I was interviewed by Mo from Very Private Gallery today on her podcast and I’d like to share some resources and points that we talked about in case anyone wanted to follow up. As a Chinese artist and curator living in Spain, Mo brings a unique perspective to the international art scene, having experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities of being an artist abroad. We explored the unique mental health challenges that artists face when living abroad. Artists carry all the usual stressors of expat life – isolation, language barriers, having to restart communities, culture shock – but with added layers of financial limitations and the particular traits that often come with creativity.

Research consistently shows that creative personalities tend to score higher on measures of openness to experience, emotional intensity, and neuroticism (Feist, 1998). While these traits fuel brilliant artistic work, they can also increase vulnerability to anxiety and depression during significant life transitions like international relocation.

The Geographic Cure: Why Moving Won’t Fix Everything

During our conversation, Mo perfectly captured something I see constantly amongst many internationals – what she calls the “geographic cure.” It’s this belief that moving to Barcelona, New York, Madrid, Berlin, or wherever will unlock something that couldn’t happen back home. Artists think they’ll escape their small town where “nobody recognised me” and suddenly everything will be different.

However, here’s what I’ve learned over more than a decade of working with immigrants and expatriates in Barcelona: wherever you go, there you are.

The internal challenges follow you. Chronic self-doubt, creative inhibition, perfectionism, imposter syndrome – they all travel remarkably well. Migration doesn’t quiet that internal critic. It often amplifies those voices because you’re constantly dealing with uncertainty, novelty, and the energy drain of adapting to everything being different.

Research on expatriate adjustment reveals the famous “cultural adjustment curve” – an initial honeymoon period followed by culture shock, gradual adjustment, and eventual adaptation (Oberg, 1960). For artists, this process is complicated by the need to rebuild not just social networks, but entire creative ecosystems.

As I told Mo, it’s a bit like when writers think they need a particular desk or pen to create. The advice is always the same: just write, even with chalk or a stick. And it’s the same with being human – we need to do the internal work wherever we are. The city becomes context, not cure.

Understanding Cultural Adaptation Through the Iceberg Model

What many artists don’t anticipate is how deep cultural differences run. The cultural iceberg model shows us that visible elements – food, language, customs – represent only 10% of culture. The remaining 90% lies beneath the surface: values, assumptions, thought patterns, and beliefs about everything from time and relationships to success and creativity itself.

This hidden layer is where the real friction happens. It’s why an efficient, time-conscious artist from Germany might feel frustrated in Spain’s more relationship-focused culture, or why a hierarchical approach to gallery relationships might clash with more egalitarian artistic communities.

The Psychological Scaffolding You Need

One thing Mo and I discussed at length was this idea of psychological preparation. Too many artists leap without considering whether they have the emotional scaffolding to hold themselves through uncertainty. I think of it as essential infrastructure for your mental health.

Emotional regulation skills: Can you tolerate discomfort? Can you delay gratification? Can you soothe your anxiety without avoidance, overworking, or substance abuse? Research from dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) shows these skills are learnable and essential for managing the chronic stress of cultural adaptation (Linehan, 2014).

Resilience mindset: Do you see setbacks as failure or as feedback? Studies on growth mindset demonstrate that viewing challenges as opportunities for development rather than threats significantly improves adaptation outcomes (Dweck, 2006).

Realistic optimism: Can you hold hope without fantasy? Your expectations need to be grounded, not just romantic.

Sense of purpose: What gives your practice meaning beyond external validation? Research shows that intrinsic motivation is crucial for sustaining creative work through difficult periods (Amabile, 1996).

Community: Even one safe, honest relationship can buffer against isolation. Social support is one of the strongest predictors of successful expatriate adjustment (Ward et al., 2001).

Identity beyond output: Can you still value yourself during dry spells, rejection periods, or creative blocks? Because they will come.

How Therapy Specifically Helps Artists Living Abroad

This is where specialised therapy becomes invaluable. At Therapy in Barcelona, our international team of psychology-trained therapists understand both the creative temperament and the expatriate experience because we’ve lived it ourselves.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps artists identify and challenge the thought patterns that increase suffering – like “I should be thriving here by now” or “Real artists don’t struggle with homesickness.” Research shows CBT is particularly effective for anxiety and depression in expatriate populations (Sandhu & Asrabadi, 1994).

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches artists to work alongside difficult emotions rather than fighting them. Instead of trying to eliminate the discomfort of not belonging, ACT helps you carry that discomfort while still pursuing your creative values. Studies demonstrate ACT’s effectiveness for creative anxiety and perfectionism (Zettle, 2007).

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is particularly powerful for artists because it acknowledges the different “parts” of ourselves – the inner critic, the vulnerable artist, the part that wants to belong. IFS helps integrate these aspects rather than being dominated by any one voice.

Mindfulness-based approaches help manage the constant stimulation and uncertainty of expatriate life. Research shows mindfulness reduces cortisol levels and improves emotional regulation – crucial for maintaining creative flow in challenging circumstances (Davidson et al., 2003).

Our therapists also specialise in somatic and creative arts therapies, using artistic expression itself as a therapeutic tool. This can be particularly meaningful for artists who struggle with traditional talk therapy approaches.

Living in the Transformative Gaps

Mo shared her experience as a visible minority in Spain, and how people automatically assume she either runs a shop or a restaurant because that’s the pattern for Chinese immigrants in this region. Initially frustrating, she’s learned to play with these assumptions, even turning them into conversation opportunities.

This resonates with something I find profound about immigrant life – we live in what philosopher Judith Butler calls “transformative gaps.” We’re beyond the rules and prescriptions in a way. We get to choose how we express ourselves in these in-between spaces.

I see many artists who actually thrive in this outsider position. You get to be the funny foreigner. People don’t have the same expectations because you look different or sound different. It’s freeing in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.

Think of artists like Ai Weiwei, whom Mo mentioned – truly international, able to communicate across cultures precisely because of his experience living between worlds. Artists don’t always conform to their host cultures. They transform them.

The Spain Effect: Learning to Slow Down

Something beautiful emerged in our conversation about cultural adaptation. Mo talked about how Spain taught her to slow down, coming from the hyper-efficiency of Beijing where “everybody was running” and trains couldn’t be more than 30 seconds late.

I’ve experienced this too, coming from Australia where everything opens at 7:30 AM and there’s this relentless focus on productivity. But Spanish culture has this village rhythm, even in a metropolis like Barcelona. People walk differently. Ten o’clock in the morning, you’re the early bird. There’s this respect for spaciousness, for not having to feel productive all the time.

The tolerance for mistakes here is remarkably high. As Mo put it: “If you make a mistake, it’s understandable. If you don’t, what a surprise.” Coming from cultures where the smallest error might be harshly punished, this can be revolutionary for your relationship with perfectionism.

But this cultural difference creates constant friction. I still struggle when I’m rushing somewhere and there’s a group of people socialising on the pavement, children running freely. My cultural programming screams about efficiency and order. But I’ve learned to reframe it: this is why I moved here. The pavement isn’t a place for productivity – it’s where people enjoy each other’s company.

Practical Tools for Managing the Challenges

When Mo asked about practical strategies for introverted artists who need to network but find it exhausting, I shared some evidence-based techniques we use in therapy:

Start small: If your comfort zone is only this far, step just that far. Visit the small gallery on the quiet street before attempting the major institutions.

Box breathing: Navy SEALs use this technique, and research shows it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing anxiety and improving focus (Gerritsen & Band, 2018). Breathe in for four counts, hold for four, breathe out slowly for six to eight.

Dropping anchor: This ACT technique helps you step back from overwhelming thoughts. Remember, you are not your thoughts. When that internal critic starts screeching “you’re a fake, nobody likes your work,” you can even give it a name – “Oh, that’s Bob again” – or set it to music. These cognitive defusion techniques have strong research support for reducing the impact of negative self-talk (Hayes et al., 2006).

Mindful self-compassion: Developed by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, this approach has extensive research backing for reducing anxiety, depression, and perfectionism – all common challenges for artists (Neff & Germer, 2013). When rejection hits (and it will – the art world is brutal with statistics), try this three-step process:

1. Notice the suffering: “This feels really hard” (no story, just the feeling)
2. Common humanity: “I’m not the only artist getting rejected today. This happens to everyone in this field”
3. Self-kindness: “You put yourself out there. I’m proud of you for trying”

Resources for Artists Who Can’t Access Therapy

Financial constraints are real for many international artists. When therapy isn’t accessible, mental health support is still possible:

Structure and routine: Simple daily rhythms bring nervous system stability when everything else feels chaotic.

Grounding techniques: The 5-4-3-2-1 technique (five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, one you can taste), box breathing, journaling.

Creative practice as regulation: Research shows that creative activity reduces cortisol levels and improves mood, even when done alone without formal training (Kaimal et al., 2016).

Online resources:

• The Creative Independent (thecreativeindependent.com)
• ArtsMinds (UK resource for performers and creatives)
• Music Minds Matter
• Insight Timer (free meditations including for creative anxiety)

Books that can help:

• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland
• Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Handling Rejection: The Reality of Art World Statistics

Mo pointed out something crucial – the brutal mathematics of the art world. Maybe one in ten galleries will even look at your portfolio. One in a hundred artists might get representation. These aren’t personal failures; they’re structural realities.

Rejection hurts because we have a primal reaction to it. Neuroscience research shows that social rejection activates the same pain pathways as physical injury (Eisenberger & Lieberman, 2004). When we were cave people, rejection from the herd meant death – we couldn’t survive alone. That reptilian brain is still operating, still interpreting a gallery’s “no” as a threat to survival.

Here’s what helps: recognise that rejection responds to the same pain pathways as physical injury. It genuinely hurts. But we can also develop what Mary Oliver called finding “gifts in dark boxes” – what riches can we take from these challenges?

The growth mindset asks: what does this rejection teach me? The self-compassion approach acknowledges: this is a moment of suffering, I’m not alone in this, and I can be kind to myself through it.

When You’re Ready to Make the Move

Mo’s final question was perfect: when do you know you’re psychologically ready to move abroad?

Here’s the thing they need to know: it won’t be the dream and honeymoon forever. As someone once said, “all great art gets quiet in the end” – and so does living abroad. It becomes real life, with all the messiness that entails.

Whatever you’re trying to run away from will be there, possibly amplified. Don’t be disappointed by this – work with it. Develop your capacity to adapt, to be flexible, but overarchingly, give yourself grace. Life is messy. We are all messy.

Look at Yayoi Kusama – she turned her hallucinations, her polka dot visions, into internationally celebrated art. She transformed what could be seen as pathology into something beautiful. That’s possible for all of us, but it requires preparation.

Why Choose Therapy in Barcelona for Artist Mental Health Support

At Therapy in Barcelona, we uniquely understand the intersection of creativity and cultural adaptation. Our team of 13 international therapists from Sweden, Mexico, Colombia, South Africa, USA, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Ireland and Austria brings both professional expertise and lived experience of the expatriate artist journey.

We offer integrative approaches tailored to creative minds, including CBT, ACT, IFS, mindfulness-based therapies, and creative arts approaches. Most importantly, we understand that therapy for artists isn’t just about managing symptoms – it’s about nurturing the creative spirit while building resilience for the unique challenges of international artistic life.

Ready to take the next step in your creative and emotional journey? Book a free discovery call with our intake team to find the right therapeutic match for your needs.

FAQ: Therapy for Artists Living Abroad

How can therapy specifically help artists?

Therapy helps artists develop emotional regulation skills, manage creative blocks, process rejection and criticism constructively, build resilience for the unpredictable nature of artistic careers, and maintain creative identity during life transitions. Our therapists understand the unique challenges of creative temperaments and the expatriate experience.

What types of therapy work best for artists?

Research shows several approaches are particularly effective: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for managing anxiety and perfectionism, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for working with difficult emotions while pursuing creative values, Internal Family Systems (IFS) for integrating different aspects of artistic identity, and creative arts therapies that use artistic expression as a therapeutic tool.

How much does therapy cost at Therapy in Barcelona?

Our therapy sessions are competitively priced for the Barcelona market. We offer both in-person sessions at our Barcelona office and online therapy for internationals worldwide. Contact our intake team to discuss current pricing and payment options, including the possibility of working with a therapist on a sliding scale or look at our fees on our fees page. We believe mental health support should be accessible to the creative community.

What languages do your therapists speak?

Our international team speaks French, Swedish, German, Austrian-German, Swiss German, Portuguese, Afrikaans, Spanish, Catalan, and English. All our therapists are fluent in English, ensuring comfortable communication for international artists.

Do you offer online therapy for artists living outside Barcelona?

Yes, we provide online therapy for expatriates worldwide (except those based in USA and Canada due to licensing requirements). This allows us to support artists wherever their creative journey takes them.

How do I know if therapy is right for me as an artist?

Consider therapy if you’re experiencing creative blocks, struggling with rejection or criticism, feeling isolated in a new country, dealing with anxiety or depression that affects your work, or wanting to develop better emotional regulation skills for your artistic career. Many successful artists use therapy as a tool for both personal growth and creative development.

What’s the difference between regular therapy and therapy for artists?

Therapy for artists acknowledges the unique aspects of creative temperament, the irregular nature of artistic careers, the role of vulnerability in creativity, and the specific challenges of building a sustainable artistic life. Our therapists understand that sensitivity and emotional intensity aren’t problems to fix – they’re resources to nurture while building resilience.

How long does therapy typically take?

The duration varies depending on individual needs and goals. Some artists benefit from short-term focused work around specific challenges (like adjusting to a new country), while others prefer ongoing support as they navigate their creative careers. We work collaboratively to determine the approach that best serves your creative and personal development.

Can I switch therapists if the first match isn’t right?

Absolutely. The therapeutic relationship is crucial for effective therapy. Our intake process carefully matches you with a therapist, but if it’s not the right fit, we’ll help you find someone else on our team who better suits your needs and communication style.

Do you have experience with different types of artists?

Yes, our team can work with visual artists, musicians, writers, performers, filmmakers, and artists across all creative disciplines. We understand that each artistic field has its unique challenges and opportunities, and we tailor our approach accordingly.

For more information about our services or to schedule a complimentary discovery call, please visit therapyinbarcelona.com or contact our intake team directly.

About Mo and Very Private Gallery

Mo is the founder of Very Private Gallery, an independent art space and artist residency programme based in Madrid. As a Chinese artist and curator living in Spain, Mo brings a unique perspective to the international art scene, having experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities of being an artist abroad.

Very Private Gallery focuses on supporting emerging and mid-career international artists, providing them with residency opportunities, exhibition space, and a platform to develop their practice away from commercial pressures. The gallery champions artists who are navigating cultural transitions and exploring themes of identity, belonging, and cross-cultural dialogue.

Mo’s podcast explores the intersection of art, mental health, and international living, featuring conversations with artists, curators, and mental health professionals about the realities of creative life abroad. Her thoughtful approach to these topics stems from her journey as an artist who has lived in China, Australia, Germany, and now Spain.

Connect with Mo and Very Private Gallery:

• Instagram: @veryprivategallery
• YouTube: @veryprivategallery