Gaia Porcelli
Psychologin & Klinische Psychologin
Bilingual psychologist (English/Italian) helping expats navigate loneliness, isolation, and language barriers by uncovering their inherent strengths and building skills for lasting resilience and growth.
Ich spezialisiere mich auf:
Über mich
As a clinical psychologist with extensive international experience, I specialize in guiding expats through the unique challenges of life abroad. Fluent in both English and Italian, my therapeutic approach centers on helping clients uncover their inherent strengths and develop new skills to navigate distress and build resilience. My own journey began in Italy, where I trained as a psychologist, but a lifelong passion for travel has led me to live most of my adult life abroad.
This personal and professional path has given me a deep, lived understanding of the issues so many people face after leaving their home country: loneliness, isolation, language barriers, and challenges to self-esteem and identity. Having experienced these transitions firsthand, I bring both clinical expertise and genuine empathy to my work with clients navigating similar terrain.
My goal is not simply to help clients manage these challenges, but to support them in recognizing and drawing on the personal strengths they already carry — strengths that are often obscured by the very difficulties of adapting to a new culture. Together, we work toward building a life abroad that feels not just survivable, but genuinely fulfilling.
Ich spreche:
Standort:
Ansatz
My therapeutic approach has evolved over time, growing from its psychodynamic roots into a more integrative and flexible way of working. Today, I draw from a range of perspectives — including constructivist theories, positive psychology, gender studies, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — to meet each person where they are. Rather than following a single method, I focus on what feels most helpful and meaningful for each individual's journey.
At the heart of my work is a deep belief that everyone deserves a life that feels fulfilling, connected, and true to who they are — beyond labels or diagnoses. I'm here to support people in rediscovering their sense of worth, embracing their uniqueness, and moving toward the kind of life they want to build.
While understanding where pain comes from matters, I also pay close attention to the strategies and strengths people already use to cope and carry on. These often-overlooked resources can become powerful tools for change, helping to foster resilience and confidence along the way.
Every person is different — which is why I tailor my approach to each client's specific needs, challenges, and aspirations, ensuring that our work together resonates and supports meaningful, lasting growth.
Erfahrung
Professional Experience
- Clinical Psychologist and EAP Consultant
It's Complicated, 2019 - present;
Rise Above Your Disorder, 2021- present;
Modern Health, 2022 - present;
Spring Health, 2026 - present;
Lyra, 2026 - present; - Integration Specialist (Nelson Mandela School, Berlin, 2022-2023)
- Co-Curricula Program Educator (Berlin Metropolitan School, 2020–2022
- Forensic Psychologist (Studio Legale Associato Forza, Venice, Italy, 2018)
- Clinical Psychologist (Penitentiary Center, ICAM, Venice, Italy, 2018; Ferrara Hospital and Drug-Addiction Day Center, 2017-2018).
Traineeships
- Gender Studies Center (Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria, 2017)
- Studio Scientifico Gilli e Blascovich (Venice, Italy, 2016-2017)
- Associazione Italiana Persone Down (Venice, Italy, 2013-2014)
- Fundación Catalana Personas con Parálisis Cerebral (Barcelona, Spain, 2012)
Ausbildung
Education
- BSc in Clinical and Social Psychology - University of Padova, 2015
- Erasmus Exchange: Social Psychology - Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 2015
- MSc in Clinical Psychology - University of Padova, Italy, 2017
- Erasmus Exchange: Gender Studies Department - Alpen-Adria-Universität, Austria, 2017
- Post MSc in Neuropsychology and Forensic Psychopathology - University of Padova, Italy, 2018
Additional Training and Certifications
- COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression - University of Reading, Aug 2022
- A Global History of Sex and Gender: Bodies and Power in the Modern World - University of Glasgow, Dec 2021
- Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) - Coventry University, Dec 2021
- Understanding ADHD: Current Research and Practice - King's College, Dec 2021
- Anxiety in Children and Young People during COVID-19 - University of East Anglia, Nov 2021
Leistungen
Einzelsitzung
Einzelsitzung
Online session
Couple therapy
Versicherungen
