About The Truman Group: Our Team

The founders of the Truman Group, collectively, have years of experience living overseas and firsthand knowledge of the challenges and rewards of expatriate life. They decided to found the Truman Group after recognizing the difficulty many English-speaking expats encounter in finding adequate mental health care while living and working overseas.

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  Sean Truman, PhD, LP

  Co-founder

  Dr. Truman grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, where his father worked for the United Nations. He attended the International School of Kenya in Nairobi where his mother was a teacher. Dr. Truman graduated from Reed College where he majored in psychology and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut, and was a National Institute of Mental Health Fellow at the Yale University School of Medicine, where he worked both at the Child Study Center and in the Department of Psychiatry. He is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he cares for adults, adolescents and couples. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Truman has worked as both a researcher and a professor of undergraduates and graduate students in psychology.

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  Susan Bernstein

  Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer

  Susan Bernstein is the co-founder and Managing Director of the Truman Group. She holds an MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. As a consultant with McKinsey & Company and a senior strategist with a boutique brand strategy firm she has advised global Fortune 500 companies, major nonprofit organizations and start-ups across a range of categories on growth strategy and improved performance. Prior to earning her MBA she worked with arts and education organizations in Los Angeles and San Francisco to increase the impact of their programs and services. Earlier in her career she taught public school in South Central Los Angeles as a corps member with Teach For America. She has lived, studied and worked overseas throughout much of Asia, Western and Eastern Europe.

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  James Rosow, PhD, LP

  Director of Clinical Services

  James Rosow is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology. He has been in private practice for more than 15 years and specializes in individual therapy with children, adolescents and adults. He relies on both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral interventions to treat a wide range of psychological and emotional problems. Through extensive clinical experience he has developed expertise in depression, anxiety, adjustment problems, school/professional underachievement, and relationship issues. He also offers treatment to couples and to families. His previous clinical positions include Director of Clinical Training at the Brooklyn Children’s Psychiatric Center and Assistant Director of the Proctor Academy Charter School in Trenton, NJ. James has lived and worked abroad in Spain.

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  Emily Boland, MSW, LCSW

  Director of Clinical Operations

  Emily Boland has lived and worked as an expatriate for over a decade in various parts of South America and Western Europe, and she knows first hand what it is like to live far from home. Over the course of the last 20 years she has worked as a clinical social worker in a wide range of settings, including inpatient and outpatient care, school based programs, and residential treatment. She approaches clinical work collaboratively with her patients, and she views the therapeutic process as a partnership with each individual client. As an expatriate, Emily has developed a specialty in and has completed extensive training in cross-cultural work.

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  Cynthia Tems, PhD, LP

  Director of Clinical Testing

  Dr. Cynthia Tems is a licensed psychologist and holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She has spent the majority of her professional career living and working internationally in the Middle East, England, and Norway and currently is in private practice in the US. Dr. Tems works with a diverse multicultural, international clientele including both expatriate and local clients. She works with adults, adolescents, and children in individual, couples and family settings. Cynthia’s clinical style is collaborative and tailored to the specific needs and experiences of each unique client. Her multifaceted approach encompasses a range of clinical modalities including psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, family systems, relational and interpersonal, and relaxation and mindfulness interventions. She has expertise in helping clients with a wide range of psychological issues, including depression, anxiety, family and interpersonal relationships, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem, stress management, and learning and attentional difficulties. She has extensive experience providing psychological and psychoeducational assessment services and working collaboratively with parents and school staff to promote positive learning environments and support for students. In addition to her private practice, she has significant clinical experience in public and private hospitals, inpatient and outpatient settings, and the juvenile justice system.

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  Claudia Andrei, PhD, LP

  Director of Training

  Claudia Andrei holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies in NY and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Prior to her transition into private practice, Claudia worked in hospital settings (Beth Israel Medical Center), community mental health clinics and teaching institutes (she held the Clinical Director position at The Village Institute for Psychotherapy in NYC). Claudia’s clinical work focuses on the treatment of adults and couples experiencing depression, anxiety, relational difficulties, trauma and trauma-related symptomatology. She uses a broad range of clinical modalities, including psychodynamic psychotherapy, relational and interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, affect focused dynamic psychotherapy as well as breathing and mindfulness techniques. Claudia lives and works internationally.

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  Latavia Agada, MSW, LCSW

  Latavia is a licensed clinical social worker who is dedicated to assisting people in realizing their potential and achieving their goals. She sits with her clients as an interactive listener and a source of support. She believes in people’s ability to persevere and overcome life’s challenges. Latavia has studied sociology/anthropology, Russian, and clinical social work with an emphasis in international social welfare. She is currently pursuing her PhD in international psychology concentrating in trauma. Latavia has worked with troubled children and teenagers, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, and people who were in crisis or who have struggled with anxiety, depression, trauma, and mental illness. Latavia uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), solution-focused therapy, the Grief Recovery Method and mindfulness amongst others to help people on their journey towards wholeness. Latavia has lived and studied in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa.

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  Nouf Al-Rashid, PsyD, LP

  Nouf Al-Rashid is a clinical psychologist with expertise in providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, and their families. Born in the US, she grew up in France and the Middle East as a trilingual, third culture kid. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Kent and her master’s degree at King's College London. After working in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Al-Rashid returned to California to complete her doctorate in clinical psychology at the Wright Institute, with an emphasis on child and adolescent psychology. She completed her pre- and post-doctoral fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco, where she focused her clinical work and research on immigrant communities, specifically Middle Eastern and North African. She has provided treatment and conducted evaluations for individuals in hospital, school, and clinical settings, as well as in community health centers. She is passionate about working with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and values cultural awareness in a therapeutic setting. Dr. Al-Rashid is able to provide services in both English and Arabic to help individuals and their families cope with stressors and traumatic experiences, and enhance their sense of self. She encourages and supports each individual through the application of evidence-based therapeutic models and relational support. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and acceptance commitment therapy. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, acculturation stress, identity issues, and relational difficulties.

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  Carole Amselem, MA, LMHC

  Carole is a licensed mental health counselor and former attorney with over twenty-five years of experience living and working in the US, England, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy. She holds expertise in navigating life transitions and supporting clients in addressing personal, familial, and professional challenges that are often encountered while living as expatriates. Her ultimate goal in her work with clients is to help identify desired goals and any obstacles that may hold them back from living a fulfilling life. Whether managing daily challenges, major life transitions, or persistent stressors, Carole meets each client where they are on their journey and strives to create a safe environment in which to freely explore one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Drawing from person-centered, choice theory, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and solution-oriented techniques, she assists individuals coping with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parenting challenges, disordered eating, insomnia and adjustment challenges.

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  Lou Bartholome, MA, LP

  Lou Bartholome is a psychologist who sees older adolescents, adults, and couples. He was originally trained in both psychodynamic and family systems therapy, and over the course of his professional career he has increasingly employed an integrative approach that incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy, solution oriented therapy, EMDR, and John Gottman’s marital therapy. His approach is flexible and tailored to the needs of each client. Lou has worked in educational settings, community service agencies and medical clinics, and has been in private practice for the last seventeen years, and has worked with the expatriate population for over nine years.

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  Marla Berman, MSW, LCSW-R

  Marla Berman is a licensed clinical social worker with over twenty-six years of experience as a mental health professional working in a range of clinical settings. She received her Master of Social Work from New York University. Marla has an additional five years of training in psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis through the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in New York City. While Marla’s theoretical foundation is psychodynamic and insight oriented, her approach to working with clients is adaptable and practical. She helps people increase awareness of how their feelings, thoughts and life experiences impact the choices they make in the here-and-now. Marla is also interested in the neurobiology of trauma and its application in psychotherapy. She has extensive experience working with the LGBTQ and non-binary community. For much of her career, Marla worked with both adults and children coping with chronic and terminal illness while on staff at a major teaching hospital. She has also taught graduate level social work interns doing their field placements in the hospital. Marla currently resides in New York and maintains a private practice.

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  Dhanya Bhat, MS, LPC, NCC

  Dhanya Bhat holds a master’s degree in psychology from Radford University. She is a licensed professional counselor as well as a national certified counselor. She grew up as a third culture kid in Nigeria, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and South Africa. She has over 20 years of multicultural experience providing counseling and mental health therapy in the US, India, Bangladesh, and China. Dhanya has helped children and adults dealing with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, adjustment, and transition. She has extensive experience working in multiple settings including community mental health clinics, hospitals, and private practice. Later in her career, she moved overseas and worked for a number of international schools as a counselor and mental health therapist. Dhanya is eager to motivate, to effectively communicate with, to actively listen to, to empower, and to contribute to the development and growth of children and adults. Her counseling style can be described as flexible, nurturing, and open-minded, while incorporating a range of methodologies and techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and positive psychology.

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  Jessica Bowen, MSW, LCSW

  Jessica Bowen received her master’s degree in social work from Loyola University-Chicago and completed training in the Infant Mental Health program at the Erikson Institute. Jessica is credentialed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist in Illinois and as an Infant Family Specialist (IFS) through the MI Association of Infant Mental Health. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, attachment, LGBTQIA populations, self-esteem, trauma, addiction, anger management, PTSD, and grief counseling. Jessica has over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, families, couples, and individuals of all ages. She has provided psychotherapy in a variety of mental health settings including acute inpatient children’s hospitals, residential treatment and private practice. Jessica tailors treatment to the needs of each client, using evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). She has lived and worked internationally.

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  Kirsten Buckingham, PhD

  Dr. Kirsten Buckingham is a postdoctoral fellow with a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Toledo. Born and raised in Ohio, she has since relocated to Oahu, Hawaii. Dr. Buckingham has a diverse professional background, having worked in a variety of settings and locations that have enriched and informed her practice. Dr. Buckingham has experience working with clients across the lifespan in various clinical settings, including neuropsychology, forensic psychology, and inpatient work. Most recently, she served underprivileged populations in a rural community health center on Oahu, and has been committed to providing accessible and inclusive mental health care throughout her career. As a clinician, Dr. Buckingham primarily draws from person-centered therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, integrating these approaches to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and non-judgmental, aiming to create a supportive environment where clients of all ages are comfortable confronting difficult emotions and experiences. She is committed to being a supportive ally and a safe space as clients navigate life's most challenging moments in session.

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  Chantal Bushelle, PsyD, LP

  Chantal Bushelle is a licensed clinical psychologist with a keen interest in cross-cultural psychology. She holds a master’s degree in international disaster psychology and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver. Raised overseas, Dr. Bushelle’s early exposure to a variety of customs and perspectives sparked her interest in the intersection of culture and mental health. Her clinical experience spans a diversity of settings including community mental health centers, psychiatric inpatient hospitals, intensive outpatient eating disorder facilities, university counseling centers, and VA medical centers. Dr. Bushelle embraces a collaborative, culturally-responsive, person-centered approach to therapy, and her areas of expertise include identity development and life transitions, grief and loss, women’s health (particularly menopause), integrated healthcare, anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders/disordered eating. She works integratively, combining intersubjective, insight-oriented/psychodynamic, and existential methodologies along with cognitive-behavioral and third wave therapies (ACT, DBT) to support adults and adolescents. As an expatriate, Dr. Bushelle is passionate about promoting global citizenship and improving mental well-being in an increasingly interconnected world.

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  Marta Casbeer, MSW, LISW-CP

  Marta T. Casbeer is a bilingual (English and Spanish) licensed clinical social worker who is also credentialed as an addiction counselor. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem, trauma, addiction, anger management, PTSD, domestic violence, and marital/family counseling. Marta has worked both in the United States and internationally in outpatient and inpatient clinics, substance abuse clinics, community mental health, the Army and Air Force Mental Health Clinics, and as an adjunct professor of social work. She has significant experience working with expatriates, local clients, and active duty personnel and their dependents, working with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. Marta tailors treatment to the needs of each client, using evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Mindfulness, and Solution Focused Therapy, among others. Marta has lived in Asia, Europe, United States and South America.

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  Lauren Christensen, PhD, LP

  Lauren Christensen holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed psychologist. She has worked in a variety of settings as a clinician, including private practice in the East Coast of the US, as well as part of a pre-deployment medical team for the Department of Defense. Lauren’s private practice work has been primarily focused on the treatment of adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, grief, and adjustment to change and life transitions. Lauren uses an individualized approach in therapy, combining cognitive, mindfulness, and acceptance-based theories to help clients identify obstacles and achieve their goals. She has lived and worked internationally.

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  Geeta Chugh, PhD, LCSW

  Geetanjali “Geeta” Chugh, is a licensed social worker in New York and a licensed clinical psychologist in India, with an active global private practice. She specializes in working with individuals healing from trauma; loss and grief; addressing relationship and family concerns; navigating significant life transitions; and seeking personal growth and development, with a special interest in women’s mental health. Geeta has a PhD in clinical psychology from All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi and a masters in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Geeta has worked with culturally, economically, and demographically diverse populations in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, clinics and universities in both India and the US. Having lived and worked in both individualist and collectivist cultures, she has insight into the ways that can shape views of personal and professional success and achievement, as well as the traditions of family and relationships. As an integrative therapist, her therapeutic craft draws from third wave cognitive behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic therapy in combination with trauma-focused and somatic practices like emotional embodiment, mindfulness, movement and breath work. She believes that melding these modalities creates a dynamic lens for cognitive and emotional awareness and positive transformation.

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  Alyssa Clayden, PhD, LICSW

  Alyssa is a licensed clinical social worker who has provided international mental health care for more than two decades in a wide variety of settings. Alyssa works often with transgender and gender non-conforming folks, new and prospective parents (including infertility), folks with trauma experiences, and adolescents. Having lived, worked and raised a family across five continents, Alyssa is passionate about providing high-quality intersectional mental health care to people living and working internationally. She believes that every person brings expertise, strengths and skills to their lives and relationships. Alyssa teaches courses on equitable mental health care, and has particular interest in the impact of intersectional identities on mental health. Alyssa's academic research focuses on how mental health care can be improved for folks with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, racial, religious and gender identities. 

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  Cindy Cleary, MSW, LCSW

  For over twenty years, Cindy has worked in schools, private practice and community mental health centers serving youth, adults, couples, families and LGBTQ+ individuals. For a decade she and her family were part of international school communities in Africa and India. She served in the Peace Corps for three years in West Africa, and has worked as an instructor and course director at the Colorado Outward Bound School. Cindy has a holistic, strengths-based approach, rooted in compassion and empowerment. She uses experiential and somatic modalities that access clarity and healing through enhancing self-awareness, including trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy, internal family systems (parts work), EMDR (trauma processing), relational life therapy (couples work) and play therapy with children. In addition, Cindy is certified in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR).

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  Ann Michelle Connors, MS, LMHC

  Ann Michelle (“Mike”) Connors is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston with a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She serves children, adolescents, and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, substance use, grief, trauma, and adjustment challenges. Mike promotes well-being with a holistic and trauma informed approach, integrating acceptance and commitment, cognitive behavioral, and expressive arts therapies, to help clients reach their therapeutic goals. She incorporates play, movement, and expressive arts techniques with children and adolescents in order to allow them to explore their strengths and develop problem-solving skills. Originally from Illinois, Mike and her family have created a home in Alaska, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and currently, Peru. She started her international journey as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya and has enjoyed a variety of work experiences in the private sector and with the U.S. government.

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  Sarah Conti, MSW, LCSW

  Sarah Conti is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working in clinical, academic and research settings. For more than 10 years, Sarah worked at McLean Hospital as a social worker providing direct care in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings. Sarah holds an MSW from Boston College and has since returned to teach at the graduate level. Throughout her 12 years in private practice, Sarah’s clinical emphasis has been on relationship-building, mindfulness and acceptance-based practices, and supportive problem-solving, and she aims to offer her clients the tools they desire to improve their lives. Sarah specializes in working with clients and families around life transitions, issues related to mental health challenges, adoption, fertility and women’s reproductive health. She uses a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities, providing brief, solution-focused therapy and longer term psychotherapy that each draw from attachment theory and behavioral, mindfulness, and acceptance-based therapies. Sarah has lived and studied abroad in France and Romania. She currently resides in Connecticut.

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  Vanessa Corbera, MSW, LICSW

  Vanessa Corbera understands the nuances involved with growing up bi-cultural, and also the experience of spending significant stretches of time living abroad. As a licensed clinical social worker, Vanessa has worked with a wide array of clients in a variety of different settings, including inpatient and outpatient care and home-based support. She has expertise in disordered eating, grief and loss, perfectionism/anxiety, and caregiver support, and has a strong affinity for acculturation issues. Rooted in evidence-based care, Vanessa's approach to her clinical work is collaborative and compassionate as she supports individuals in identifying, understanding and re-imagining life stressors as controllable experiences for personal growth.

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  Stacy Davis, PhD

  Dr. Stacy Davis, a clinical fellow at the Truman Group, is a marriage and family therapist who has worked in the field of psychology for over a decade. She earned her BA in psychology from Florida International University and received an MS in marriage and family therapy and in general psychology from Albizu University where she also earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Dr. Davis has experience working with adults, adolescents, children, families, and couples, and in outpatient home-based services, community mental health centers and hospitals. Dr. Davis’ areas of interest include assessment, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, cross-cultural relationships, relationship issues, self-esteem concerns, interpersonal issues and adjustment disorders. Dr. Davis uses a range of modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and family systems therapy to help her clients reach mental wellness. Dr. Davis lives and works in the United States.

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  Heather Demir, MSW, LMSW

  Heather Demir is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience working with transient individuals, cross-cultural families, military members and parents. She has lived in Japan and Kosovo, and currently resides in Istanbul, Turkey. Heather has a strong interest in the significance of early relationships and the mind-body connection, engaging in specialized training in attachment science, interpersonal neurobiology, and polyvagal theory. Heather draws from her experiences as an expat, a member of a cross-cultural family, and a military reservist in her work with clients. She tailors her approach to the needs of her clients and draws from many evidence-based therapeutic interventions including cognitive behavioral, dialectical, narrative, solution-focused, family systems and mindfulness. Heather works with a range of clients, including those with adjustment difficulties, cross-cultural relationship issues, developmental trauma, trauma in adulthood, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, ADHD and grief.

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  Angela DeVita, PhD, LMFT

  Angela DeVita is a bilingual (English and Spanish) licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds a doctoral degree in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and a master’s in MFT Clinical Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University. Angela has extensive experience in private practice, working with individuals facing anxiety, self-doubt, life transitions, and relationship challenges, often amplified by cultural adjustment. She also supports clients navigating spirituality or grappling with issues related to religion. Drawing from a wide array of approaches including depth psychology, multigenerational family systems, internal family systems (IFS), somatic psychotherapy, Relational Life Therapy, solution-focused, CBT, mindfulness, Art Therapy, and health-wellness coaching, she tailors her use of approaches to the unique needs of each individual. She is experienced working with expatriates, State Department, international teachers, medical and healing professionals, location-independent entrepreneurs, writers, TCKS and multicultural clientele. Angela has personal experience as an expat, and has lived and worked in various parts of Western Europe.

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  Joanna Diab, PsyD, LP

  Joanna Diab is a licensed clinical psychologist. She holds a doctorate degree from George Washington University, a Master of Psychology degree from GWU, and a Master of Arts degree in psychology from The New School. Throughout her education, she received training in treating adolescents, adults, couples, and groups, and she completed a pre-doctoral internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. After graduation, she completed her postdoctoral fellowship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where she specialized in treating adults who struggle with addiction and simultaneous mental health diagnoses such as mood disorders, personality pathology, and psychosis. Dr. Diab describes her approach to therapy as one that is collaborative, eclectic, and individualized to the needs of her patients. While her therapeutic orientation is rooted in psychoanalytic theory, she integrates other therapeutic approaches into her work depending on the individual needs of her clients, such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and other evidence-based and third-wave approaches. Dr. Diab is multilingual in English and Arabic, with some understanding of French.

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  Laura Dimmick, PsyD, LP

  Laura Dimmick holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist. She has provided psychological services across multiple settings, including private practice, community mental health clinics, university counseling centers, and a VA-sponsored center for returning combat veterans and their families. Dr. Dimmick’s clinical work has focused primarily on treatment of adults and older adolescents coping with a variety of presenting concerns, to include anxiety, depression, eating and body image issues, relationship issues, trauma, grief, and adjustment issues via major life changes and transitions. She has also focused on working with LGBTQ+ individuals and families and on peak performance work with students and athletes. Dr. Dimmick has an integrative style that incorporates cognitive-behavioral therapy, relational and interpersonal therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, DBT-informed approaches, emotion-focused therapy, and solution-focused therapy, and she tailors therapeutic work to the specific needs of each individual. As an adolescent and young adult, Dr. Dimmick lived in Munich, Germany, where she attended and graduated from the Bavarian International School; she has since lived in Australia and Western Europe and currently lives and works internationally.

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  Andrea Doyle, PhD, LICSW

  Dr. Doyle is a licensed independent clinical social worker. A seasoned practitioner, she refined her clinical work and training while on faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and West Virginia University, and also as a doctoral student at the University of Washington. Dr. Doyle has been trained in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) by Dr. Marsha Linehan, the founder of the treatment. This training follows her earlier education in psychodynamic approaches to clinical therapy at McGill School of Social Work and the Institute for Community and Family Psychiatry in Montreal. She is currently pursuing Practitioner Certification in Mentalization, an attachment based in psychodynamically-oriented therapy. In addition to her time in Quebec, Dr. Doyle has lived and worked in France and British Columbia. She has worked in numerous clinical arenas, including hospitals, community-based agencies, disaster response, adolescent homelessness, employee assistance and independent practice. She has particular expertise in working with people experiencing profound distress. Her clinical expertise and interests include: Women and Trauma, Disaster Response in the Workplace, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mentalizing and Evidence Based Psychodynamic Theory and Practice.

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  Yaffa Dyckman, MSW, LCSW

  Yaffa Dyckman is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience treating adults in mental health clinics and in private practice. Yaffa specializes in treating clients with anxiety, depression and PTSD, and sees clients whose trauma originated in childhood or adulthood. Yaffa is an EMDR-certified clinician and is extensively trained in STAIR/NST, another trauma informed modality that combines both CBT and attachment theory. She utilizes these modalities within a psychodynamic framework. Yaffa completed her master’s in social work at Adelphi University and underwent postgraduate training at the Training Institute for Mental Health in New York City. She serves as a volunteer with Connect and Change, an organization that offers pro bono therapy to victims of intimate partner violence. Yaffa spent several years of her youth living abroad and is currently based in New York.

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  Jennifer Eckel, MSW, LCSW

  Jennifer Eckel is a licensed clinical social worker with years of experience providing psychotherapy to adolescents, adults and couples. She has worked within a wide range of settings including community mental health, inpatient and outpatient facilities, school-based programs, federal law enforcement agencies and private practice. Jennifer focuses primarily on issues around anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. Her approach to therapy is based upon a variety of theories and modalities, including but not limited to: Attachment Theory, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Mindfulness, Object-Relations Theory and Psychodynamic Therapy. Jennifer has worked in the United States, Russia, Cambodia and the Czech Republic.

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  Khaya Eisenberg, PsyD, LP

  Khaya Eisenberg, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who has been in practice for over ten years. She has provided psychological services across multiple settings, including private practice, community mental health clinics, residential care facilities, and hospitals. Dr. Eisenberg currently provides psychotherapy to a broad population of adults presenting with concerns such as anxiety, relationship issues, and adjustment to major life changes and transitions. Her theoretical orientation is integrative, drawing on acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, DBT-informed approaches, and solution-oriented therapy to tailor psychotherapy to clients’ individual needs. Dr. Eisenberg is open to using both structured, short-term approaches and more exploratory, insight-oriented approaches depending on clients’ preferences. Born and raised in the U.S., Dr. Eisenberg has relocated to Israel with her family twice in her adult life. She currently lives and works in Israel.

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  Sousana Ekladious, MA

  Sousana Ekladious is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. She holds a master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Central Florida and completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at the American University in Cairo. Fluent in both English and Arabic, Sousana integrates her bilingual and multicultural proficiency into her therapeutic work. She has lived, studied and worked in Egypt and the US, and has participated in extensive exchange experiences across Europe, Africa, and Asia. She works with adolescents and adults and has experience across therapeutic settings including university counseling centers and private practices. Sousana's approach is grounded in creating a safe and inclusive therapeutic environment where clients can freely express themselves, explore their emotions, and work towards personal growth and healing. With training in cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, Sousana tailors her approach to meet the unique needs of each individual.

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  Fran Ellers, LCSW, LMFT

  Fran Ellers changed careers in midlife to obtain a master’s degree in social work in 2010; she has clinical licenses in both social work and couple and family therapy. She first practiced therapy with individuals, couples, and families in her home state of Kentucky, then moved overseas for her husband’s foreign service career. She has now lived in three countries and has seen expat clients in person and online for more than five years. Fran understands how hard it can be to cope with depression, anxiety, or relationship problems on top of the stresses of living abroad. She uses a range of therapeutic approaches that draw from her strengths-based social work background and family systems training. Fran is certified and has training and experience in EMDR, and may incorporate its approach with both individuals and couples. She is also trained through Level 3 in Gottman Method couple therapy. With individual clients, she may incorporate cognitive behavioral, narrative, and solution-focused techniques.

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  George Ellis, PsyD, LP

  George Ellis has worked internationally for over 20 years in conflict and post-conflict zones. He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and is a licensed psychologist. He is also certified in school neuropsychology. George has over 30 years-experience providing cross-cultural psychotherapy, staff supervision and case consultation, conflict resolution and peace building, and stress management training. Until recently he worked in an active conflict zone as a Senior Psychologist/Stress Management Advisor for a multinational organization in Eastern Europe, developing and implementing programming to address complex stress reactions. Throughout much of his career he has specialized in working to support people living in challenging conditions, helping them manage crises, address the unpredictable nature of living in diverse multicultural settings, and learn to manage their own nervous systems to improve their health and well-being.

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  Shelbie Ely, MA, NCC

  Shelbie Ely is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. She graduated from Appalachian State University in North Carolina with a master’s degree in professional school counseling and holds a graduate certificate in expressive arts therapy. With over 13 years of experience as a licensed professional school counselor and a certified counselor in the United States and in Italy, Shelbie has dedicated her career to nurturing the emotional and psychological well-being of others. Living as an expatriate in Milan, Italy for the past seven years, she has embraced the challenges and joys of adapting to a new culture, language, and way of life. Shelbie works with children, adolescents, parents, and other adults in the areas of stress and anxiety management, executive functioning skills, emotional regulation, social skills development, self-esteem and confidence, grief and loss, divorce/separation, and expatriation. She approaches counseling from a solution-focused lens, and uses various other methods and techniques to best meet the needs of the client. Shelbie enjoys integrating the expressive arts into her practice when able, encouraging the therapeutic potential of creativity and self-expression. Her goal in counseling is to create a calm and safe space where clients feel acknowledged, listened to, and understood. Shelbie aims for clients to carry with them a toolbox of skills and new insights that can further their personal growth and healing.

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  Scotty Enyart, LCSW, PhD

  Scotty Enyart practices as an LCSW and has a Ph.D. in international psychology. He has extensive travel experience to over 20 countries. His travels have focused on understanding how different cultures approach psychological issues. Dr. Enyart has worked with the military for the past five years in 12 countries in Asia providing mental health therapy to deployed sailors. Dr. Enyart also has experience working with expats, children and families/bicultural families on a broad range of issues. He has an integrative approach to therapy that incorporates cognitive-behavioral, narrative, relational, insight-oriented, mindfulness, and solution-focused therapy. He tailors therapeutic work to the specific needs of each individual.

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  Michelle Ferrell, PsyD, LP

  Michelle Ferrell holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed psychologist. She has worked as a clinician in a variety of settings, including private practice and university counseling centers. Michelle’s clinical work has focused on the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, challenges with adoption/foster care, and adjusting to life transitions. Michelle pulls from a variety of treatment modalities, including third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapy, attachment-focused and emotion-focused therapy. In a compassionate and collaborative manner, she seeks to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs, personality, values, and cultural background. As a military spouse, she has lived and worked internationally and currently resides in Georgia, USA.

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  Karen Findon, PsyD, LP

  Karen Findon holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in treating children, adolescents, and families. She honed her clinical skills in both inpatient and outpatient settings, where she developed a theoretical approach that recognizes how our early family experiences shape how we view ourselves and the world around us. During her graduate studies she participated in research projects that explored the relationship between trauma and psychological functioning and has devoted a great deal of her professional career to treating youth in the foster care system who have endured abuse and neglect. Karen tailors her evidence-based approaches to meet each client’s unique needs. Depending on the individual’s symptoms and goals, her therapeutic interventions may include interpersonal, psychodynamic, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral, family systems and/or existential applications. She is passionate about the power of the therapeutic process and believes that everyone possesses the capacity to transcend and live a meaningful and fulfilled life.

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  Christy Fink-Amador, MSW, LICSW

  Christy Fink-Amador is an LCSW with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. She has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, residential facilities, community mental health, schools, hospitals and in private practice. Christy’s main focus has been in trauma and crisis work, but she also has experience with ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationship issues, self-esteem, and stress. She utilizes a variety of treatment modalities, such as cognitive behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, EMDR, family systems, and brief therapy. She works collaboratively with her clients to determine the best therapeutic approach.

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  Jessica Fonzi, MSW, LCSW

  Jessica Fonzi, MSW, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker from New York State and holds a Master of Science degree from Columbia University in clinical social work. She is a child and family trauma specialist with advanced training from the Yale Center for Traumatic Stress and Recovery. Jessica has over 10 years of experience providing clinical services to children, families, couples, and individuals in the United States and while living as an expatriate in Eastern and Southern Africa. Jessica uses many evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, internal family systems, and solution-focused therapy. She works with warmth, humor, and curiosity to help clients better understand the patterns in their lives and relationships, and move toward the lives they want to be living.

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  Nicole Gentili, MSW, LCSW

  Nicole Gentili is a clinical social worker who has served as a therapist and supervisor in various mental health settings for 20 years. Nicole received her social work degree at Washington University in St. Louis and she has trained at the Yale Child Study Center. Her therapeutic style is approachable, strengths-based, culturally-competent and creative. Nicole sees clients of all ages and has extensive experience working with a variety of populations including young people, families, and those with anxiety disorders. She has also worked in crisis intervention settings. Her clinical approach draws from humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and family systems theories. She looks at problems in their environmental and cultural context, recognizing that what works for one person or family may cause distress for another. Nicole and her family have spent the past 10 years overseas in the UK and Italy. She believes we become the best version of ourselves when we feel safe, valued and cared for unconditionally. She feels that the best part of her job is building meaningful and healing connections with clients.

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  Bruce Gimplin, MSW, LICSW

  Bruce Gimplin has been a licensed clinical social worker for nearly 20 years. His life and professional experiences inform his work with diverse cultures and individual events that can bring someone to seek help. He has worked in private practice, clinics and urgent settings serving individuals, couples and families. Bruce personalizes his therapeutic approaches to meet the individual’s need, and uses CBT, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused, Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Narrative and other evidenced-based treatments. He sees late adolescents through adults and has deep experience in Trauma, Grief/Transitions, LGBTQ, Dependency, Anxiety/Depression and Parenting issues. Bruce is originally from New York City and has lived in many places, most recently moving from Seattle to Madrid.

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  Olaf Gitter, PhD, LP

  Olaf K. Gitter is a licensed psychologist who, after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii, spent three years on active duty as a clinical psychologist in the US Army serving the military community in the US and Europe. Later he gained experience working in inpatient and forensic settings in California and Hawaii. After his retirement from the State of Hawaii Adult Mental Health Division in 2014, he became a private practice psychotherapist primarily assisting clients suffering from anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders as well as interpersonal and sexual concerns. He has lived in Germany, France and Puerto Rico and is bilingual in English and German. Prior to becoming a psychologist he studied anthropology and Asian Studies.

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  Nitika Gupta, M.Phil.Ed., LPC

  Nitika Gupta is a licensed professional counselor with over a decade of experience working with clients from around the world. She received her master’s in mental health counseling from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked in partial hospitalization settings, non-profit agencies, and private practice in the US, India, and Türkiye. Nitika’s methods draw from cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and person-centered therapy, within a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and mindfulness-based framework. Having spent her formative years in two very different cultures and then pursuing a life as an expatriate, she understands how cultures impact identity and transitions affect wellbeing.

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  Samer Habib, M.Ed

  Samer Habib is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. He earned his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Pennsylvania State University. Samer has provided counseling services to both youth and adults, has provided career counseling to college students, and has worked in a variety of individual and group therapy settings across the US and Egypt. He specializes in supporting individuals who face challenges adjusting to new environments and navigating life transitions, grappling with loss, managing self-criticism and perfectionist tendencies, and who are encountering difficulties in their relationships. Having lived in multiple countries, Samer is committed to bring a unique, culturally attuned perspective to his work. The one thing Samer enjoys the most about being a therapist is building profound and genuine relationships with his clients where they can safely unravel the roots of the narratives they’ve internalized about themselves and cultivate a more compassionate understanding of their own selves. Samer employs an eclectic counseling approach, integrating various therapeutic methods such as psychodynamic therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy, tailored to the needs and preferences of his clients.

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  Lisa Hackel, PhD, LP

  Lisa Hackel is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been in private practice in New York for over 25 years. In addition to her doctorate in clinical psychology, she has a certificate in bioethics and teaches students at Albert Einstein Medical School. Dr. Hackel has extensive experience and expertise working with individuals who are navigating a life transition or stressful period, including work or relationship difficulties, serious health-related challenges, infertility, and separation and divorce. She is also a Family Mediator and a Child Consultant in the divorce mediation process, helping parents who are separating or divorced to improve communication and manage conflict around parenting issues. Her work with clients is collaborative and primarily integrates insight-oriented and family systems approaches. Dr. Hackel believes that during difficult times therapy can bring clarity to an individual’s unique experience and help them to identify and mobilize areas of strength and resilience.

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  Tracy Hall, MA, LCPC

  Tracy Hall is a licensed clinical professional counselor, a national certified counselor in the U.S., and a Canadian certified counselor. He holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from The George Washington University as well as a master’s in public administration and a double bachelor’s degree in economics and German from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Tracy is a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service and has an in-depth understanding of the unique stresses and challenges faced by members of the U.S. expat community. His overseas postings included assignments in Europe, South Asia, and the Caribbean. Tracy’s counseling approach is person-centered, existential, and strengths-based. He draws on a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), solution-focused therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Tracy works with individual adult clients and couples on a range of concerns, with a focus on anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, grief and loss, depression, and career counseling.

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  Lisa Z. Hekel, MSW, LCSW

  Lisa Hekel is a licensed clinical social worker, who has been providing clinical treatment for over 18 years in a variety of settings including private practice, school-based, outpatient and disaster/crisis response. As an expatriate, Lisa has spent over ten years providing personalized services world-wide, using her experiences to support individuals and their families living cross-culturally, including issues related to unaccompanied deployment. Her work with active duty military and veterans focuses on adjustment and trauma issues using an integrative style of mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral interventions. She specializes in issues related to grief, loss, and attachment, through a solution focused approach. Lisa has extensive experience working alongside international schools providing guidance for teachers and administrations in regards to the unique needs of transient students and their families. She meets clients where they are at and guides them through purposeful and goal oriented practice.

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  Francisca Herreros, PhD, LP

  Francisca Herreros is a bilingual (English and Spanish) clinical psychologist licensed in New York and Chile, with over 20 years of clinical experience, and personal experience living, studying and working internationally. She holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the New School for Social Research in NY and currently works with adults, adolescents and couples. Francisca has clinical expertise working with a variety of issues including depression and anxiety; grief and adjustment difficulties; and immigration and cultural issues. Her research on attachment informs her work related to parenting and relationship challenges. Francisca believes that, because every individual has their own unique way of thinking, feeling, and experiencing their life, psychological treatment needs to be constructed individually, in collaboration with each client. She has trained extensively in diverse modalities of psychotherapy, and crafts a treatment approach that blends her understanding of relational and interpersonal psychodynamic theories with practical skills from cognitive behavioral therapy, systems theory and mindfulness.

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  Jeanne Higgs, MSW, LCSW-S

  Jeanne Higgs is a bilingual (English and Spanish) licensed clinical social worker who holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Houston and an undergraduate degree in women’s studies from Cornell University. Jeanne works with adults and older adolescents and is experienced working with anxiety, substance abuse and recovery, PTSD, existential concerns, life transitions, and the use of mindfulness, self-compassion, and the enneagram in clinical practice. She utilizes a variety of approaches and evidence-based practices and believes that the quality of the therapeutic relationship leads to the most successful outcomes. Jeanne has over a decade of experience working in the LGBTQIA community, and is also experienced in working with helping professionals, highly sensitive people, high sensation seekers, and creatives. She is committed to cultural humility and to meeting people where they are. Jeanne has lived and worked all over the United States as well as in South America and Western Europe. She currently resides in Spain.

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  Christine Holmes, DSW, LICSW

  Christine Holmes is a licensed clinical social worker with a doctorate in social work from the University of Pennsylvania. She has over a decade of social work experience in the United States and overseas, including Cambodia, India and Indonesia. Christine has worked with adolescents, families and adults of all ages in outpatient and community-based settings. She has a particular interest in elder caregiving, and her research examines the burden of Foreign Service and military personnel caring for aging parents from a distance. In addition, Christine lectures on decolonizing social work to promote awareness of how contextual issues can influence one’s ability to realize their full potential. Her therapeutic orientation is primarily cognitive-behavioral with a relational-cultural lens to help people address obstacles to their well-being. Christine enjoys working with individuals and families to manage life transitions, grief and loss and other challenges, working toward a greater sense of peace and self-agency.

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  Jennifer Holt, M.Ed, CCC, RP

  Jennifer Holt is an established registered psychotherapist with more than two decades of experience in professional practice working with adults and youth, and with male, female, transgender, and non-binary clients. Jennifer specializes in working with individuals dealing with stressors and trauma such as past or present sexual abuse, mental health difficulties like depression or anxiety, relationship issues, parenting issues, and with those struggling to express and manage intense emotions such as grief and anger. Jennifer is also experienced working with clients with a history of intimate partner violence or sexual misconduct, and has worked with families to navigate safety planning and rebuilding. She uses a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities including but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, person-centered therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing techniques. Jennifer enjoys spending time outside running with her dog and has completed nine marathons over the years.

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  Jaime Hopkins, PhD, LP

  Dr. Hopkins is a licensed psychologist with over 15 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents and adults. She has specialized training in the assessment and treatment of children with a variety of behavioral, emotional and learning needs, inclusive of autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, anxiety and depression. Dr. Hopkins has worked extensively as a collaborative partner with parents and school teams to promote positive, supportive learning environments for all children. Her therapeutic work with adults utilizes an integrative approach, drawing from a variety of treatment modalities including CBT, mindfulness, and person-centered therapy, with the therapeutic relationship as the cornerstone of the process. Dr. Hopkins’ role as a military spouse has allowed her the opportunity to live and work abroad for much of her career, bringing a high level of sensitivity and cultural understanding to her practice. She aims to provide a safe, encouraging place for patients to navigate toward personal growth. Outside of her therapeutic work with the Truman Group, Dr. Hopkins provides consultation and support to military counselors providing substance abuse treatment across military installations in Europe.

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  Brittany Houston, MS, LMFT

  Brittany Houston holds a master’s degree in counseling with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. She has over 15 years of clinical and personal experience living and working internationally. She specializes in depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma, grief, and life transitions. She utilizes an integrative approach that incorporates mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and strength-based therapy. She believes that every challenge in life is an opportunity to grow and make changes in order to live a more fulfilling, enriched life. She has lived in California, Virginia and Thailand and she currently resides in Italy.

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  Thérèse Jacobs-Stewart, MA, LP

  Thérèse Jacobs-Stewart is a psychologist who has lived and worked in many countries, including several Caribbean Nations, Japan, Europe, and the United States. She currently resides in Mexico, amidst the marvelous and maddening crucible of cultural differences. She originally trained in family systems therapy, and over the course of her career has increasingly integrated psychodynamic, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral principles into her work. During Thérèse’s 35-years in practice, she has worked with individuals, couples, executive leaders, and performing artists, with a particular interest in multi-generational patterns, self-compassion practices, and non-violent communication techniques. She has broad experience in relationship counseling, grief therapy, addiction recovery, and adjustment support for the difficulties and transitions of life. Thérèse has authored several books, most recently A Kinder Voice: Releasing Your Inner Critic with Mindfulness Slogans.

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  Alicia Janik, PsyD, LP

  Dr. Alicia Janik is a licensed clinical psychologist, holding a doctorate in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in human sexuality education, with over 15 years of experience in a variety of clinical settings. She believes in a collaborative and strength-based approach, tailoring therapy to meet an individual’s needs and foster long-lasting personal growth within the context of a trusting relationship. Dr. Janik uses an integrative style, incorporating insight-oriented, narrative, and solution-focused approaches, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and working from multicultural, relational, and social justice frameworks. She is passionate about promoting cross-cultural communication and understanding, with years of experience living and working overseas as an expatriate in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Dr. Janik’s areas of expertise include working with international schools to promote community strength and well-being, supporting women and families navigating perinatal health (fertility, prenatal loss, pregnancy, the transition to parenthood, and postpartum care), supporting and empowering members of the LGBTQ+ population and their families, and working with adolescents and adults who are experiencing major life transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, relationship challenges, and issues surrounding identity development.

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  Abby Jenkins, PhD, LP

  Dr. Abby Jenkins is a licensed clinical psychologist who earned her doctoral degree from Temple University and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute. Prior to starting her private assessment practice, she worked as a therapist and testing psychologist in psychiatric hospital and residential treatment settings. She has nearly 20 years of experience providing assessment services in a variety of settings, including schools, community mental health centers, therapeutic wilderness programs, residential treatment programs/therapeutic schools, and hospitals across the United States. She works frequently with adolescents and young adults who have been placed outside their home country for educational or therapeutic purposes, and has a great deal of experience working with culturally, geographically, and socioeconomically diverse clients. She specializes in the administration of educational, psychological, and social functioning (including autism spectrum) test batteries, and her clients often have complex clinical histories requiring diagnostic clarification and input to best inform treatment and educational planning. She currently divides her time between Utah and Vermont.

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  Stephanie Johnson, MSW, LICSW

  Stephanie Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience in international communities. Throughout her career, she has held therapy and leadership posts in both healthcare and educational settings. After completing an anthropology degree from the University of Virginia, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa creating environmental sustainability projects. In 1995, she received an MSW from Smith College with an emphasis in psychodynamic therapy. Since 2009, Stephanie has worked in international schools in Switzerland, Singapore and Croatia where her roles have included school counselor, child protection lead and health center director. Stephanie uses an integrative approach with clients and is skilled at forming positive connections to create collaborative change. While she is comfortable working with a wide range of issues, her specialities include adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, loss, adjustment and the complexities of living overseas. She is certified as an intercultural trainer from the Interchange Institute and also holds a European Certificate of Psychotherapy.

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  Lydia Karlson

  Practice Manager

  Lydia grew up in a suburb of the Twin Cities and later attended Macalester College, where she studied psychology and creative writing. She has previously served in various senior editorial roles for her college newspaper and humor magazine, worked as a graphic designer and freelance copy-writer, and most recently as a psychiatric assistant in an adult mental health unit in a hospital.

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  David Karlson, MA, LMFT

  David Karlson is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has worked with individuals and families for over 12 years. He is experienced working in a variety of settings including community mental health, inpatient and outpatient facilities, school-based programs, and telehealth. David is trained in systemic family therapy (SFT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and uses a strengths-based and client-centered approach to help clients achieve their emotional and relational goals. David has also served in multiple deployments overseas as an army officer and currently serves with the Minnesota National Guard. He is trained as a Master Resilience Trainer, teaching CBT techniques to soldiers. David has lived and traveled extensively in South America, Europe and the Middle East.

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  Alex Karydi, PhD, LMFT

  Dr. Alex Karydi completed a master’s in clinical psychology, a postgraduate diploma in research psychology, a Ph.D. in clinical sexology, and a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy. She currently has specialty certifications in dialect behavior therapy, and as a death doula, a grief counseling specialist, and an alcohol and substance abuse counselor. Her clinical interests have included working with children, teens, adults, the LGBTQI populations, gender and sexuality, suicide care, grief and loss, and addictions. Dr. Karydi uses a broad range of cognitive-behavioral and insight-oriented techniques in the psychotherapy and counseling process. She has lectured and presented training seminars and workshops nationally and internationally. Her research and publication interests have included lesbian, bisexual, and queer women’s health; transgender youth; and suicide prevention.

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  Judy Katz, MS, LMFT

  Judy Katz is a licensed marriage and family therapist who holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology and has been working in the mental health field for 20 years. Judy has worked in a variety of settings including community mental health facilities, substance abuse treatment facilities and in group practice. While she incorporates different modalities of therapy into her practice, Judy draws heavily on psychodynamic, humanistic and cognitive behavioral therapy theories. She works primarily with adults 18 and older, both individually and in couples. Judy has a great deal of experience working with depression, anxiety, trauma, sobriety maintenance and relational issues. Additionally, having lived as an expatriate in Israel, Judy is acutely aware of the challenges and complexities involved in living a life overseas.

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  Zehra Kaya, PhD, LP

  Dr. Kaya is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked in the US and Turkey. She holds a doctoral degree from SUNY at Buffalo and a master’s degree from New York University, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship training at Cornell University. Currently she lives and teaches in Istanbul, Turkey. Dr. Kaya has worked in various settings as a clinician and academic in the US, including hospitals, university counseling centers, eating disorder centers and non-profit organizations. Her areas of interest and expertise include depression, anxiety, grief and loss, self-esteem problems, major life transitions, adjustment, self-care, career concerns, and minority mental health. Zehra works within a psychodynamic framework while incorporating various modalities from relational, existential, DBT, and ACT techniques. She believes her role as a clinician is to provide clients with new interpretations of their life stories and help them create a new understanding of their life experiences in a safe, non-judgmental, and supportive space. As a bilingual and multicultural psychologist who has lived and worked internationally, Zehra is dedicated to providing cultural humility in her work.

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  Christina Kedaj, MA, LPC

  Christina Kedaj is a licensed professional counselor who has experience working with children, adolescents and adults. Christina began her career working in her home state of Texas with women and children who have experienced the trauma of domestic violence. Since moving overseas with her German husband, Christina has worked both in-person and online with expat clients. Christina’s work overseas has been primarily focused on the treatment of children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, emotional regulation problems and adjustment issues. Christina feels that when working with children and adolescents, their caregivers play a role in the success of counseling. Due to this, Christina also provides parent-coaching and education throughout the therapeutic process. Christina uses a person-centered, strengths-based approach to therapy that draws upon play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-focused interventions based on the needs of the individual client.

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  Michelle Klar, MA, LCPC

  Michelle Klar is a licensed clinical professional counselor with a master's in clinical mental health counseling. Michelle has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families in private practice and schools for 30 years. She has lived, raised a family, and worked as a counselor internationally for 15 years in Vietnam, Qatar, and China. This rich life experience has given her a deep understanding of the concerns that might arise with international transition as well as repatriation for individuals and families. In her practice, she specializes in working with issues of depression, anxiety, LGBTQIA+, trauma, ADHD, and marriage and family relationships. Michelle uses a strength-based approach, and integrates therapies based on specific client needs, among them cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, supportive family systems, creative arts, and play therapy.

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  Bridget Klee, MSW, LICSW-C

  Bridget Klee is a clinical social worker who specializes in working with adolescents, families, couples, and adults struggling with life transitions, anxiety, interpersonal issues, and the overall stressors of life. Her approach is rooted in non-judgement, empathy, and the belief that understanding one’s emotions and thoughts can improve quality of life. She incorporates practices based in self-compassion, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care. She has a wide range of experience having worked in both hospital settings and also private practice, and has lived and worked in Germany. Bridget’s main goal as a therapist is to provide a warm and open environment where individuals, families, and couples feel safe to explore and better understand their symptoms, relational issues, and behaviors. She is passionate about supporting individuals who wish to deepen their connection to others and, most importantly, themselves.

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  Marcus Klein, PsyD, LP

  Dr. Klein is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology. He has worked in a variety of settings including medical centers (Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), schools, and community mental health clinics specializing in treating and assessing children, adolescents, adults, and families. Marcus utilizes an integrative approach incorporating cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, existential, and solution focused interventions. Marcus has specific specialization in treating children and adolescents who have experienced trauma using trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and has also done research on the phenomenon of posttraumatic growth among young children. In addition to his therapeutic work, Dr. Klein also lectures on the intersection of religion, spirituality, and psychology. As an expatriate who moved overseas with his family of six, Marcus knows firsthand the unique challenges of living far from home for both individuals and families.

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  Karly Knopf

  Practice Coordinator

  Karly is studying psychology at Saint Mary’s University with plans to pursue a master’s degree in counseling. She previously worked as a real estate appraiser before deciding to switch to a path she finds more fulfilling: mental healthcare. Karly is interested in how our environment impacts our behavior and mental wellness. Having lived for a time in Prague, she is particularly empathetic to expats seeking care. In addition to being a full-time employee and student, she advocates on behalf of small business owners and working parents for progressive tax policy and social programs. Karly enjoys downhill skiing, scuba diving, and mountain biking. Her favorite activities while traveling include free walking tours, visiting museums, hiking, and trying local foods. She resides in Minnesota with her spouse, their two young children, and their dog.

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  Chloe Koshiol-Wright

  Practice Coordinator

  Chloe studied neuroscience and minored in medical humanities at the University of St. Thomas, and has always been curious about the human mind, mental health and wellness, and accessibility in mental health care. While in college and after graduating, Chloe worked as a clinic manager at a private primary care clinic and as an EMT at event venues in the Twin Cities. Chloe volunteers at a needle exchange and provides community care in the Twin Cities. She loves her two cats, music, and spending time with friends and family.

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  Dani Kreutter, MA

  Dani Kreutter is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. She resides in Kampala, Uganda and has worked with others throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia during previous work in youth leadership development and peace building. She has also worked in a community mental health setting in the USA. Dani enjoys working with parents, children and teens coping with life transitions, relationship issues, depression and anxiety, trauma, attachment issues, and existential or systemic anxieties. She graduated from Pacifica Graduate Institute in California with a master’s in counseling psychology with a focus on depth psychology. Dani incorporates Jungian methods into her work along with an integration of other approaches including mindfulness, psychodynamics, ecotherapy, somatic and body work, existential psychology, client centeredness, DBT, CBT, ACT, and motivational interviewing.

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  Jill Kristal, PhD, LP

  Jill holds a Ph.D. in clinical and research psychology and has been a practicing psychotherapist for over 30 years, 10 of those with the Truman Group. While living in London, Jill ran the American Counseling Center where she worked extensively with the expatriate population. She spent more than a decade living abroad, and developed significant interest and expertise in treating the mental health needs of expatriates. In addition to her clinical work, Jill has cultural transition programming specifically for international families, and is the co-creator of Transitional Learning Curves, an organization that helps families and companies address the multiple adjustments that come with life as an expatriate. She speaks and writes regularly about expatriate experience and, in addition to her work with the Truman Group, has a private practice where she treats children, adults and couples.

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  Kendrick LaFleur, MSW, LCSW

  Kendrick LaFleur is a licensed clinical social worker who has been working in the social work field since 2009. He earned a bachelor’s in psychology and master’s in social work from the University of Utah, and spent time living overseas as a young adult. His areas of expertise are in helping clients manage anxiety, depression, addiction, compulsive behaviors, grief, and trauma, and he is especially interested in helping people across a variety of ethnic and cultural identities. Kendrick’s primary approach is to use mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but he also draws influence from acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) and trauma-focused CBT. He is also trained in eye-movement desensitization reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Kendrick works with individual adults, teens and couples, and strives to support his clients to create positive change as they move through difficult life challenges, ultimately leading to deeper self-insight and inner calm.

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  Valerie Le Cann Jones, MA, LMFT

  Valerie Le Cann Jones is a licensed marriage and family therapist with an MA in marriage and family therapy from Fairfield University and a BS in psychology from Union College. Her previous clinical roles include serving as Program Director with Center for Discovery, a residential program for adolescents suffering from eating disorders, Clinical Supervisor with LifeBridge Community Services, working with a diverse population experiencing mental health challenges, Survivor Care Navigator for the town of Newtown, working with families of children who survived the tragic shooting in Sandy Hook, and finally, Clinician at Liberation Programs, working with a population in recovery from opiate addiction. Valerie was raised by French parents in the US until age 13 before moving to France to live there until returning to the US for college. Valerie has both experienced and witnessed the devastating results of trauma both in her family of origin and as a community member of Sandy Hook. She views trauma through a systemic lens and understands the importance of working with the entire family when focusing on resiliency and trauma recovery. Currently, Valerie lives in Connecticut with her family and their therapy dog-in-training, Oliver.

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  Kim Leong, PhD, LP

  Kim Leong is a licensed psychologist who grew up in Hong Kong. She earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, and was a Harvard fellow with joint appointments to Judge Baker Children’s Clinic and Children’s Hospital of Boston, Department of Psychiatry. Of her 28 years as a psychologist, over 21 years have been spent living and working in India, South Africa, Nigeria, Washington D.C., Macedonia, Nicaragua, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Kim has treated adult, child and adolescent expatriates from diplomatic, missionary, private sector and military communities throughout her international postings. She has trained pre-doctoral students and lay counselors in in-patient, out-patient, academic and community clinic settings. Kim has a depth of experience in treatment of loss, trauma, relationship issues, adjustment, cultural and spiritual issues, and psychometric assessment.

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  Jennifer Linton, M.Ed, LPCC

  Jennie Linton holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from William and Mary University. She specializes in trauma, relational issues, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, parenting, and spiritual issues. She employs a wide range of clinical modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, Gottman couples therapy, attachment-focused therapy, and emotion-focused therapy. Her clinical work focuses on adults and couples. Jennie has lived abroad as an expat for most of the past 15 years in Asia and Latin America, and has previously lived in Africa. She has particular insight into diplomatic and military life and currently resides in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she and her husband are raising four TCKs.

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  Amy Loveless Imam, PsyD, LP

  Dr. Amy Loveless Imam holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Amy fine-tuned her clinical skills in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with a particular focus on how trauma impacts development. She has been licensed to practice independently since 2010 and has worked with children, adolescents, adults and families. Amy is trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy and incorporates an integrative style to her work, including insight-oriented, narrative, and solution-focused approaches. In addition to individual and family therapy, she has conducted comprehensive psychological evaluations for children and adolescents in an international school setting. Originally from New England, Amy lived overseas for many years in Southern Africa, and is currently based in Austria. Amy is particularly passionate about serving the expatriate community with a focus on relevant concerns, including identity issues, family discord and stress management.

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  Angelina Mahalingam

  Self-Pay Billing Manager

  Angelina attended the University of Minnesota, where she studied Spanish and minored in Chicano Studies. She lived abroad for her studies in Toledo, Spain and later attended Hamline University, CUNY Lehman College, and the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, earning a certificate in Teaching English and a Foreign Language, credits towards a master’s of education, and certification in mind-body wellness. Angelina possesses an innate curiosity and has a love of learning, travel, and health and wellbeing. She has worked as a teacher and has served in a variety of operations and customer care roles in the healthcare field.

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  Elizabeth Maynard, PhD, LP

  Elizabeth Maynard is a licensed clinical psychologist who holds a PhD in clinical psychology. She grew up in Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and the United States. Throughout her career, Dr. Maynard has offered mental health services in university, hospital, community, and private practice settings. She has spent nearly two decades in the classroom as a college professor and has served with the State Department in China and Madagascar. Dr. Maynard is particularly sensitive to the challenges faced by clients living abroad due to military, diplomatic, and faith-organization assignments, and partners with each individual and family to personalize the therapeutic relationship.

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  Susannah McGlamery, MA, LPC, NCC

  Susannah McGlamery is a nationally board-certified, licensed professional counselor with extensive experience supporting individuals and families, specializing in attachment, parenting, and adoption. Susannah brings an open heart to her work with clients navigating adjustment and life transitions, relationship challenges, stress, grief, and loss. Her integrative therapeutic approach combines psychodynamic, narrative, insight-oriented, and mindfulness strategies to support each client's unique needs. She prioritizes creating a non-judgmental, safe space that fosters trust and stability, allowing clients to be their authentic selves. Susannah has lived, worked, and parented in India, Romania, Côte d'Ivoire, and China bringing a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals living across cultures, including those of third culture kids. With warmth, humor, and compassion, Susannah encourages her clients to uncover their strengths, face challenges with resilience, and find joy along the way.

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  Sally McGregor, PsyD, LP

  Sally McGregor is a licensed clinical psychologist who completed her clinical training at the University of Denver. She prioritizes creating a non-judgmental, open-minded, and safe environment for global nomads to share. Sally has worked in a wide variety of settings, among them, universities, trauma-focused nonprofits, a military clinic, a county jail, a private practice and an international hospital. She is EMDR trained and is particularly adept at working with clients carrying a history of trauma. She has also received specialized training in military psychology during her doctoral education. As an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) herself, Sally intimately understands the expat and ATCK experience of “belonging everywhere and nowhere” that can result from a childhood and/or adulthood spent traversing the globe. Sally enjoys exploring cross-cultural issues in therapy and believes that the various identities we carry, and how they are perceived and regarded in each context we enter, impact who we become and how we operate in the world. Sally welcomes clients to bring their full selves into the room, and uses an integrative and collaborative approach in treatment.

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  Catherine McLean, MSW, LCSW

  Catherine McLean is a licensed clinical social worker. Catherine has experience working as a counselor across multiple settings including outpatient mental health clinics, schools, and private practice. She is passionate about working with people in all stages of life including children, adolescents, adults and families. She draws from her experiences as an expat and her knowledge and training in various evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, child-parent psychotherapy, and Circle of Security to treat issues related to attachment, trauma, anxiety, depression, executive functioning, interpersonal issues, parenting stressors, grief and loss. Catherine’s theoretical approach is integrative and she tailors her therapeutic interventions to meet the individualized needs of her clients. Originally from Connecticut, Catherine currently lives and works in Vietnam.

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  Michelle Michalkovic, MSW, LCSW-R

  Michelle Michalkovic holds a master’s degree in clinical social work with over twenty years of experience working in private practice, community mental health, emergency services and local government. Michelle has worked with individuals, couples, families and groups in helping them seek clarity in complicated situations and empowering them to find and utilize their strengths to live authentically. Michelle’s clinical work focuses on bringing hope to people experiencing grief, anxiety, stress, depression, relational challenges, toxic behaviors, trauma, life transitions, self-doubt, self-injury, suicidal ideation and the exploration of past experiences as they relate to the present. She uses a range of clinical modalities that are flexible, tailored to the individual and include person-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment theory, brief therapy, strengths coaching, trauma-informed care, positive psychology and mindfulness techniques. Michelle lived and worked abroad in Switzerland for ten years before returning to the United States.

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  Denise Miles, PsyD, LP

  Dr. Denise Miles is a clinical psychologist who has worked in wide-ranging settings such as private practice, oncology medical units and most recently the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, DC. She concentrated her graduate training in the areas of family systems and psychodynamic orientations. Since that time, Dr. Miles has expanded her modalities to include cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused therapies and accelerated resolution therapy. Within her private practice she specializes in treating adults, couples, and families who are struggling with depression, anxiety, adjustment/life transitions, trauma, insomnia, and interpersonal difficulties. Dr. Miles collaborates with her clients to combine treatment techniques into a personalized and effective treatment process. She has lived and worked in Africa and Europe and travels internationally for work.

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  Maggie Mir

  Practice Coordinator

  Maggie studied psychology and technical writing at University of Minnesota and, since graduating, has enjoyed working in research positions in the mental health field. She plans to pursue further education in psychology and is particularly interested in relationships and our connections with identities, place, and culture. As a dual citizen of Australia through her father, Maggie grew up often traveling to visit friends and family overseas. In her free time, she loves to travel, find new music, create art and enjoys being outside with her family and friends in Minnesota, where she lives.

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  N’Jeri Mitchell, PhD, LP

  N’Jeri earned her doctoral degree in counseling psychology from New York University and is a licensed psychologist in New York and the UK. She has worked in various settings, including college counseling centers, the Peace Corps, and the US military. Her areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, career issues, relationship difficulties, cultural adjustment, loss, and trauma. She has been praised for her work with diverse clients of different ages, genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions, and social classes. Having lived abroad for almost a decade, she can relate to the many issues that arise while living away from home and adapting to new cultures. She views therapy as a way to help people develop more fulfilling, intimate, and authentic relationships and feel better emotionally and physically.

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  Colette Molloy, MSW, LICSW

  Colette Molloy is a licensed independent clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in clinical work with children, adolescents, adults and families. Colette’s therapeutic approach is individualized, culturally responsive and informed by developmental, attachment-based, and insight-oriented theories that value the therapeutic relationship and process. Colette can also integrate short-term, cognitive behavioral approaches. She has practiced and supervised in a variety of settings with individuals and families of all ages. Colette’s areas of focus include life/developmental transitions, identity development, relationship difficulties, school challenges, anxiety, depression, adoption, grief/loss and trauma. In recent years, Colette has worked more closely with adults in their transition to parenthood, prenatal loss, postpartum concerns and adoption. She has completed training in trauma-informed child parent psychotherapy (CPP), a parent-infant/early childhood evidence-based practice, and is included on the national CPP Provider Roster. Colette has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and has a bilingual-bicultural family.

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  Joshua Montrenes, PhD

  Joshua Montrenes is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University. His research and clinical practice have centered around the assessment and treatment of neurodivergent individuals with anxiety and mood disorders. In addition, Joshua has experience engaging with concerns relating to trauma, gender identity, cultural identity and disability. Joshua’s clinical approach considers the effects of external societal factors on mental health, as well as interpersonal and individual ones. He brings calmness, kindness and patience to his sessions, and strives to create strong therapeutic relationships with his clients to provide grounding and support as they navigate life’s challenges.

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  Bethany Mueller, MSW, LICSW

  Bethany Mueller is a licensed independent clinical social worker with over a decade of experience providing psychotherapy in a variety of settings. Bethany specializes in treating trauma-related disorders, depression, anxiety, emotion-regulation problems and helps support the maintenance of substance use abstinence. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and completed a fellowship in the treatment of substance use disorders. Bethany is trained in cognitive behavior therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and motivational interviewing. She completed extensive training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and has several years’ experience leading her own DBT trainings. Bethany draws from her knowledge of evidence-based therapies and uses a collaborative, strengths-based approach to meet her clients where they are and help them reach their therapeutic goals. She has traveled extensively, including spending several months in India, and regularly visits family abroad. Bethany currently lives in Minnesota.

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  Vanessa Myles, MD

  Dr. Myles is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist in the U.S. and Germany. She holds a medical degree from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany and completed specialty training in Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Vanessa has extensive research and clinical experience and has worked in a variety of in-patient and out-patient settings in the U.S. and internationally. She is trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy, but draws from a wide variety of clinical approaches to tailor to individual needs and create a comfortable space for psychological exploration and growth. She has extensive experience with a broad range of issues including adjustment reactions, depression, anxiety, trauma, identity issues and the complex nature of expatriate challenges. In addition to her clinical work with the Truman Group, Vanessa maintains a private practice in Cologne, Germany and is an active member of the regional expatriate community.

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  Diane Nickeson-Mendheim, MSW, LCSW

  Diane Nickeson-Mendheim is a licensed psychotherapist with over fifteen years of experience where she has helped clients address physical and emotional pain, cope with stress, and move through adversity. She has lived as an expatriate for more than ten years, including time in the Philippines, Albania, and Slovenia, where she has helped expatriates navigate the unique experience of living abroad. Diane has advanced certifications in several mind-body therapies, including emotional freedom technique (EFT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), guided imagery, mindfulness meditation, and yoga instruction. Diane specializes in helping clients find relief from anxiety, heal trauma, recover from loss, and reduce symptoms of chronic pain and headaches.

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  Tomas Restrepo Palacio, MD

  Dr. Restrepo Palacio is an English- and Spanish-speaking psychiatrist, born and raised in Colombia. He trained at the Icahn School of Medicine’s Mount Sinai Morningside and West Psychiatry Program and, in addition to working at the Truman Group, he has a private practice in New York City. Through his years of experience working with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds and his own experience adjusting to the lifestyle changes and demands of different cultures, he has learned the importance of providing culturally competent treatment. He has experience in managing acute and chronic mental health conditions, including adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. His goal is to facilitate the exploration of clients’ symptoms, using a flexible approach to therapy to find the best treatment style to reduce the burden of stressors on their lives.

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  Brianna Palacios, MA, LCPC

  Brianna is a licensed clinical professional counselor with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. She has worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, schools and private practice. Brianna works individually with all ages including children, adolescents and adults, and also works with families. She primarily focuses on challenges related to anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma and family systems. She commonly uses acceptance and commitment therapy, narrative therapy, trauma-informed CBT, and art and play therapy. Brianna approaches therapy from a place of sincerity and compassion, believing all clients have unique gifts and strengths. She works collaboratively with each individual to tailor sessions to their needs, and places high importance on trust, stability, and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship.

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  Rebecca Paulsen, MSW, RSW

  Rebecca Paulsen is a registered social worker with over 15 years of experience supporting students with mental health needs. She has a strong passion for working with children with anxiety and depression alongside their families, and has particular expertise in supporting student excellence through youth learning strategies and resilience-building skills. As parents play an important role in the lives of their children, she encourages parental involvement in their child’s therapeutic homework between sessions to maximize success. After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology, Rebecca spent two years living in South Korea before returning to Canada to complete the Master of Social Work program at the University of Toronto. After earning her MSW, she worked as a family and child therapist in community mental health. She has practiced in many school settings, including serving ten years as a mental health and addictions lead supporting students with exceptional mental health needs who required enhanced support, and also working in schools in the Canadian Arctic. Rebecca uses evidence-based and practical therapeutic approaches for children and youth, and creates an enjoyable experience where students can practice a range of strategies to support their mental health.

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  Natalie Peacock, MSW, LCSW

  Natalie Peacock received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. As a licensed clinical social worker, Natalie has over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, families, couples, and individuals of all ages. She has provided psychotherapy in a variety of mental health settings including acute inpatient hospitals, residential treatment and long-term outpatient therapy. Natalie is a Level 2 Gottman Certified therapist and enjoys working with couples, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Natalie sees clients who are experiencing anxiety, life transitions, women’s issues, depression, grief and loss. She generally uses an eclectic person-centered, strength-based approach that draws upon cognitive behavioral therapy and emotion-focused therapy skills. In her work, Natalie seeks to find solutions that will help her clients make the changes they desire and create meaning in their lives.

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  Sarah Pogue, MSW, LICSW

  Sarah Pogue holds a master’s degree and is licensed as an independent clinical social worker. Sarah has lived and worked as an expat for more than ten years and is currently located in Nairobi. They have worked extensively in the LGBTQIA community and have specialized training in psychodynamic psychotherapy as well as breathing & mindfulness techniques. Their counseling experience has focused primarily on individuals dealing with anxiety, transitions, adjustment, depression, relationship & intimacy concerns, as well as gender and sexuality. Sarah has continuing professional education in dynamic psychotherapy with the Washington School of Psychiatry.

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  Sarah Pole, MSW, LCSW

  After beginning her career in international development, Sarah fell in love with therapy and obtained her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University. A licensed clinical social worker, Sarah worked in outpatient mental health for many years before entering private practice. Creating a trusting, honest, and supportive relationship where clients feel safe to explore their difficulties is at the center of her work, and she sees this as the foundation of all therapy. Sarah specializes in trauma and neuroscience-informed work, which explores how past events are stored in the body and brain to speed the process of healing. Sarah is trained in EMDR and completed her Somatic Experiencing Practitioner training in 2021. Originally from the UK, Sarah moved to the US in her early twenties, has lived in India and Brazil, and currently resides in Spain. She considers herself a permanent ex-pat and is passionate about supporting others who have experienced the joys, fears and challenges of international life.

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  Neeta Ramkumar, PhD, LP

  Dr. Neeta Ramkumar is a licensed psychologist who identifies as a third culture kid, expat, and Indo-Caribbean Texan. She utilizes decolonizing and liberatory approaches to mental health and well-being in a holistic and empowering way. She is a self-compassion catalyst and will invite you to share your generational burdens as well as the stories you have internalized about yourself. Dr. Neeta is currently based in France, started her global private practice in Cameroon, and previously taught clinical psychology at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. Growing up, she attended international schools in Singapore and Malaysia. In college at the University of Texas, she double majored in psychology and history and graduated with her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Texas A&M University. She specializes in the treatment of trauma and has extensive experience working with military veterans, first responders, and humanitarian workers.

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  Tonya Ramsburg, MA, LMFT

  Tonya Ramsburg is an American expat that has practiced overseas for the last 15 years in Beijing, Dubai, and Singapore. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology with an  emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Pepperdine University. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a certified Gottman couples therapist, a certified narrative therapist, and a NOVA crisis responder. Currently, she is finishing a Ph.D. in developmental psychology with a focus on international perspectives. She has worked in private practice, the nonprofit sector,  international school settings, with the US embassy, and with the adoption community. Her  clinical focus revolves around the expat experience for individuals, couples and teens. This includes but is not limited to: adjustments to expat life, the “trailing spouse”  transition, transcultural marriages, third culture children and teens, and extensive work with multicultural families worldwide. She utilizes an individualized approach with each of her clients, drawing on existential, family systems, humanistic, and narrative-based interventions. 

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  Vicki Ratichek, MA

  Vicki Ratichek is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She is a lifelong expatriate who spent her childhood in Brazil as a third-culture kid and has lived, as an adult, with her family in Nigeria, South Africa, and Rwanda. Vicki understands the joys and challenges of the expatriate lifestyle and is passionate about supporting those living cross-culturally. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, providing care in community centers, a university counseling center, and in private practice. Vicki’s counseling approach is client-centered, strengths-based, and integrative. She draws from various evidence-based interventions including solution-focused, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and attachment theory. She has experience working with adolescents and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and relational, spiritual, and adjustment challenges. Vicki is committed to cultural humility, creating a safe environment, and compassionately meeting people where they are on their journey toward a fulfilled life.

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  Melissa Rejcek-Li, MA

  Melissa Rejcek-Li is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. She holds a master's degree in clinical mental health and an undergraduate degree in anthropology. Mel's background as a first-generation immigrant in the United States, combined with her extensive international experience, informs her approach to mental health counseling. Her experiences range from being an international student in Italy to work as a corporate expatriate in Brazil, and include working at a remote research station in Antarctica. This rich tapestry of experiences has given her a deep understanding of the challenges involved in navigating connection, building community, and achieving good mental health in diverse and often challenging environments. Mel's therapeutic style is grounded in a collaborative, trauma-informed approach that integrates various modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and somatic awareness healing through the mind and body gained from her many years practicing as a massage therapist. She has experience working with LGBTQ+ communities, at-risk youth, military, and individuals grappling with identity issues and life transitions. Mel believes in the power of connection — whether through community, nature, or self-discovery — and emphasizes creating a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore their challenges and grow.

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  Jill Riemer, MSW, LCSW

  Jill is a licensed clinical social worker with more than a decade of experience working in outpatient mental health and integrated health programs including foster care and school programs in both urban and rural locations. She believes in the connection between the physical and emotional self and the importance of treating the body as a whole. She has helped children, adolescents, and adults overcome trauma, and cope with depression, anxiety, life transitions, addiction, and family & relationship conflicts. Utilizing a strengths-based approach Jill helps each client identify their personal competencies, goals, and motivation for change. Jill has extensive training and experience in DBT, schema therapy, CBT, brief strategic therapy, and is a certified professional in Integrative Medicine for Mental Health. She has lived and worked in both New York and Israel.

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  Syed Rizvi, PhD

  Syed Rizvi holds a doctorate in school psychology from the University of Houston. He has experience working across various settings, including school districts, juvenile detention centers, psychiatric residential facilities, and community practices, serving children, adolescents, and adults. Syed completed his pre-doctoral internship at Sarah Reed Children’s Center in Erie, Pennsylvania, and he currently resides in Houston, Texas, where he serves as the training director for the Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Spirituality Lab at the University of Houston. Syed’s clinical and research work centers on positive psychology, multicultural approaches, and humanistic, existential, and behavioral modalities to address mental health symptoms and promote well-being through an ecological perspective. He works with children, adolescents, and adults, treating a wide range of issues, including addictions, ADHD, anger management, bipolar disorder, chronic illness, depression, anxiety, learning disabilities, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), self-harm, sleep issues, teen violence, and trauma. For clients who have interest, Syed can integrate faith and spirituality with psychological assessment and treatment.

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  Abby Ruble, MA, LPC

  Abby is a licensed professional counselor who has lived and worked in Morocco, Serbia, the US, and Brazil. She has worked in schools as a counselor and social worker for the past 15 years, and in her own private practice for the past five years. Abby has a background in special education, working with the LGBTQ+ population, and has worked in a residential treatment center for youth. She is well-versed in DBT and has experience working with clients with a history of trauma and PTSD, addiction, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Abby has also worked in career coaching and academic advising. Abby’s approach is holistic and solution-focused.

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  Julia Rudick, MSW, LCSW

  Julia Rudick is a licensed clinical social worker with more than a decade of experience in counseling. Julia earned her master’s degree at Hunter College in New York City and worked in both Brooklyn and Manhattan before moving abroad. Julia has worked extensively with adolescents as a middle and high school counselor at international schools in Central and South America. Additionally, she enjoys working with new and expecting parents and couples and has been trained by Gottman Institute and the Ackerman Institute for the family. She has also supervised graduate level students in clinical settings and is a certified yoga teacher. Julia brings a non-judgmental approach to her work and relies on a strong therapeutic relationship with her clients. She is humorous and warm and is supportive in helping others reach their goals.

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  Monica Santini, PsyD

  Monica Santini is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. Dr. Santini is currently a postdoctoral resident who completed her training at Boston University School of Medicine. Her professional journey has been inspired by her experiences living abroad for 14 years. Mónica has also worked in different outpatient settings as part of a forensic psychology program in Madrid, Spain. Working with individuals across the lifespan from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds is what has shaped her interests and professional goals. As a professional that is passionate about the international barriers of psychology, her future plans encompass making psychotherapeutic services accessible to regions around the globe with limited mental health availability and being a consultant to regional and international organizations.

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  Kristin Schmittel, MA, LPC, NCC

  Kristin Schmittel, LPC entered the field of psychology following ten years of work in the corporate world. After graduating from Northwestern University with a master's in counseling, she spent time at group practices in Chicago and Washington, DC, and then established her own practice in Virginia before moving to East Asia. Kristin believes in helping every individual, from expatriates to those navigating new environments at school to those forging new professional paths, manage change and perform to their highest potential. Her practice embraces the idea that no change is ever easy, but with an ally and support structure, anyone can find success no matter where they are.

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  Krys Sciberras, MA, RCC

  Krys Sciberras has more than 25 years of experience in mental health and substance use fields, and has worked in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, non-profit organizations, and mental health start-ups. Her focus has been on anxiety management, mood disorders, relational trauma, supporting the development of healthy relationships, and, most recently, PTSD with first responders and healthcare workers through clinical trials. Krys holds a master's degree in counselling psychology and is pursuing her doctoral studies. With her work, she aims to integrate the body into therapy, using somatic practices in combination with an attachment lens, with the goal of helping individuals self-regulate and challenge narratives that may hinder healthy relationships. Krys offers a holistic approach to therapy, combining clinical practices such as CBT, DBT, and ACT with body-based awareness, mindfulness, and self-compassion. She works collaboratively with her clients to establish goals and desires that align with their values and beliefs.

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  Nicole Seals

  Insurance Billing Manager

  Nicole started her healthcare career in 2004 as a medical assistant. While working as an MA, Nicole discovered another passion: revenue cycle management. In 2014, after gaining an education in medical billing and coding, she realized that not only could she help clients personally by providing direct care, but she could help them financially as well. During her education journey, she discovered an interest in mental health, and has taken multiple social science courses, including psychology, abnormal psychology and human growth and development.

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  Johanna Smith, MSW, LCSW

  Johanna Smith is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Denver. She has worked with adults, families, and teens for over 15 years. A true global nomad, Johanna has lived in 10 different countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Johanna brings an integrative approach to therapy drawing on training in systems theory, emotionally-focused couple therapy, trauma treatment (EMDR) and mindfulness-based approaches. Johanna has a passion for helping people live their best lives. In addition to her clinical work, she has served as an international school counselor, family support specialist, and pro-bono psychotherapist with refugees and asylum seekers. She is skilled at helping clients move through the darkest places in their lives and emerge with a greater sense of joy and purpose.

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  Taneshia Elam-Snowden, M.Ed

  Taneshia Elam-Snowden is a clinical fellow at the Truman Group. She holds Master of Education degrees from Lehigh University in counseling and human services and in human development. She is a certified school psychologist and is in the final stages of completing her PhD in pediatric school psychology. She has worked as a clinician in a variety of settings including community mental health, schools, and integrated primary care where she conducted assessments and provided psychotherapy and consultations. Taneshia has experience working with a variety of behavioral and emotional concerns including anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, disordered eating, ADHD and various adjustment concerns, and specializes in supporting children, adults, and families from a systems perspective. Her work focuses on helping clients manage their individual behavioral and emotional concerns while keeping in mind the relational system to which they belong. Taneshia’s theoretical orientation is integrative and draws from psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, acceptance and commitment, and dialectical behavioral therapy-informed approaches, which she uses to customize therapy to meet the clients’ specific needs. Taneshia lives and works in the United States.

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  Ren Stinson, PhD, LP

  Ren Stinson is a board-certified clinical psychologist with 10+ years of experience as a therapist and trainer in university counseling centers, community mental health settings, and the Veterans Health Administration. Ren has specialties in PTSD treatment, trauma-related mental health, anxiety coping skills, and working with clients who struggle with emotion regulation. Starting with a strong therapeutic relationship, he uses evidence-based psychotherapies to help clients meet their therapeutic goals. Ren is formally trained in cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, and cognitive processing therapy. He has a research and teaching background in multicultural psychology, including cultural identity development, coping with racism and other oppression, and LGBTQ+ care. He provides trainings and workshops on behavior therapy and multicultural psychology in the U.S. and internationally. Ren was born in Tokyo, Japan and spent his early childhood in Oakland, California before moving to Kobe, Japan where he attended international school as a teenager. He currently resides in Minnesota.

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  Carmen Taylor, MA, LMFT

  Carmen Taylor is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over two decades of experience practicing in a wide variety of clinical settings. Her clinical work has focused primarily on the treatment of adults, couples and families coping with concerns such as relationship and family issues, depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, addiction and grief. Carmen has worked intensively with LGBTQ+ individuals, active duty military and veterans, and has served as a volunteer in South Africa and Mexico. A Clinical Fellow with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Carmen has an integrative trauma-informed therapeutic approach that incorporates cognitive-behavioral therapy, strength-based therapy, solution-focused therapy, and family systems therapy.

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  Keith Thurlow-Bishop, PhD, RCC

  Keith Thurlow-Bishop is a registered clinical counsellor, a registered Canadian art therapist, and a registered expressive arts therapist. Originally from the UK, he did his undergraduate degree in archaeology and anthropology at the University of Cambridge before completing his postgraduate training in psychotherapy at the Metanoia Institute in London and his clinical PhD in expressive arts therapy in the United States. Keith has worked in the field of mental health since 1990, and as a qualified practitioner since 2004. He has worked in a variety of settings, including community mental health, outpatient psychiatry, and residential treatment services for people healing from addictions and eating disorders. Underpinning all of his work is extensive training and deep understanding of how trauma impacts wellbeing on a daily basis. As a psychotherapist and expressive arts therapist, his practice is shaped by cognitive, psychodynamic, somatic and nature-based approaches to healing and wellness. He has worked extensively with 2SLGBTQ+ clients and people seeking refuge from their home countries, and he constantly strives to ensure that his practice is sensitive, relevant, accessible, and effective. Keith is an expat himself, having previously lived in Italy and the US. He currently resides on the west coast of Canada.

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  Katie Trupiano, LPC, NCC

  Katie is a national board certified licensed professional counselor with experience working in schools and in community mental health. She has worked in both the juvenile and adult judicial systems, and with the LGBTQI+ community. Katie takes an integrated approach to counseling involving concepts of mindfulness and solution-focused therapies and using a combination of techniques from cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, Gestalt, strengths-based, and positive psychology. She has specialized training in trauma-informed care, self-compassion and substance abuse. Katie has lived and worked abroad in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and China while raising a family composed of two third-culture kiddos.

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  Maelinda Turner, MSSW, LCSW

  Maelinda Turner is a licensed clinical social worker who provides individual and couples therapy for a range of issues including stress, grief, anxiety, depression and cultural challenges. Maelinda has been practicing social work for over 20 years after receiving her master’s degree from Columbia University and a master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings including private practice, a US foreign embassy, numerous military installations, and drug treatment facilities. Maelinda has a specialty in trauma (current, previous, and intergenerational) and has experience working as a first responder to critical incidents. She uses EMDR as a primary treatment modality, paired with an approach that is open-minded and open hearted, encouraging empowerment, insight, and the use of practical tools. Her work has an integrative, psycho-spiritual focus that she describes as holistic psychotherapy with a focus on the mind, body, and spirit connection. She has lived and worked internationally in Turkey, Lesotho, Belgium, Afghanistan and Canada.

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  Erin Valentine, PsyD, LP

  Dr. Erin Valentine is a licensed clinical psychologist who has lived and worked around the world and currently resides in the United States. Dr. Valentine has specialized training in infant mental health, developmental disabilities, parent-child relationship issues, child and adolescent behavior and development, attachment and bonding, perinatal and women’s mental health. In addition to working with children, she often works with adults coping with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and adjustment to major life changes and transitions. Dr. Valentine sees therapy as a collaborative endeavor that is individualized with each client. She takes a holistic approach to work, drawing on relationship-informed therapies, cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT), attachment and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and practical problem solving. Growth, compassion, respect, individuality, and humor are all important values in her therapeutic work.

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  Jane Vanelli, MSW, LICSW

  Jane Vanelli has a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and over 30 years of experience working with individuals, couples, families, children and adolescents in hospital and community settings. She has lived and worked abroad in a number of countries including Senegal, Egypt, Thailand and India, and understands the unique challenges of expatriate life and cross cultural adaptation, including issues specific to third culture kids and re-entry. Jane has specialized training and experience with grief, loss, attachment and bereavement, as well as parenting issues, PTSD, anxiety, depression and crisis management. She uses a broad range of clinical modalities, including psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy and mindfulness.

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  Leslie Wechsel, MSW, LCSW

  Leslie Wechsel holds a master’s degree in clinical social work and has lived in seven countries throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East while working and raising a family overseas and in the U.S. Leslie has a broad range of experience providing counseling in private practice, schools, and government and non-government agency settings. She specializes in working with adults and adolescents, helping them with mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma and grief, interpersonal conflicts, and adjustment issues. Her approach is client-centered and rooted in research and evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), trauma recovery (EMDR), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Leslie loves being able to combine her experience of living in many different cultures far from home with her dedication to helping others heal and build fulfilling lives that reflect their goals.

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  Maddison White

  Billing Coordinator

  Maddison grew up in a small town in central Ohio and attended Marion Technical College where she studied health information technology and received a certificate in medical billing and coding. During college, Maddison held an internship with OhioHealth, focusing on revenue cycle management and data integrity. From a young age Maddison has been interested in global issues as well as inclusivity. She was part of a global scholars club in high school which helped communities in Sub-Saharan Africa obtain access to clean water. Maddison now resides in the Twin Cities area with her long-term partner and young daughter.

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  Jacqueline Williams, PhD, LP

  Jacqueline Williams is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology. She received her doctoral degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute and her master’s degree from Yale University. Dr Williams trained in psychoanalytic therapy during her internship at the Wright Institute in Los Angeles and provided clinical services to remote regions of Alaska during postdoctoral work within the tribal health system. Prior to getting her PhD in clinical psychology, she practiced as a nurse-midwife, women’s health nurse-practitioner, and emergency psychiatric services clinician. She has worked extensively in healthcare in a variety of clinical settings including hospital inpatient, medical detox, and crisis stabilization units, outpatient oncology, and internationally as a maternal health advisor in Afghanistan. Currently, Dr Williams maintains a private practice focused on Jungian psychotherapy and meaning-making. Born in New Zealand and raised in the United States, she holds dual citizenship and lives and works internationally.

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  Heather Witthoff, MSW, LCSW

  Heather Witthoff holds a master’s degree in social work and is a licensed clinical social worker. For 20 years she has worked in the field of mental health, providing psychotherapy to children, teens, adults, couples and families in outpatient, community, school and private practice settings. For the last 30 years, Heather has been living transatlantically between Chicago and Barcelona where she provides support and counseling to U.S. and international families. She also served as a Military & Family Life Consultant providing support to service members and their families stationed at U.S. bases throughout Europe. She treats a wide range of psychological and emotional challenges including anxiety, depression, transitions, relationship and sexual issues. Heather utilizes an integrative approach that incorporates aspects of insight-oriented, relational, narrative, emotionally-focused (EFT), and solution-focused therapy. Eclectic and flexible in her work, she focuses on meeting the individual needs of each client using the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for change.