Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to be an expat and an online psychologist working abroad? Then, you need to check out this interview with our LIT Community member, Gabriela Encina!
You’ll hear why Gabriela values location independence, how she got started on this path, and her tips for new and aspiring online therapists.
And if you want to hear more, check out the full series of interviews on our LIT YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there!
What It’s Like to be an Expat and an Online Psychologist
Gabriela qualified as a psychologist in 2002 but then spent 10 years working in Human Resources. It was after a move across continents to Vienna, Austria, that Gabriela reconnected with her passion and followed her dream to be a therapist.
Watch the short interview below to hear more about Gabriela’s experiences as an expat and an online psychologist.
Introducing Gabriela Encina, an Expat and Online Psychologist, Coach and Counsellor
Gabriela is a location independent licensed psychologist from Chile and an Austrian citizen who was based in Spain at the time of this interview. She works as an online psychologist and a mentor for international women and is also a founding member of the LIT Community!
Since the time of this interview, Gabriela has also been working on a community for expat women around the world. It’s been so exciting to follow Gabriela on her journey as her business grows and develops over time. You can find out more about Gabriela’s community, the Badass Expats Society, on her website.
Who does Gabriela work with as an online pyschologist and counsellor?
Gabriela provides counseling and mentorship to international women – expats, digital nomads, and global citizens. She has helped more than 300 people living abroad to cope with the challenges that international life can bring or exacerbate.
Being an expat herself, she can understand what their clients are going through and supports them with the guidance and tools they need to feel confident, build meaningful relationships and prioritize their well-being.
Gabriela knows this journey well and uses both her experience and her training as a psychologist to help women live happy and fulfilling international lives. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and aspects of Gestalt and Humanistic Therapy, as well as tools from Coaching and Mentorship. Gabriela supports expat women in Spanish, English and German.
You can find out more about Gabriela’s work and contact her here.
Why is location independence important for Gabriela?
For Gabriela, it’s important to have the freedom to travel and be able to move between at least three different places where she has ties – Chile, Austria, and Spain.
And as Gabriela works with expats and digital nomads, working online also allows her to continue working with her clients no matter where they are in the world. It gives both Gabriela and her clients the flexibility to move anywhere and work across borders and time zones while maintaining the continuity of working together.

How has the LIT Community helped Gabriela as an expat and online psychologist?
Gabriela shared how joining the LIT Community has been one of the best decisions she’s ever made for her business. It has helped her in so many ways! For example, she’s learned a lot about business and how to market herself and find her authentic voice.
But Gabriela also values the compassion and humanity she’s found within the LIT Community. She knows that she can turn to the community with anything – business or personal – and find support and understanding. And for her, that’s been priceless!
Gabriela also loves the options for getting involved in the community, coming up with new ideas and hosting her events. As a regular host of the LIT Movie Club and Case Supervision sessions in Spanish, we appreciate Gabriela and how involved she is in the community.
Connect with Gabriela online:
If you’d like to get in touch with Gabriela or follow her online, you can contact her here:
- On her website
- On Instagram
Are you looking for more support on your journey as an online therapist?
If you watched the interview, you saw Gabriela say how supportive and helpful she found the LIT Community. This is our dedicated community for location independent therapists around the world where we offer support, accountability, inspiration, and connection.
If you’re looking for more support as you start or grow your location independent practice, the LIT Community could be perfect for you. We help you, whether you’re just getting started as a remote psychologist or ready to start scaling your business. And we support you in navigating the challenges of location independent life and in the therapy side of your business, too!
Find out more here and sign up for our waitlist to hear all the latest. You’ll be the first to know when we’ll next open the doors!
