Expert Hub – Meet Gabriela Encina, your Expat Expert
The Global Expert Hub is here! Elevate your professional and personal journey with inspiring women from our community, bringing you expert insights in our three key areas: Business, Career, and Wellbeing.
Meet Gabriela Encina, your expat mental health expert, who’ll share with us who she is, what she does and how she can help you.
Introduction
I’m Gabriela Encina, a licensed psychologist, EMCC-certified coach, and unapologetic champion of expat mental health. For over two decades, I’ve been helping expats—especially women—navigate the messy, beautiful, and sometimes downright overwhelming reality of living abroad. Whether it’s building confidence, managing stress, or strengthening relationships, my work revolves around helping my clients feel grounded and capable, no matter where they’ve planted their roots.
This path chose me as much as I chose it. My own expat story started when I moved from Chile to Europe. On paper, it seemed exciting and adventurous, but the reality? It was lonely, confusing, and full of challenges I didn’t see coming. I craved support and resources that simply weren’t there. That’s when I decided to not just survive my own journey but to carve a career out of helping others not feel as lost as I once did. Every struggle I faced as an expat is now a stepping stone in how I guide my clients.
Expertise & Value
What sets me apart is more than my professional qualifications—it’s my ability to truly understand what expats go through because I’ve been in their shoes. My approach combines evidence-based techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with insights from two decades of helping people untangle the knot of emotions that comes with living abroad.
I don’t just “tell” people what to do; I equip them with practical tools and strategies that work in the real world—tools they can start using from day one. My clients often say that I bring clarity when they feel overwhelmed, that I help them see a way forward when they’re stuck in a loop of guilt, doubt, or frustration.
I specialize in areas like:
- Emotional resilience: Teaching people how to navigate the highs and lows of expat life without losing themselves in the process.
- Relationships in transition: Helping expat couples reconnect when distance, cultural differences, or stress seem to be pulling them apart.
- Confidence-building: Guiding women to rediscover their strengths, even when everything around them feels uncertain.
Community Support
I know firsthand how isolating expat life can feel, but I also know the power of finding the right kind of support. For the women in this community, my goal is to be a resource that makes life abroad feel less like a struggle and more like an opportunity to grow, connect, and prosper. Here’s how:
- Conquering loneliness: Loneliness doesn’t have to be your default setting as an expat. I encourage women to rethink connection—not as something huge and intimidating but as something you can create one small step at a time. For example, starting with just one meaningful conversation at a local meetup or virtual group can be the beginning of a transformative network.
- Handling guilt and pressure: Expat women often carry a heavy mental load—trying to juggle careers, families, and cultural expectations. I share tools to help them prioritize, set boundaries, and let go of the constant pressure to “do it all.” Because newsflash: You’re already doing more than enough.
- Cultural adaptation without losing yourself: Adjusting to a new culture doesn’t mean erasing who you are. I offer tips on finding a balance between embracing the new while staying anchored in what makes you you. It’s not about blending in—it’s about standing strong while feeling part of your new environment.
When you feel less alone and more equipped, life abroad doesn’t just become manageable—it can actually be enjoyable.
Connection & Collaboration
I’m not just here to talk—I’m here to build something meaningful. My focus is on creating impactful collaborations that benefit women in this community and beyond.
- Counseling for individuals and couples: Whether it’s one-on-one sessions to address stress, anxiety, and identity struggles, or couples counseling to strengthen communication and connection despite cultural or geographical barriers, my counseling services are a lifeline for expats who need a safe space to sort through the messiness of life abroad. Relationships, especially in the expat world, can be tricky to navigate, but with the right tools and support, they can also be some of the strongest.
- Workshops and talks: I also love leading workshops that tackle the specific challenges of expat life. These aren’t your standard, run-of-the-mill talks. They’re interactive, engaging, and designed to leave participants feeling more empowered and less overwhelmed. Topics range from stress management to redefining your identity abroad, and they’re all about delivering value that sticks.
- Collaborations with companies and communities: For organizations, I bring a unique perspective on how to support expat employees in a way that benefits not just the individuals but the company as a whole. When expats feel supported, retention goes up, productivity improves, and everyone wins. I’ve worked with HR teams to design wellness programs, lead diversity workshops, and provide crisis support.
My dream collaboration? Partnering with other changemakers—whether that’s other experts, organizations, or expat communities—to create resources, programs, or initiatives that make a real difference. Because expat women deserve more than just survival tips—they deserve tools, support, and networks that help them thrive.
Find out more about Gabriela
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GabrielaEncinaPsychologist
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/psgabrielaencina/
- Website: www.gabriela-encina.com
