Explore every episode of the podcast The Expat Therapist: Navigating Mental Health

✨ Join the 7-Day Become Her Abroad Challenge here!

You can be surrounded by people and still feel incredibly lonely.

In this episode, we’re talking about the kind of loneliness that happens when you move abroad—the feeling of being connected socially, but not truly seen. We’ll explore why emotional safety matters more than simply having people around you, and what it actually takes to create deeper connection in a new place.

🌿 Looking for support on your own Becoming Her journey?

If you're an expat woman navigating identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, or simply trying to feel more like yourself abroad, I'd love to support you.

You can book a free 30-minute clarity call here, where we'll identify the biggest barrier keeping you stuck and create a personalized 3-step action plan to help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

And if you're looking for a community of women who truly understand the emotional side of living abroad, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook community. We'd love to welcome you.

✨ Join the 7-Day Become Her Abroad Challenge here!

Summer ends, routines return, school starts, visitors leave—and suddenly, real life feels a little heavier.

In this episode, we’re talking about why seasonal transitions can hit differently when you live abroad, and how to get curious about what your emotions might actually be telling you instead of immediately assuming something is wrong.

🌿 Looking for support on your own Becoming Her journey?

If you're an expat woman navigating identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, or simply trying to feel more like yourself abroad, I'd love to support you.

You can book a free 30-minute clarity call here, where we'll identify the biggest barrier keeping you stuck and create a personalized 3-step action plan to help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

And if you're looking for a community of women who truly understand the emotional side of living abroad, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook community. We'd love to welcome you.

✨ Join the 7-Day Become Her Abroad Challenge here!

Moving abroad can create so much internal noise that it becomes difficult to hear yourself clearly. Your thoughts, emotions, fears, and the pressure to make the “right” decisions can become so loud that your intuition feels completely out of reach.

In this episode, we explore the difference between intuition, thoughts, and emotions—and why reconnecting with that quiet, grounded inner knowing can be such an important part of navigating an identity shift abroad.

You'll also learn how creating safety, building awareness, understanding your patterns, and developing self-trust can help you turn down the noise and reconnect with yourself.

🌿 Looking for support on your own Becoming Her journey?

If you're an expat woman navigating identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, or simply trying to feel more like yourself abroad, I'd love to support you.

You can book a free 30-minute clarity call here, where we'll identify the biggest barrier keeping you stuck and create a personalized 3-step action plan to help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

And if you're looking for a community of women who truly understand the emotional side of living abroad, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook community. We'd love to welcome you.

✨ Join the 7-Day Become Her Abroad Challenge here!

What does it really take to build a life that feels like home in a country that once felt completely unfamiliar?

In this episode of Becoming Her Stories, I'm joined by Lara, a fellow therapist originally from London who has spent the last eight years building a life here in Valencia, Spain.

Together, we dive into the emotional realities of living abroad—from navigating cultural differences to finding community and marrying a Spaniard, creating meaningful friendships, and discovering the hobbies and routines that helped transform a new country into home.

As therapists, we also explore the emotional side of expatriation: the identity shifts, the moments of loneliness, the importance of belonging, and why building a fulfilling life abroad takes intention—not perfection.

And if you are interested in Lara's therapeutic services or simply want to reach out and tell her how amazing she is, you can find her instagram here or go straight to her website here. 

🌿 Looking for support on your own Becoming Her journey?

If you're an expat woman navigating identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, or simply trying to feel more like yourself abroad, I'd love to support you.

You can book a free 30-minute clarity call here, where we'll identify the biggest barrier keeping you stuck and create a personalized 3-step action plan to help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

And if you're looking for a community of women who truly understand the emotional side of living abroad, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook community. We'd love to welcome you.

✨ Join the 7-Day Become Her Abroad Challenge here!

What happens when you've lived in multiple countries, speak multiple languages, and have had to reinvent yourself over and over again?

In this episode, I'm joined by fellow expat Meg as she shares her incredible journey of becoming—not just abroad, but within herself.

From working on a cruise ship and experiencing life across different cultures to speaking multiple languages (and noticing how different parts of her personality emerge in each one), Meg's offers a refreshingly honest perspective on what it means to continually adapt, grow, and redefine yourself.

Now just six weeks into her newest chapter in Valencia, Spain, we talk about the emotional side of starting over once again, finding your footing in a new place, and embracing the uncertainty that often comes with building a life abroad.

Whether you're preparing for your first international move or you've been living abroad for years, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that every new chapter invites us to rediscover who we are.

And if you are interested in Meg's english support services or simply want to reach out and tell her how amazing she is, you can find her instagram here or go straight to booking a call with her here. 

🌿 Looking for support on your own Becoming Her journey?

If you're an expat woman navigating identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, or simply trying to feel more like yourself abroad, I'd love to support you.

You can book a free 30-minute clarity call here, where we'll identify the biggest barrier keeping you stuck and create a personalized 3-step action plan to help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

And if you're looking for a community of women who truly understand the emotional side of living abroad, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook community. We'd love to welcome you.

✨ Join the 7-Day Challenge here!

The truth is, identity shifts are a natural part of being human—but they're rarely talked about. And when they happen, it's easy to assume something is wrong with us.

In this episode, we're exploring why identity shifts feel so uncomfortable, what they're actually trying to teach us, and why living abroad often accelerates this process in ways many women never expect.

We'll explore:

✨ What identity really is—and why it's meant to evolve throughout your life

✨ Why your nervous system resists change, even when it's leading you toward growth

✨ How moving abroad disrupts the familiar parts of yourself that once made you feel confident and grounded

✨ The three phases of identity transition every expat woman moves through:

• Disorientation – when everything feels unfamiliar
• Reconstruction – when you begin questioning who you're becoming
• Embodiment – when your new identity finally starts to feel like home

Most importantly, I want you to leave this episode knowing this:

You haven't lost yourself.

You're in the middle of becoming.

And while that space between who you've been and who you're becoming can feel uncertain, it's also where your greatest growth begins.

🌿 Ready to Take the Next Step?

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to join my 7-Day Become Her Abroad Challenge.

Over seven days, I'll guide you through the same emotional and identity work I wish someone had taught me before I moved abroad. Together, we'll explore your limiting beliefs, reconnect with your intuition, understand your emotional needs, and begin rebuilding the confidence and self-trust needed to truly feel at home abroad.

If you're ready to stop feeling disconnected from yourself and start becoming the woman you're meant to be abroad, you can join the challenge through the link in the show notes.

Because becoming her isn't about becoming someone new.

It's about remembering who you've always been—and giving yourself permission to grow into the woman you're becoming. ✨🤎

If I could go back and sit down with the version of myself before I boarded that plane to Spain, there are seven things I would tell her.

And it isn't about the logistics. 

Yup, you guessed it. It's about identity.

Because while everyone prepares you for the logistical side of moving abroad, very few people prepare you for the emotional side.

In this episode, I'm sharing the seven lessons I wish someone had taught me before I started this journey—from navigating identity shifts and grief to rebuilding confidence, trusting my intuition, and discovering that becoming "her" isn't about becoming someone new—it's about returning to yourself while embracing who you're becoming.

Whether you've lived abroad for six months or six years, I hope these lessons remind you that you're not behind, you're not broken, and you're certainly not alone.

✨ Ready to go deeper?

I've created a 7-Day Become Her Abroad Challenge based on these exact lessons.

Each day includes a short teaching, guided reflection, and practical exercises to help you stop feeling disconnected from yourself and begin feeling grounded, confident, and emotionally at home abroad.

Join the challenge here!

Because the woman you're becoming deserves to be supported every step of the way.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

🎙 Join me live on Friday, June 19th for my free masterclass, Why You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Abroad, where we’ll dive deeper into the emotional, psychological, and identity shifts that happen after moving abroad—and how to begin feeling grounded, confident, and connected to yourself again.

Register here (: 

✨

For years, I thought my problem was money.

But looking back, finances were never actually the issue.

Avoidance was.

In this episode, I’m sharing how avoidance became a protective shield during some of the hardest seasons of my life abroad — including identity shifts, motherhood, relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, and navigating life in a different country.

We’ll explore why avoidance is often a nervous system response rather than a character flaw, how survival patterns can quietly keep us stuck, and what changed when I finally stopped running from the things that felt uncomfortable to face.

If you've ever found yourself avoiding finances, difficult conversations, decisions, or even your own emotions, this episode is for you. 

And if you’re craving community and conversations around the emotional side of expat life, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook group — a safe space to normalize the parts of culture shock and identity shifts no one warned us about.

Schedule your 30-minute Clarity Call with me here! 

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

Schedule your 30-minute Clarity Call with me here! 

And if you’re craving community and conversations around the emotional side of expat life, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook group — a safe space to normalize the parts of culture shock and identity shifts no one warned us about.

—

In this episode, we dive deep into the nervous system, unresolved emotional patterns, and why living abroad often activates parts of ourselves we thought we had already healed.

Because moving abroad doesn’t just change your location.

It changes your relationship to EVERYTHING.

And when the nervous system loses familiarity, old survival responses often rise back to the surface.

We are exploring:

• What the nervous system actually is and how it works
 • Why your body prioritizes familiarity over fulfillment
 • How unresolved emotional patterns continue shaping your reactions and behaviors subconsciously
 • Why moving abroad often triggers anxiety, irritability, emotional overwhelm, and identity confusion
 • The 3 stages of identity crisis abroad: disorientation, reconstruction, and embodiment
 • How unresolved nervous system patterns can affect relationships, communication, confidence, and emotional stability
 • The difference between survival mode and true emotional safety
 • What healing actually looks like beyond surface-level coping skills

If you’ve been feeling more reactive, emotionally exhausted, disconnected, stuck, or unlike yourself abroad… this episode will help you understand why.

Not from a place of shame.

But from a place of awareness.

Because your nervous system is not working against you.

It’s trying to protect you the best way it knows how.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

Schedule your 30-minute Clarity Call with me here! 

And if you’re craving community and conversations around the emotional side of expat life, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook group — a safe space to normalize the parts of culture shock and identity shifts no one warned us about.

—

If someone turned my relationship abroad into a Netflix movie… this would probably be the emotional plot twist episode.

Today, I’m opening up about my relationship, the emotional realities of navigating marriage abroad, and why living in another country can quietly place pressure on relationships in ways most people never expect.

Because sometimes it’s not just culture shock.

It’s nervous system overload.
 Identity shifts.
 Loss of support systems.
 Emotional exhaustion.
 And two people adapting to a completely new life in entirely different ways.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why relationships can feel emotionally harder abroad
 • How moving abroad affects patience, communication, and emotional regulation
 • Why so many expats feel more reactive, disconnected, or unlike themselves in relationships
 • The emotional weight of adapting while trying to maintain intimacy and connection
 • How nervous system overwhelm impacts romantic dynamics
 • The difference between relationship dysfunction and emotional overload

This is not an episode about blame.

It’s about awareness.

Because sometimes the issue isn’t that the relationship is failing…

it’s that both people are overwhelmed, adapting, and trying to survive major identity shifts at the same time.

If you’ve been feeling emotionally stretched thin in your relationship abroad lately, this episode will help you feel less alone in it.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

Schedule your 30-minute Clarity Call with me here! 

And if you’re craving community and conversations around the emotional side of expat life, come join us inside the Becoming Her Abroad Facebook group — a safe space to normalize the parts of culture shock and identity shifts no one warned us about.

If a lemon tree starts producing rotten lemons… do you focus on the lemons?

Or do you examine the soil, the roots, and the internal environment feeding the entire tree?

In this episode, we explore one of the biggest emotional mistakes so many expat women make while living abroad: trying to fix the visible symptoms without addressing the deeper root causes underneath them.

Because snapping at your partner, feeling emotionally exhausted, questioning your move, feeling disconnected, anxious, unmotivated, or “not like yourself” are often not the actual problem.

They’re symptoms.

And when we only focus on changing behaviors without understanding the internal environment producing them… we stay stuck in the same cycles.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why emotional symptoms abroad are often rooted in nervous system overload and identity misalignment
 • The difference between surface-level coping and true internal healing
 • Why gratitude and “thinking positive” aren’t enough when you feel disconnected
 • The emotional cost of ignoring what’s happening underneath the surface
 • How chronic adaptation, emotional suppression, loneliness, and lack of support impact expat mental health
 • What it actually means to “heal at the root” while living abroad

If you’ve been trying to fix yourself but still feel emotionally off… this episode will help you understand why.

You are not broken.

Your nervous system, identity, and emotional environment may simply need deeper support than surface-level solutions can provide.

I asked expat women in my FB Group Community (Join Here!) what they’re really struggling with right now…

And the answers?

They were almost identical.

Which tells me something important:

You’re not alone in what you’re feeling.

In this episode, I’m answering some of the most honest, raw questions expat women are navigating behind the scenes — the ones that don’t always get said out loud.

We talk about:

• Why you might feel more reactive, overwhelmed, or on edge abroad
 • What it actually means when you feel like you “want more” but don’t know where to start
 • How to reconnect with yourself after the emotional rollercoaster of moving abroad
 • Why loneliness can exist even when you’re surrounded by people
 • The real reason you keep second-guessing your decision to move
 • And what it means when part of you still wants to go back home

If you’ve been feeling off, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of yourself…

this episode will help you understand why.

And more importantly—help you feel less alone in it.

You’re not doing this wrong.

You’re navigating something that most people were never taught how to handle.

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

If you’re an expat woman in the EU time zone navigating this exact phase — feeling off, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward — I currently offer 1:1 support and consultation calls to help you realign and feel grounded in your life abroad again.

You can book a free 30-minute consultation here.

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

You built the life you once dreamed about.

So why does it feel like something’s missing?

In this episode, we dive into a quiet but deeply common experience for expat women — the emotional contradiction of loving your life abroad… while also feeling disconnected from it.

Because sometimes, nothing is technically wrong.

And yet, internally, things feel off.

You might feel:

•  anxious or unsettled for no clear reason 
•  disconnected from your environment or relationships 
•  unsure of yourself or your next steps 
•  guilty for not feeling as happy as you “should” 
•  stuck between knowing this is what you wanted… and not understanding why it doesn’t fully feel right 

This episode explores the deeper layers of that experience — beyond surface-level advice or “just be grateful” narratives.

We talk about:

• Why gratitude doesn’t resolve emotional disconnection
 • The difference between external success and internal alignment
 • How emotional suppression shows up in your daily life (and relationships)
 • The identity shifts that happen when you live abroad — and why they can feel destabilizing
 • The real cost of staying stuck in misalignment (in your relationships, career, and personal growth)
 • How to begin reconnecting to yourself without abandoning the life you’ve built

If you’ve been questioning your feelings, second-guessing your decisions, or wondering why you don’t feel like yourself… this episode will help you understand what’s really going on.

You’re not ungrateful.

You’re not broken.

You’re in the middle of becoming.

—

If you’re an expat woman in the EU time zone navigating this exact phase — feeling off, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward — I currently offer 1:1 support and consultation calls to help you realign and feel grounded in your life abroad again.

You can book a free 30-minute consultation here.

And if this episode resonated, I’d love to hear from you — what part of this hit home the most?

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

This episode is a little different… and one I’ve been really excited to share.

Today, I’m sitting down with my son for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what it’s actually like growing up between countries — specifically between Spain and the United States.

We talk about the good, the hard, and some things that often go unnoticed when raising a child abroad.

Because while we, as parents, navigate identity shifts and emotional transitions… our kids are experiencing their own version of that too.

And sometimes, we don’t pause long enough to really hear it.

In this episode, we explore:

• What he loves about living in Spain vs. the U.S.
 • What feels hard or confusing about moving between cultures
 • How friendships, school, and identity feel from his perspective
 • The differences he notices that adults might overlook
 • What it’s like living as a “third culture kid” (TCK)

This conversation offers a glimpse into the emotional and lived experience of a child growing up abroad — something that’s often talked about around them, but not with them.

If you’re raising children abroad, thinking about it, or simply curious about how this lifestyle shapes identity from a younger lens… this episode will give you a perspective that’s both grounding and eye-opening.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

Asking for help sounds simple… until you’re living abroad.

In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the most common — and least talked about — struggles expat women face: the difficulty of reaching out for support, even when you need it most.

Because the truth is, it’s not just about “being independent.”

There are real psychological, emotional, and environmental reasons why asking for help feels heavier when you’re navigating life in a new country.

From disrupted support systems to nervous system overload, to the internal pressure of “I chose this, so I should be able to handle it”… many women find themselves silently carrying more than they need to.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why asking for help feels harder abroad than it did back home
 • The hidden pressure expat women feel to “have it together”
 • The clinical reality of nervous system overload and reduced capacity
 • Why receiving support can feel more uncomfortable than giving it
 • Small, practical ways to begin letting support in again

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or like you’re carrying everything on your own… this conversation will help you understand why — and remind you that you don’t have to do this alone.

If you’re an expat woman in the EU time zone navigating identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, or simply craving deeper support, I currently offer 1:1 spaces and consultation calls to explore working together.

You can find the link in the show notes to book a free 30-minute consultation.

And if this episode resonated, I’d love to hear from you — send me a message and tell me what support would feel most helpful for you right now.

You’re allowed to be supported, too.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

In our home, I speak English, my husband speaks Spanish, and together we move fluidly between languages — with Valenciano layered in through family. It’s a beautiful dynamic… but it also comes with challenges that aren’t often talked about.

Because raising children in a bilingual (or trilingual) environment isn’t just about language.

It’s an identity experience — especially for the mom.

In this episode, I share my personal journey of intentionally raising bilingual children, from hiring a Spanish-speaking nanny early on to watching my son surpass my own Spanish skills in a matter of months.

We talk about:

• How and why I always envisioned raising bilingual children
 • The reality of managing multiple languages within one household
 • The emotional and mental load of learning and parenting at the same time
 • The identity shift that can happen when you don’t feel fully expressed in your environment
 • Power dynamics and communication in bilingual relationships
 • The beauty and the strain of raising children across languages and cultures
• Practical ways to support yourself as a mom while navigating it all

This episode is for any expat mom raising children abroad — or any woman who desires a multilingual home and wants to understand both the magic and the reality of it.

Because while your children are learning how to speak multiple languages…

You are learning how to exist in a new version of yourself.

And that matters too.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

Happy FALLAS WEEK 🧨🎇🎆

For anyone who’s never experienced it, Fallas is one of the biggest and most iconic celebrations in Valencia, Spain. The streets are full of music, fireworks, parades, and these incredible sculptures called fallas that are eventually burned at the end of the festival.

So I talk a little about it and the tradition it brings to my personal expatriation experiences at the beginning of the episode. 

And if you’d prefer to jump straight into the episode topic, you can skip ahead to minute 6:45.

In this episode, I explore the identity shift that can happen when you move abroad and why even highly self-aware, confident women can suddenly find themselves second-guessing their voice, decisions, and place in the world.

We discuss:

• Why confidence is often built within familiar cultural and social environments
 • How moving abroad can temporarily destabilize your sense of self
 • Why self-aware women tend to notice this shift more deeply
 • The identity gap between who you were back home and who you’re becoming abroad
 • How confidence is rebuilt through identity integration over time

Moving abroad doesn’t just change where you live — it changes who you are becoming.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

There’s a quiet question many expat women ask themselves at some point:

“Am I depressed?”

Life abroad stops feeling light. You feel more tired. More irritable. Less motivated. You don’t quite recognize yourself. And because the symptoms overlap, it’s easy to assume something is wrong.

But sometimes — not always, and not instead of real clinical depression — what you’re experiencing isn’t pathology.

It’s identity disorientation.

In this episode, I break down the difference between clinical depression and the identity destabilization that often happens after moving abroad. 

We explore:
• What depression actually looks like from a clinical perspective
 • How identity disorientation shows up emotionally and mentally
 • Why expat women are especially vulnerable to confusing the two
 • The psychological impact of losing social mirrors, language comfort, career anchoring, and cultural familiarity
 • Reflective questions to help you differentiate depression from transition
 • Why understanding identity reconstruction can dramatically shift your mental health

Moving abroad is one of the most identity-altering experiences a woman can go through.

When you’re no longer who you were back home — but you haven’t fully stabilized into who you’re becoming — that in-between space can feel heavy.

But heaviness does not always mean hopelessness.

And sometimes, you’re not broken.
You’re becoming.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

Most expat women don’t move back home because they failed.

They move back because they hit a phase no one prepared them for.

Around the 2–3 year mark, the excitement of living abroad begins to settle. The novelty fades. The routine sets in. And what often follows is frustration, emotional fatigue, and a quiet sense of disorientation.

This isn’t a sign you made the wrong move.

It’s a predictable psychological and identity shift.

In this episode, we explore the cultural adjustment cycle — from honeymoon to frustration to deeper integration — and why so many women experience a mental and emotional dip during this time.

We talk about:

• The U-curve of cultural adaptation and what research says about emotional adjustment abroad
 • Why novelty masks identity destabilization in the early years
 • The emotional pain points women commonly experience between years 2–4
 • How understanding your evolving identity can dramatically support your mental health

If you’ve been questioning your decision… feeling more irritable, tired, or disconnected than you expected… this episode will help you understand why.

You’re not failing.

You’re integrating.

If you’re an expat woman in the EU time zone navigating identity shifts, motherhood, partnership, or belonging abroad and are looking for therapeutic-level support, you can book a free 30-minute consultation call through the link in the show notes.

And if this episode resonated, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out on Instagram and tell me what phase you’re in.

You’re not alone in this transition.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

✨🧘‍♀️ Becoming Her Abroad - APPLY HERE

If you’re a self-aware expat woman and you’ve been feeling disoriented, expanded, or like you’ve quietly outgrown the version of yourself who first moved abroad… this episode is for you.

This isn’t dysfunction. It’s identity evolution.

In this episode, I break down why high-aware women often experience deep internal shifts after relocation — from a clinical and spiritual perspective — and why this disorientation is actually a necessary phase of becoming more fully yourself.

You’ll learn about the three identity phases self-aware expat women move through:

• Disorientation → Stabilization
 • Excavation → Reconstruction
 • Embodiment → Integration

These phases explain why nothing is “wrong,” even when everything feels unfamiliar — and why the right support, resonance, and guidance can accelerate your healing and integration.

If you’ve been craving deeper alignment, emotional stability, and a stronger sense of belonging within yourself and your life abroad, this episode will help you understand exactly where you are — and what comes next.

If you’re an expat woman in the EU time zone seeking deeper clinical and spiritual support, you can book a consultation call with me through the link in the show notes. My Becoming Her Abroad™ identity reconstruction container is designed specifically for women moving through this phase of evolution.

You’re not lost.

You’re becoming.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

Expat woman needing mental health support or guidance abroad? Schedule your free 30-minute consultation call here.

In this episode, I share what it was like to experience separation during the first year postpartum — a time when many relationships are under immense strain — and how, even in the middle of uncertainty, I realized something surprising: I finally felt at home where I was.

Not because everything was easy.
 Not because life felt settled.
  And not just because of my children.

But because I chose myself.

I talk openly about what the separation revealed to me — as well as how my energy journey and commitment to presence helped me stay grounded, trust the process, and believe that even in the unknown, something meaningful was unfolding.

If you’re an expat woman living in the EU time zone and you’ve been craving deeper emotional support, I currently have limited 1:1 therapy and coaching spaces open. Book a 30-minute consultation call with me here to see if working together feels like the right fit.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

Living abroad as an American right now comes with a complicated mix of emotions. Relief. Guilt. Fear. Gratitude. And a deep concern for the people we love who are still back home.

In this episode, I speak honestly about what it feels like to live outside of the U.S. during a time of rising hatred, instability, and collective grief. I share why the sense of relief I feel living abroad exists right alongside guilt for feeling it.

This conversation isn’t about politics — it’s about humanity, safety, and the emotional toll of watching from afar. It’s about what it means to love a country, question it, grieve it, and still hope for better.

If you’re an American living abroad and you’ve felt this emotional tug-of-war — or you’re considering leaving and carrying similar fears — you are not alone. Two truths can coexist at once: you can seek peace for yourself and still care deeply about those you left behind.

If this episode resonated, find me on social media (TikTok and Insta) and send me a DM. 

Tell me what you need right now to feel supported. 

✨What conversations are missing? 

✨What would help you feel less alone? 

Let’s build a community that meets the emotional needs of Americans living abroad — together.

Because none of us were meant to hold this alone.

✨ Follow me on TikTok and Insta (Comment/DM and tell me what you would like to hear more of!) 

Feeling stuck, lonely, or frustrated in your expat journey? It’s not you—it’s your support system. In this episode, I dive into one of the most overlooked challenges of living abroad: expecting your old friends, family, or familiar networks to meet your new emotional needs.

Learn why your nervous system thrives on shared experiences, how co-regulation and feeling understood play a vital role in mental health, and why connecting with like-minded expats or supportive communities is non-negotiable for thriving abroad. I share actionable tips on finding emotional resonance, creating safe spaces, and understanding that wanting new support doesn’t mean abandoning your loved ones back home—it means expanding your village.

Whether you’re preparing for your move or already navigating life abroad, this episode will help you reframe your struggles, stop feeling isolated, and finally embrace the kind of community that empowers your growth.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• How old support systems can unintentionally hold you back
• Why community and belonging are essential for emotional resilience abroad
• Signs it’s time to expand your support network
• Practical ways to build connections that truly get you

🚀 If you’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start thriving abroad, this episode is your guide to understanding the emotional ecosystem you need.

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This year’s birthday was unlike any other — not because of where I was or what I did, but because I finally let myself be celebrated. For the first time, I didn’t avoid it or minimize it… I allowed myself to really experience it. And in doing so, I noticed something powerful: when you start celebrating and honoring yourself, others learn to celebrate and honor you too.

But life lifed, and it had other plans woven into my day. My husband’s grandmother passed away — on my exact birthday. It was a profound reminder of how joy and grief often exist side by side, especially when you’re living abroad and far from home.

In this episode, I’m opening up about:
 🌿 Learning to celebrate myself after years of emotional self-protection
 🌿 How grief feels different when you’re an expat — away from family, culture, and familiar rituals
 🌿 Why accepting/receiving love is one of the most healing acts we can practice
 🌿 The duality of holding both gratitude and loss in the same breath

If you’ve ever struggled to celebrate yourself… or felt the weight of grief while trying to move forward in a new chapter, this one’s for you.

Because healing abroad isn’t just about adapting to your destination country — it’s about learning to hold ALL of who you are, joy and pain included.

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Moving abroad is one of the most exciting and life-changing decisions you can make—but let’s be real, it’s not all sunsets and sightseeing. As both a therapist and an expat, I’ve lived through the messy middle of culture shock, identity shifts, and the emotional toll of starting over in a new country.

In this episode, I’m sharing the five things I wish I knew before leaving the states—you’ll walk away with tools and truths to carry with you into your expat journey.

If you’re dreaming of moving abroad, already in the thick of it, or just trying to figure out why it feels so much harder than you imagined, this episode is for you.

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After two months away, I’m back behind the mic — and this episode is all about permission to be tired.

As expats, we carry so much: the stress of navigating a new culture, the loneliness of building life from scratch, the weight of leaving behind family and familiarity. And yet, so often we guilt ourselves for needing rest.

In this episode, I share why I stepped away from the podcast, what living in Spain has taught me about slowing down, and how giving myself permission to rest didn’t set me back — it actually brought me clarity and energy.

If you’ve been feeling worn down, stretched thin, or guilty for not “doing enough” in your expat life, this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away with the reminder that rest is not weakness — it’s wisdom.

Because sometimes the bravest thing we can do as expats isn’t to push harder… it’s to pause.

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As a therapist, expat, and human being, I'm sharing my reflections on the emotional toll of watching loved ones and communities suffer under unjust systems—particularly communities of color, immigrants, and refugees who have long called the U.S. home.

You’ll hear:

• The emotional impact of the recent wave of ICE detentions and deportations
• What it means to carry generational fear, grief, and displacement
• How we can acknowledge what’s happening without becoming emotionally paralyzed
• Ways to self-regulate and take care of your nervous system in the face of collective trauma
• Why moving abroad isn't about escape—it’s about reclaiming safety, peace, and possibility

This episode is a gentle hand on your shoulder and a reminder: it’s okay to feel heavy. You’re not alone in this.

🧠 Therapeutic takeaways + emotional tools included.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Mini Moving Abroad Course – A self-paced, soul-centered course to help you build confidence, clarity, and resilience for your move.
• Move Abroad Mindset Program – My signature support program for those serious about building a sustainable life abroad with emotional tools to match.

✨ If this episode spoke to your soul, share it with a friend who needs it and tag me @theexpattherapist. Your story isn’t over just because you crossed a border—it’s just beginning.

You did the thing. You moved abroad. You chased the dream, made it happen… and now you’re sitting in your beautiful new destination country wondering: Why does this still feel hard?

In today’s episode, I talk about the emotional whiplash that often comes after finally getting what you worked so hard for—especially when that "thing" is moving abroad. Whether you’re still dreaming of leaving your OG country, or you’re already settled in your destination country and feeling more homesick or confused than you expected… this episode is for you.

We dive into:

• The emotional crash that can come after the high
• Identity shifts and loneliness that don’t go away just because the view is prettier
• What expats often don’t say out loud
• Why discomfort doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice—it means you’re growing
• How to hold space for both the dream and the discomfort

I share my personal reflections and offer insight on what it really takes to emotionally integrate a move abroad. Spoiler: it’s not about pretending everything’s perfect. It’s about learning to feel it all and still keep moving forward.

Whether you’re dreaming of leaving or already deep into your expat chapter—this one will hit home.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Mini Moving Abroad Course – A self-paced, soul-centered course to help you build confidence, clarity, and resilience for your move.
• Move Abroad Mindset Program – My signature support program for those serious about building a sustainable life abroad with emotional tools to match.

✨ If this episode spoke to your soul, share it with a friend who needs it and tag me @theexpattherapist. Your story isn’t over just because you crossed a border—it’s just beginning.

A country-wide blackout hit Spain this week—and instead of spiraling, I found myself surprisingly calm. This episode is about what that moment revealed: the peace I’ve built since moving abroad.

I share the contrast between how I would’ve reacted years ago versus now, how living abroad helped regulate my nervous system, and why true safety isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about who you are when everything goes dark.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the inner work actually makes a difference... this is the proof.

✨ We dive into:

• How living abroad retrained my nervous system
• The difference between survival mode and real peace
• Why external chaos doesn’t shake you when you’re internally anchored
• The kind of emotional stability I now help my clients create

✨ Ready to create an aligned life abroad — one that feels peaceful, not performative? My Move Abroad Mindset program is your next step. We build emotional resilience, reprogram limiting beliefs, and help you feel safe in your softness. ✨ Apply here
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Let's talk about what really happens when the chaos quiets and you’re no longer running on autopilot. The emotions. The buried fears. The parts of you that hustle tried to silence.

We’re diving into:
 💭 Why hustle is often a trauma response — and why slowing down can feel terrifying
💔 What rises to the surface when you finally rest
🌀 The emotional detox that often happens after you let yourself just "be"
🌿 How to navigate the discomfort of stillness and build a life rooted in self-trust

This isn’t just about living abroad — it’s about learning to live with yourself.

Because when the noise stops, your truth gets louder. And that truth? It’s your gateway to healing.

✨ Ready to create an aligned life abroad — one that feels peaceful, not performative? My Move Abroad Mindset program is your next step. We build emotional resilience, reprogram limiting beliefs, and help you feel safe in your softness. ✨ Apply here
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I’m back from maternity leave… and with a brand new lens on what it really means to grow, stretch, and evolve while living abroad.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal story of giving birth in Spain — from navigating the healthcare system in Spain to facing language barriers, culture shocks, and the emotional rollercoaster of bringing life into the world while living far from home.

But this episode is about so much more than just birth — it’s about the transformation that happens when life throws you a major shift abroad.

We’ll explore:

✨ The fears and unknowns of giving birth in a new healthcare system
 🗣️ How language and cultural differences can feel isolating — and how I overcame it
 💡 What this life event taught me about intuition, resilience, and radical self-trust
 🌍 How these lessons apply to any big life change when you’re living abroad

Whether you’re a parent, planning a major move, or simply navigating transitions in a new country — this one’s for you.

📌 Mentioned in this episode:
The Move Abroad Mindset program is open again — for those ready to build the emotional strength it takes to not just move, but stay and thrive abroad.

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
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Moving abroad isn’t just about changing locations—it’s about aligning with what feels right. In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Bendayan, who I personally call, The Period Queen, to talk about her journey as a nutritionist specializing in women’s cycles, her experiences with isolation after moving abroad, and the deep self-discovery that comes with navigating life in different countries.

This episode we are going into:
✨ How your menstrual cycle can guide your energy, decisions, and overall well-being—especially during big transitions
🌍 The emotional ups and downs of expatriation and why isolation can be both a challenge and an opportunity for growth
💡 Trusting your intuition when choosing where to live (and why Nicole refuses to stay somewhere that doesn’t feel aligned—no matter what)
💖 Finding balance between love, career, and personal fulfillment while moving through different seasons of life

If you’ve ever wondered how to truly listen to your body and trust your gut—both in health and in life abroad—this episode is for you.

If you're looking to work with Nicole for your cycle or a nutritional journey, here is where you can find her:

Find her on her website here or on instagram here! (www.nicolebendayan.com and @nicole.bendayan)

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Moving abroad isn’t just a physical journey—it’s an energetic one. In this episode, I sit down with my energy therapist, a fellow expat balancing back and forth from Canada to a variety of other countries, but nowadays, Valencia, to dive deep into the unseen layers of life abroad. We explore how tuning into your energy can guide major life transitions, how to trust yourself when everything feels uncertain, and what it means to raise children across multiple cultures.

In the episode, we touch on:
✨ How energy work can support you through the emotional ups and downs of expat life
✨ The power of intuition when making big life decisions—like moving to another country
✨ How to energetically raise children with a conscious, global mindset and lots of trust
✨ The unexpected ways different cultures influence personal energy dynamics

If you’ve ever felt like moving abroad has shifted something deeper within you, or if you’re navigating expat life while raising kids, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Tune in now and explore how aligning your energy can transform your journey abroad!

If you're looking to work with Illanith on a spiritual journey, I promise you, it will be one of the best things you could ever do for yourself. 

Find her on her website here or on instagram here! (www.illanith.com and @illanith_benjamin_)

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What’s it like to build a life across multiple countries—navigating new cultures, languages, and identities along the way? In this episode, I sit down with Christie, an expat from Brazil now living in Germany, who has spent years moving across the world, from high school in the U.S. to studying and working in various countries.

We dive into:
 🌍 Her journey of living in multiple countries and what she’s learned along the way
 💡 The biggest mindset shifts that helped her adjust and thrive as an expat
 🧘🏽‍♀️ How she became an integrative health coach specializing in expat and immigrant well-being
🎙️The advice she has for anyone moving abroad or struggling to feel at home in a new country

You can find Christie on Instagram here! (@healthy_expat)

💡 If you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, and real talk about what it takes to build a fulfilling life abroad—this episode is for you!

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You’ve been dreaming about moving abroad, or maybe you're already there! But there’s one nagging thought that won’t leave you alone… What if I regret it?

Fear of making/having made the wrong decision keeps so many of us stuck in place, choosing the comfort of the familiar over the unknown. But here’s the truth—regret often comes from not taking the leap, not from trying and learning along the way.

In this episode, we’re breaking down:
 ✅ Why the fear of regret is really a fear of uncertainty (and how to shift your mindset)
 ✅ The difference between real risk vs. fear-based overthinking
 ✅ How to reframe failure so that any decision moves you forward
✅ A simple exercise to help you make peace with the unknown and trust yourself

💡 If fear is holding you back, this episode is your permission slip to move forward with confidence!

🚀 Want extra support navigating the mental side of this journey? The Move Abroad Mindset program gives you the tools to overcome fear, build confidence, and create a move you won’t regret. Apply below!

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
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Alright, this episode gets a little woo-woo—but hear me out. I’ve seen people with plenty of money stay stuck because their limiting beliefs kept them trapped in fear. And I’ve seen people (myself included) take the leap abroad with very little in the bank—but with the right mindset—and thrive.

So, what’s really stopping you from making your move? Is it the actual money, or is it the story you’ve been telling yourself about money?

In this episode, we go beyond budgeting and spreadsheets (although those are helpful too!) and dive deep into:

✨ Where your financial fears come from—family, culture, and society
✨ How to recognize and rewrite limiting money beliefs
✨ Energetic and spiritual tools to clear financial blocks
✨ How to move from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset
✨ Practical ways to shift your finances to support your move abroad
✨ Why money is just energy—and how to attract more of it

Money is one of the biggest excuses people use to delay their dreams. But what if it’s not really about money at all? What if moving abroad is less about your bank account and more about your beliefs, trust, and alignment?

💬 Loved this episode? Let me know! Leave a review or share your biggest takeaway on IG @theexpattherapist

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
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You’ve decided to move abroad—but instead of support, you’re met with doubt, criticism, and endless “Are you sure?” questions. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re diving deep into why we crave validation from loved ones, how to hold space for their concerns without letting them dictate your decisions, and the key to transforming criticism into wisdom that fuels your journey instead of holding you back.

Whether you’re facing resistance from family or struggling with self-doubt, this conversation will help you set boundaries, protect your energy, and move forward on your terms.

💬 Loved this episode? Let me know! Leave a review or share your biggest takeaway on IG @theexpattherapist

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
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In this episode, we explore how moving abroad can be a powerful tool for healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. From breaking free of old patterns to creating a life that aligns with your true self, we’ll discuss: 

✨ How a new environment can shift your mindset and emotional well-being
✨ The connection between physical relocation and inner healing
✨ Letting go of past versions of yourself and embracing reinvention
✨ Practical ways to use your expat experience for personal transformation

If you're craving a fresh start—physically, mentally, or spiritually—this episode will give you the insight and encouragement you need. Tune in and discover how your move abroad could be the key to unlocking the next chapter of your personal evolution.

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
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Moving abroad is an adventure that promises excitement, growth, and new beginnings. But in the process of adjusting to a new culture, making new friends, and starting fresh, it’s easy to feel like you’re losing touch with the core of who you are.

In this episode, we’ll dive into how to stay rooted in your identity while embracing the expat experience. You’ll discover practical strategies to hold onto the values, habits, and passions that make you you—while still allowing room for growth and transformation.

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
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The fear of the unknown can either be the best thing that happens to you, or the worst. The positive is, you get to choose which one! In today's episode, I am normalizing the fear of the unknown and giving you actionable steps to overcome it so that you can move forward and continue making your dreams turn into a reality. It would be such a shame to let something so common, stop you in your tracks of accomplishing something so life-changing and potentially being the best thing that couuld ever happen to you!

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
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It's almost the New Year! Whether you are already thriving in your move abroad or still in the planning stages of making it happen, this vision board episode will change your life, leaving you with a clear game plan of how to move forward and accomplish everything you need in to make your 2025 dreams come true!

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here

🎉🎉🎁🎄🎅🎎🪔 HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Though, this is usually a joyous season...as an expat or a potential expat, this year might feel a little different. Or reversed! Maybe the holiday seasons are usually crappy for ya but since you decided to move abroad, there's finally a little more excitement! Either way, the holiday seasons bring up a plethora of different feelings and emotions and I want you to feel as validated as possible in knowing, 1. you are not a lone and 2. these are all manageable! With some actionable steps on how to create your own traditions this holiday season, this episode is especially for those already maybe feeling the Holiday Blues 🩵💙.

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here
✨ Here is the website for the Insight Timer Meditation App (scroll to bottom for download link)

This episode we are talking to all of you expats and potential expats, who are out there navigating the emotional weight of homesickness and holiday worries and encouraging you to turn inward, find spiritual connection, and transform your feelings of longing into opportunities for growth and meaningful connection during this holiday season!

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here

It's the Holiday SEASSSOONNNN.🎁🎄🎅🎎🪔Which comes with so much fun and joy but also missing out on our familiar traditions in our OG homes! So in today's episode we are talking about how to inspire and empower expats to make the holiday season meaningful by blending personal traditions with local customs, creating a unique and fulfilling festive experience.

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here

In today's episode we are talking about how to learn and trust yourself and your intuition, understanding and using fear to become a motivator in your move abroad, and of course some helpful tips on how to do these things successfully and WHY they are so important to having a successful move abroad/expat journey.

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here

Maybe you want to move abroad (or already have moved!)  for new opportunities, or work, or cultural exposure, or....BEAUTIFUL MEN. Whatever the reason, the illusion only lasts so long. Here is where the mental strength has to come in, you have to find ways to continue to thrive in order to experience your moving abroad journey in all its beauty. That's we discuss along with some practical tips to gain mental strength, no matter where you are in your expat journey ✨

Today's episode is full of FAQ's that the average person has before making a move abroad!

✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here

I don't know about you, but if I were still living in the states....right about now I might be anticipating a move abroad more than ever. Unfortunately, there's a lot of Americans out there feeling the same...this episode is for you! How to connect with moving for life re-alignment purposes, mental health strategies for dealing with political stress and anxiety, and of course some tips on planning the move in the most effective way possible.

✨ The Cost of Living Country Comparison website
✨ Apply for the Moving Abroad Mastermind here

1. Recognize that you are burnt out. 
2. Challenge your mindset to appreciate this "Waiting Stage"
3. Reignite motivation and ease the burnout
4. Manage your mental health 
5. Rebuild momentum!
6. EMBRACE where you are, because you are right where you are supposed to be. 

Experiencing burnout as an expat? Been there, done that. 

Today's episode is all about my experiences in the last few months with burnout and my new journey of being pregnant as an expat, in a country whose native tongue isn't my first language!