Laura Nickel is a location independent psychotherapist and psychologist hailing from Germany, now based in Portugal. She’s been running her own online practice for around three years, and like many of our LIT members, her path to location independence has involved a lot of trial and error to find the rhythm that works best for her.
We loved speaking with Laura about her journey, the clients she supports, and how she’s found connection and growth through the LIT Community.
You can watch the full interview below, or scroll down to read the key takeaways.
Laura’s Journey to Becoming a Location Independent Psychotherapist
When Laura first set out to create a location independent therapy practice, she joined Sonia’s online bootcamp for German colleagues and found a group of peers pursuing the same goal. They offered each other accountability and encouragement throughout the process of setting up their businesses.
But when that group dissolved, Laura realised how important that connection had been and how much she’d miss that mutual support. This led her to join the LIT Community in 2023 to continue receiving support and inspiration from like-minded colleagues.
The Power of Community
Trying to figure out how to be a location independent therapist can be tricky if you’re doing it all alone, which is why we always recommend having a support system around you – and even better if it includes colleagues who are on a similar journey and understand its unique challenges.
Here are some ways the LIT Community has helped Laura, both in building her business and supporting her client work:
- Case supervisions: A favourite of Laura’s, as she appreciates the diverse perspectives and clinical insights. These sessions have broadened her understanding and introduced her to new tools and approaches.
- Hot seat calls: Laura loves these sessions where you can bring whatever challenge or problem you have in your business, or a new idea you need feedback on. Then, you get support, advice and new ideas from your fellow members.
- A referral network: Through community events, Laura has discovered the specialities of fellow members, which has helped her to feel confident referring clients out and knowing they will get the help they need.
So what does Laura wish every aspiring location independent therapist knew when they were getting started? Don’t do it all alone!
Investing in the right support early on can save you a lot of time, energy, and stress. Whether that’s learning from someone who’s done it before or connecting with others on the same path, it helps to not feel alone.
Finding a Home Base as a Location Independent Psychotherapist
In her early days as a location independent psychotherapist, Laura travelled more frequently, spending winters travelling through places like Morocco and Fuerteventura.
But while Laura had some amazing experiences, she also discovered how draining it can be to travel full-time while also building a business. As a result, she decided to slow down her travel. This is just one example of the flexibility of being location independent – you can choose the lifestyle that works best for you.
For Laura, the decision to settle in Portugal was led by lifestyle: she wanted to live near the ocean and surf regularly. Portugal’s proximity to Germany, workable time zone, and natural beauty initially put it on her radar. But it was the excellent surf spots and the laid-back culture that made it the perfect fit for her home base.
And so these days, Laura’s mostly based in Portugal, with frequent visits back to Germany and the occasional adventure elsewhere.
Who Does Laura Work With?
As a location independent psychotherapist and psychologist, Laura supports clients across three key areas:
- ADHD: Helping clients explore whether they meet the criteria, understand how their brain works, and develop strategies to manage their symptoms.
- Illness Anxiety and Somatic Symptom Disorder: Supporting clients who experience anxiety related to physical symptoms and helping them improve their quality of life.
- Stress Management and Depression: Working with people experiencing burnout, low motivation, sadness, or insomnia, helping them identify causes and take steps toward feeling better.
She works 1:1 with clients of all genders and ages, mostly in German or English.
Looking ahead, Laura is exploring the idea of offering ADHD support groups online, recognising how powerful it can be for clients to learn from others with similar challenges.
Laura’s Words of Encouragement for Other Therapists
Have you been considering starting a location independent practice, or maybe you’re in the early days of transitioning to working online? Laura encourages others to have the courage to try it out:
“Let yourself experiment and explore your options, knowing that you don’t have to commit to it forever. You can adjust, make changes, or return to a more traditional way of working if it doesn’t turn out to be right for you. But you’ll never know unless you actually try.”
She also emphasises the importance of realistic expectations. While freelancing brings a lot of freedom, it can also come with challenges. Being a location independent psychotherapist means navigating time zones, legal frameworks, and cultural nuances. Having others around you who understand these realities can make a big difference.
Want to Connect with Laura Nickel?
You can learn more about Laura and her work here:
- On her website: https://laura-nickel.com/en/
- Via email: beratung@laura-nickel.com
Looking for more support?
Laura’s story is a great reminder that location independence is not about doing it all alone. It is about finding your rhythm, getting the right support, and taking steady steps toward a business that fits your life.
If this sounds like the kind of support you need, we would love to welcome you to the LIT Community. Try it for yourself and explore hot seat coaching, case supervision, business meetups, and a friendly network of colleagues who get it.
