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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  Dr. Sean Truman

  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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  Julie Askew, PhD, LMFT

  Dr. Julie Askew is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been working with clients since 1993. Dr. Askew completed her master’s in psychotherapy and psychosexual therapy at King’s College in London, after two years of clinical training working with couples at the Maudsley Hospital in London. She went on to the University of Georgia in the U.S. to complete her Ph.D in marriage and family therapy. Following her doctorate, Dr. Askew joined the faculty at Hofstra University in New York, where she became a tenured professor, teaching, conducting research and supervising clinicians in the master’s program of marriage and family therapy. A certified Gottman Therapist, Dr. Askew specializes in working with couples. She also has experience working with anxiety and problems emanating from emotional trauma. She uses an integrative approach tailored to the client, incorporating a systemic approach and range of clinical modalities including Gottman therapy, solution focused therapy, narrative therapy and emotionally focused individual therapy. Dr. Askew understands the expat experience as she grew up in England, lived in Asia during her late teens, moved to the U.S. in her thirties, and now lives in France where she maintains a private practice.

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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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  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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  Miranda Campbell, PhD, LP

  Dr. Miranda Campbell is a licensed clinical psychologist who holds a Ph.D in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to her graduate work, she earned bachelor’s degrees in both psychology and music from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her areas of clinical expertise are in health and rehabilitation psychology, where she has over 10 years of experience training and practicing in university counseling centers, hospitals, and the Veterans Health Administration. Dr. Campbell’s therapeutic approach is warm, client-focused, collaborative, and rooted in evidence-based practice. Her primary orientation is Cognitive Behavioral, with additional proficiencies in Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the use of mindfulness and relaxation techniques. She specializes in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders, chronic pain, adjustment to medical illness, and helping clients achieve health goals. Dr. Campbell has a particular interest in improving access to mental health services for rural and underserved populations.

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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, LMSW

  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, MSW, LISW

  Alyssa Clayden is a licensed independent social worker who has provided international mental health services for more than two decades in a wide variety of settings. Having lived, worked and raised a family across five continents, Alyssa is passionate about providing high-quality individualized mental health services to expatriates. She believes that every person brings expertise, strengths and skills to their lives and relationships, and she views collaboration and space for humour as key components of any successful mental health work. Alyssa is researching transcultural elements that impact mental health, factors such as intergenerational, personal and collective traumas and events, in pursuit of a PhD.

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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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  Mariah Coe, PhD, LP

  Dr. Mariah Coe is a licensed clinical psychologist who holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Vermont. She has lived and worked in multiple regions of the US and abroad, including Greece, Japan, and the Middle East, and is well-versed in working with expats and culturally diverse families and individuals. She has worked extensively with military families abroad, including while living and working in Bahrain. Dr. Coe works with adults, adolescents, and children. Her clinical style is strengths-based, collaborative, and tailored to the specific needs and experiences of each client, couple, and family. Dr. Coe provides compassionate, evidence-based therapy for individuals of all ages struggling with adjustment to living abroad; anxiety; death, dying, and loss; ambiguous loss; adjustment to single-incident and/or recent traumatic events; adjustment to medical conditions; mild depression; general help with resilience-building and stress management; and adjustment to the challenges of modern life.

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  Ann Michelle Connors, MS, MHC

  Ann Michelle (“Mike”) Connors 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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  Racheal Cowan, MS, CCC-SLP

  Racheal Cowan is a licensed and certified speech language pathologist. She holds a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Racheal has experience working with children and their families in a variety of settings, including homes, daycares, preschools and elementary schools. She has an ability to establish a strong rapport with people of all ages, and is dedicated to providing high quality individualized speech and language therapy services to children and their families, providing parent education and evidence-based therapy practices driven by the needs and interests of the child. Racheal has experience working with a wide range of children, including children with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, cleft lip and/or palate, developmental delays, language delays, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and fluency disorders such as stuttering. Racheal currently resides in Minnesota and maintains a private practice in the Twin Cities area.

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  Brenna Creamer, MA, LPC

  Brenna Creamer is a licensed professional counselor who has lived abroad for more than 20 years. Her love for international life began while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the small island nation of Tonga. She holds a dual master’s degree in school and clinical counseling and a bachelor’s degree in social work. Brenna has worked overseas as a therapist in private practice, as an international school counselor, and as a consultant to several medical facilities in South America, Africa and the Middle East. Brenna is known as a down-to-earth professional who builds rapport quickly, helping clients feel immediately at ease. She is person-centered in her clinical approach, understanding that the way we process life events is as intricate and individualized as we are human. She enjoys working with people from around the globe, of all ages, cultures, nationalities and gender identities.

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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 holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, as well as a doctoral degree in depth psychology. Dr. DeVita has worked extensively in private practice, providing care to individuals struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, overwhelming emotion, as well as relationship challenges that are exacerbated by transitions and cultural adjustment. She integrates an eclectic blend of approaches including somatic body psychotherapy, depth psychology, mindfulness, family systems, internal family systems (IFS), emotionally focused therapy (EFT), creative arts, and mind-body wellness. She is experienced working with expatriates, international teachers, medical and healing professionals, location-independent entrepreneurs, writers, college students, and diverse multicultural clientele. Angela has personal experience as an expat, and has lived and worked in various parts of Western Europe.

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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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  Fran Ellers, LCSW, LMFT

  Fran Ellers changed careers in midlife to obtain a master’s degree in social work 12 years ago; she has clinical licenses in both social work and couples 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 four 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, family systems training, and experience with Gottman Method couple therapy. With individual clients, she often incorporates cognitive behavioral (CBT), narrative, solution-focused, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) 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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  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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  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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  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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  Tania Goudas, MSW, LCSW

  Tania Goudas spent her childhood in Greece and Cleveland, OH, and her adult life in New York City and Switzerland. A graduate of New York University with a Master of Social Work, Tania works with expat clients who face challenges adjusting to life away from home, people with depression and anxiety, individuals who struggle with work-life balance, and anyone who is seeking to enhance their life and work. Tania also has extensive experience in couples’ therapy, including working with couples in multicultural marriages, and is trained as a Level 2 Gottman therapist. For the last decade, prior to joining the Truman Group, Tania has been in private practice in Lausanne, Switzerland. She has used her training and expertise to volunteer in Kenya, Belize and Belgrade.

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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, LGPC

  Tracy Hall is a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service with an intimate understanding of the stresses and challenges faced by the U.S. expat community. His overseas duty stations included postings in Europe, South Asia, and the Caribbean. A licensed graduate professional counselor (LGPC) in Maryland and Washington, D.C., Tracy holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from The George Washington University. He also holds an MPA and undergraduate degrees in economics and German from UNC-Chapel Hill. Tracy’s counseling approach is person-centered, existential, and strengths-based. He incorporates aspects of numerous modalities including solution-focused, narrative, and acceptance and commitment (ACT) therapy. While open to working with clients on any issue of concern to them, Tracy specializes in anxiety, major life transitions, relationship challenges, grief and loss, depression, and career counseling/coaching.

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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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  Michael Hirschel, PhD, LP

  Michael J. Hirschel is a licensed psychologist. He has a strong interest in multiculturalism, which inspired him to complete an internship at the Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology (CMTP) in Boston and later brought him to the Truman Group. Dr. Hirschel has worked in a variety of settings such as university counseling centers, inpatient hospitals, and employee assistance programs. He has been trained in both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) approaches, working collaboratively with clients to tackle the goals which they bring to therapy.

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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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  Alyssa Kurth, MSW, LCSW

  Alyssa Kurth is a licensed clinical social worker and received her master’s degree in social work from San Diego State University. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, trauma, and LGBTQIA populations. Alyssa has provided psychotherapy to adults in a variety of mental health settings including private practice, university counseling centers, substance abuse treatment centers, and domestic violence shelters. Her therapeutic style is warm, direct, and collaborative. She has lived and worked internationally.

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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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  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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  Mini Mathai, PsyD

  Mini Mathai has lived and studied in both India and the US. Currently a postdoctoral fellow, Mini received her PsyD in clinical psychology from Divine Mercy University in Northern Virginia and completed her internship at Rochester Institute of Technology. Mini’s work comprises psychological assessment and psychotherapy, and she has experience working in multiple settings, including private practice, community mental health and homeless shelters. Mini works with people experiencing a range of difficulties, including grief and loss, life adjustment, depression, and anxiety. Her approach is warm, client-centered and collaborative. She uses evidence-based practices and while her primary orientation is cognitive-behavioral therapy she also incorporates a substantial relational component.

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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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  Meg McNulty, MA, LMHC

  Meg McNulty holds an advanced master’s degree from the University of Colorado in counseling psychology. In addition to providing psychotherapy to children, teens, families, and couples for over 20 years, Meg has worked as a school counselor and has served as clinical supervisor and executive director to several community mental health agencies. She also sat on the State of Maryland’s Mental Health Disaster Corps and Colorado’s Critical Incident Team. As a natural collaborator, Meg uses attachment, trauma, and social justice lenses in her work to better understand her client’s lives. Coming from a humanistic stance, Meg works within the family systems and dialectical behavioral frameworks. Along with her partner, Meg has raised her sons in East Africa and currently resides in the Pacific Northwest.

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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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  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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  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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  Mariana Naldi, PhD, LP

  Mariana Naldi holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed health service provider in psychology with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. She has provided psychotherapy and psychological assessment services to ages 14 and up in a variety of settings across the U.S. and Western Europe, including community mental health clinics, private practice, residential substance treatment centers, primary care clinics, and medical hospitals. She has been licensed to practice independently since 2014 and has worked with individuals, couples, and families managing various forms of anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, adjustment and stress, bereavement, anger, substance dependence, comorbid medical and mental health difficulties, intellectual disabilities, and serious mental illness. Her background in health psychology guides her understanding of each person as a whole and complex being. She believes everyone is deserving and capable of emotional growth, psychological insight, and wellness.

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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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  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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  Lisa Pittman, PhD, LP

  Dr. Lisa Pittman is a licensed psychologist who has lived and worked in the United States and Southeast Asia. She has practiced for over 18 years in multiple settings, including community mental health and college counseling centers, schools and in private practice. Dr. Pittman’s areas of interest and expertise include working with adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds on a wide array of issues, including anxiety, depression, adjustment/transition, self-esteem/self-confidence, grief/loss, identity, and the mental health of athletes. Dr. Pittman uses cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on using strengths, as well as humor, to alleviate areas of distress or frustration, incorporate approaches to promote and maintain growth, and ensure that the individual has a support system in place to reinforce and continue the process outside of therapy. She sees the client as the expert on themselves, and views therapy as a collaborative experience, with the goal of helping individuals become their best selves.

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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 Liberia. She has worked extensively in the LGBTQIA community and has specialized training in psychotherapy, breathing & mindfulness techniques, brief solution-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral techniques. Her counseling experience has focused primarily on individuals dealing with anxiety, transitions, adjustment, depression, relationship & intimacy concerns, as well as gender, and sexuality. Sarah has completed 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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  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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  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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  Nicole Seals

  Billing Coordinator

  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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  Angelina Slattery

  Practice Coordinator

  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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  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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  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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  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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  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.

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  Chloe 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 black cats, music, and spending time with friends and family.

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  Samantha Wright, MA, LPC

  Samantha Wright is a licensed professional counselor in Southern California. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Dartmouth College, and her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of San Diego. Samantha specializes in treating trauma and in working with adolescents and adults with eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, as well as treating body image issues, anxiety, depression, and self-injury. Samantha has training and experience in CBT, exposure and response prevention, motivational interviewing, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). She has experience working with a variety of populations in different settings including outpatient mental health programs, residential settings, private practice, primary care settings, and community mental health clinics. She has lived in Switzerland, has studied abroad in France and Spain, and is familiar with the boarding school experience. Samantha believes that every client needs an individualized treatment approach. Her practice incorporates culturally-sensitive elements of psychodynamic work to help clients explore their past and present circumstances and traumas in order to promote increased self-awareness, relief from stress and anxiety, better relationships, greater life satisfaction, and improved overall health.