Verónica Sarria
Division of Psychology, Psychotherapy and Coaching
Verónica Sarria
Psychologist
Adolescents and adults
Languages: English, French and Spanish
Online AppointmentClinic Appointment
Verónica Sarria
Division of Psychology, Psychotherapy and Coaching
Verónica Sarria
Psychologist
Adolescents and adults
Languages: English, French and Spanish
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Universidad Metropolitana (Venezuela) and Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (España)
  • Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. Columbia University (Nueva York, USA)
  • Master’s Degree in Eating Disorders and Obesity. Universidad Europea (Madrid, España)
  • Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology. Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (Madrid, España)

Veronica was born in Caracas, Venezuela, but has had contact with different cultures throughout her life, having lived and studied in Latin America, the United States, France and Spain. 

She remembers her childhood summers in New Hampshire, USA, especially the slow pace of small New England towns, singing around a campfire with s’mores and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She also had the opportunity to study 5th grade in the city of Boca Raton (Florida), getting to know first-hand the American educational system.

Upon finishing high school, she moved to Paris to do a gap year, where she studied French, Art History and Philosophy. It was in France where she fell in love with Psychology as it was a meeting point for her interest in understanding human beings and her vocation to help. This would also be her first experience as a student abroad with the challenges of being away from home, taking exams in another language and missing the food of her home country, feeling a certain disorganization around food and eating. She now understands why moving abroad can often be a trigger for a food related problem. 

During her Psychology degree, she spent several summers in different countries: England, France and the United States. She carried out her internships in a school as well as in a hospital where she was able to psychologically assist people on dialysis and with a cancer diagnosis. After graduating, she had the opportunity to work in a bariatric surgery unit (stomach reduction for people with obesity) where she discovered that in addition to the surgery it was essential to address emotional difficulties and help patients with their self-esteem, often damaged by endless failed diets, as well as with the emotional aspects of eating and in the construction of their new identity. This is where his interest in eating disorders was born.

The Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University would be her next step, making her an expatriate student again for a year and a half, this time in New York. She was surrounded by colleagues from all continents (her best friend was Lebanese) and she enjoyed reading during hours in the impressive rooms of Columbia University’s library. With the help of professor Lisa Miller, she discovered the protective effect of spirituality, regardless of the religion practiced, and became a research assistant for an APA published Journal called “Spirituality in Clinical Practice”.

During her time in New York, she worked as a volunteer teacher at Harlem Hebrew Charter School, a center focused on training global citizens, through education in empathy and emotional intelligence by integrating kids from the Harlem neighborhood, of mostly Latino and African-American background with Jewish students. The teenage years then became one of her favorite periods, falling in love with the energy, intensity and honesty of teens but also becoming aware that it can be a turning point moment where everything can go wrong as well as a moment where everything can be rerouted.

She finally settled with her family in Madrid where she began a Master’s Degree in Eating Disorders from the UEM, training at the Niño Jesús University Children’s Hospital where she was able to see cases of children and adolescents both in Hospitalization and in the Day Hospital Unit; at the Santa Cristina Hospital, working with adults where it was essential to help them find the motivation to change and accompany them step by step, and also at the Institute of Eating Disorders (ITA). For Veronica, in eating disorders, body and weight concerns are just the tip of the iceberg, because underneath there are emotional symptoms such as self-esteem difficulties, problems with personal relationships, difficulties in emotional management, lack of assertiveness, among many others. While working on the symptoms with cognitive behavioral techniques, it is essential to help patients achieve a better emotional balance and at the same time support the family by providing guidelines.

Currently, she collaborates giving talks in schools with the «Cómete tus miedos» Foundation, helping to disseminate and raise awareness of the reality of these disorders.

Finally, she completed a Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology at the Alfonso X El Sabio University and was selected to do her internship at Sinews where she shone with her own light and was chosen to stay and be part of the team.

Her orientation is cognitive behavioral, but she integrates tools and techniques from other approaches according to the needs of each patient, thanks to her training in mindfulness, mindful eating, attachment theory and systemic (family) therapy.

Having had the opportunity to live for long periods in Spain, France, the United States and Venezuela, Verónica understands very well the challenges and needs of foreign students and expatriate families. She considers herself a warm and close person due to her Latin roots, with a clear humanistic vocation and a multicultural vision of the world.

As a psychologist, Veronica believes that to understand is to relieve, so she seeks to understand people from a place of interest and respect, without judging, in order to accompany them through a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan to achieve the desired well-being.

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Universidad Metropolitana (Venezuela) and Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (España)
  • Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. Columbia University (Nueva York, USA)
  • Master’s Degree in Eating Disorders and Obesity. Universidad Europea (Madrid, España)
  • Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology. Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (Madrid, España)
  • Psychologist in the Bariatric Surgery Unit of Centro Tánamo (January-June 2015)
  • Psychologist trainee at Niño Jesús University Children's Hospital (October 2018-December 2018)
  • Psychologist trainee at Hospital Santa Cristina (March 2019-May 2019)
  • Psychologist trainee at ITA (July 2019-September 2019)
  • Psychologist in practice at Sinews (August 2021-March 2022)
  • Collaborating psychologist with Terapin Institute of Psychotherapy (April 2022-October 2022)
  • Collaborating psychologist with Renace TCA Zaragoza (April 2022-October 2022)
  • Psychologist at Sinews (October 2022-Present)
  • Systemic Family Therapy Course: Children and Youth (25 hours) - Official College of Psychologists
  • Systemic Family Therapy Course: Adults and Couples (25 hours) - Official College of Psychologists
  • Attachment Theory Course in Psychotherapy (9 hours) – Official College of Psychologists
  • Nutritional Coaching Course (Annual Course) – Institute of Integral Nutrition (NYC)
  • MBSR Course 8 weeks (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) – New York Zen Center
  • Mindful Eating Course 8 weeks- New York Zen Center
  • Attendance to the 12th Congress of Eating Disorders of AEETCA in Zaragoza (November 2019)
  • Volunteer teacher at Harlem Hebrew Charter School, New York (September 2016- September 2017)
  • Research Assistant for the journal of the American Psychological Association "Spirituality in Clinical Practice" (September 2016- December 2017)
  • Volunteer at the "Cómete tus miedos” Foundation (May 2022-Present)

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