardo teaches in postgraduate programs across Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Ecuador, serves as a consultant for CENTRAR and Pipeline Brasil, and is the Coordinator of RELAPPA (the Latin American Network for Applied Positive Psychology).
Name: Diego Burger
Diego Burger holds a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a degree in Psychology from Naropa University, an institution inspired by Buddhism and recognized as a reference in mindfulness-based education. He was the only Brazilian undergraduate student to spend a semester studying in Bhutan at the Royal University of Bhutan, where he conducted research on public policies for wellbeing, with publications associated with the United Nations and the European Union. He teaches at Fundação Dom Cabral, StartSe, Human S/A, and ESPD. Diego works as a therapist, organizational consultant, and speaker, partnering with leaders and organizations to strengthen culture, performance, and wellbeing. He is also co-founder and partner at Sanergy, a mental health company. His Master’s dissertation, supervised by Dan Tomasulo with support from Martin Seligman, led to the development of the HRG Model, a framework designed to synthesize the science of happiness into three practical pillars, integrating contributions from multiple academic fields.
Name: Sonia Ramos
Biography
Sonia Ramos is a licensed Psychologist (CRP 05/16.628) with an MBA in Business Management from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). She is a specialist in Positive Psychology from UCAM and a certified Agent of Wellbeing, Happiness, Integral Health, and Social Governance through WHA and Fairjob. She holds an international certification in Positive Psychology from Wholebeing Institute Brazil and has completed training in Schema Therapy through NuAPP-RJ. She is also certified in Executive Mentoring by the Organizational Transformation Academy (AKTO) in partnership with MUST University (USA), a Business Mentor through Casa da Mentoria and ABMEN, and trained in Neurocoaching by the NeuroLeadership Group (USA). Sonia is the author, alongside Professor Ricardo de Sá, of Faces of Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Working with Human Qualities – Positive Psychology and Schema Therapy, and co-author of six additional books in the field of Positive Psychology. She serves as Academic Coordinator and Professor in postgraduate and MBA programs at Human SA – Human Skills Academy (People & Culture). Sonia works as a psychotherapist, coach, mentor, organizational consultant, and speaker.
Name: Andréa Perez
Founder and Head of the Instituto Felicidade Agora é Ciência (IFAC), she holds a Master’s degree in Management Systems and a postgraduate specialization in Positive Psychology. She works as a consultant in organizational projects focused on implementing wellbeing processes, human potential development, positive strategic planning, and leadership training. She is an organizer, critical reviewer, co-author, author, and preface writer of more than 20 books and methodological materials on Positive Psychology. She is also the lead academic coordinator of the editorial label Coletânea Biblioteca Positiva at Editora Leader, recognized as one of the largest publication collections in the science of happiness in Brazil. She is the founder and president of the Congresso Felicidade Aplicada na Real (FELICIDAR) and a TEDx speaker with over 15 years of experience in lectures on Positive Psychology. She is also the co-founder and co-coordinator of the startup Leader Online – Cards & Games, which develops methodological tools for human development, and co-creator and co-coordinator of the Flourishing Dip platform for professional human flourishing. In addition, she leads voluntary social impact projects at national and international levels. She serves as a guest lecturer in undergraduate, MBA, and postgraduate programs in Happiness Science, Human Development, Integrative Health, and Psychology at renowned institutions in Brazil. She is also co-coordinator of the Luso-Brazilian Symposium on Positive Psychology and the Portuguese Congress on Positive Psychology, held at the University of Lisbon.
Name: Kiko Kislansky
Kiko Kislansky — Founder, Cazulo Consulting Group | Chief Purpose Officer at Global Purpose School (GPS) | Co-founder of the World Meaning&Purpose Summit
Kiko Kislansky is a social entrepreneur, speaker, psychotherapist, corporate educator, and global purpose expert who has spent the last 10 years helping leaders and organizations translate purpose into culture, performance, and engagement. He holds certifications in Logotherapy and Positive Psychology, and created the Life Purpose Trainer and Business Purpose Trainer certifications, as well as a postgraduate program in Propositology (the applied science of purpose). He has published 10 books, including “The Purpose Revolution” and “Profit with Purpose” and has supported 500+ organizations while impacting 50,000+ people across 25+ countries and five continents.
Name: Bianca Kislansky
Master’s degree in Happiness Studies from Centenary University (USA), educator, and international speaker. Creator of The AUREA System™, a framework for female flourishing grounded in the Science of Happiness, which guides the methodology of AUREA Happiness School, an international pioneering school for women based on the Science of Happiness, with students in six countries. Also a partner at Cazulo Consulting, a group that has supported more than 500 organizations across Brazil. Work dedicated to developing initiatives focused on human flourishing in organizations, education, and society. Brings knowledge, research, and initiatives developed in Brazil to the international stage, presenting work at scientific conferences, universities, and specialized events in 12 countries. Purpose is to elevate human happiness by connecting science, education, and human development to generate positive impact in the lives of individuals, organizations, and society.
Name: Douglas Pereira
Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Education from the University of São Paulo (USP), including an academic exchange period at the University of Milan. Holds an MBA in People Management from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), a postgraduate specialization in Positive Psychology from Candido Mendes University, and a specialization in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Center for Applied Psychology and Training. Works as a clinical psychologist and researcher, with a focus on happiness, wellbeing, and flow.