Therapy in Barcelona: Mental Health Support for the International Community

April 26, 2025 | 

If you’re living abroad and looking for a therapist near you who understands your language and life experiences, Therapy in Barcelona is a trusted resource. Founded by Australian registered psychologist Leigh Matthews in 2011, Therapy in Barcelona specialises in providing mental health support tailored to the needs of the English-speaking and international community — both online and in-person.

We spoke to Leigh Matthews to explore Therapy in Barcelona’s mission, their approach to therapy, and why working with a culturally sensitive therapist can make all the difference.

Leigh, what inspired you to create Therapy in Barcelona?

When I moved to Barcelona, I realised internationals were struggling to find therapists who spoke English fluently and understood the cultural identity shifts that come with living abroad. Therapy in Barcelona started with the goal of filling that gap: offering quality therapy to people living between worlds.

Our approach is grounded in the idea that therapy must be both linguistically and culturally accessible. You’re not just finding a therapist — you’re finding someone who gets the layered reality of international life.

What kinds of therapy services does Therapy in Barcelona offer?

We offer individual therapy for adults, therapy for teenagers and children, couples therapy, family support, and online therapy options.

Our therapists are trained in a wide range of approaches, including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the Gottman Method, Interpersonal Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and existential and humanistic therapy models.

We match the therapeutic style to the person — not the other way around. Our goal is to create a space where every client feels genuinely seen, heard, and supported.

Can you tell us about the Therapy in Barcelona team? What languages do you offer therapy in?

Our therapists are highly trained, with master’s degrees or doctorates, and we have a strong focus on ethical, responsible practice. We are psychologists in our countries of origin and offer our services as therapists here in Spain.

We offer therapy in English, Polish, French, Spanish, Swedish, German, Swiss-German, Austrian-German, Catalan, Portuguese, and Afrikaans.

All of our therapists are internationals themselves and many have a multicultural background, which really enriches the support we offer.

How important is it to have therapy in your native language?

It’s critical. Research shows that emotional expression is significantly deeper and more accurate when using one’s native language (Marcos & Urcuyo, 1979; Altarriba & Santiago-Rivera, 1994). Language is tied directly to our emotional memory.

When therapy is conducted in a second language, people often report feeling “cut off” from their emotions — which can make healing slower or harder.

At Therapy in Barcelona, we try to prioritise offering therapy in the language that best supports emotional connection.

How do you help new clients find the right therapist or therapy approach?

We start with a free discovery call where our intake team carefully listens to what the client needs. We ask about preferred languages, schedules, the type of support they are looking for, concerns and goals, previous experience with therapy and any personal preferences they may have.

From there, we match them with the therapist who best fits — because successful therapy depends not just on training but on the human connection.

If you’re looking for a therapy therapist near you or an online therapist, we help make the process easy and personalised.

What are the most common struggles you see among the international community in Barcelona?

Some common challenges include:

• Loneliness and social disconnection: Even in a vibrant city, building deep friendships takes time.

• Professional identity disruption: Many internationals find that their qualifications or careers don’t translate easily into the Spanish market.

• Relationship strain: Cross-cultural relationships are beautiful but complex.

• Burnout and anxiety: Constant adaptation and “holding it all together” takes a toll.

• Migratory grief: Missing family, traditions, and the sense of being “home” (Schmitz, 2012).

Living abroad can be incredibly enriching — but it’s important to acknowledge that it’s also emotionally demanding. 

Anxiety, depression, stress, panic, relationship struggles, feelings of failure and disconnection are common issues for the high achieving internationals we help. 

For parents raising kids abroad, what signs should they look for that might suggest their child could use support from a therapist?

Transitions can hit children harder than they let on.

Look for signs like:

• Withdrawal or isolation

• Sleep problems

• Frequent somatic complaints (like headaches or stomach aches)

• Mood swings lasting more than two weeks

• Changes in school performance or social engagement

If any of these appear, reaching out to a child therapist near you can make a big difference early on.

Does Therapy in Barcelona offer online therapy? How do you decide between in-person and online sessions?

Yes! We offer both in-person therapy in Barcelona and online therapy to meet people where they are.

Online sessions are great for flexibility — especially for digital nomads, frequent travellers, and busy families.

In-person sessions are often preferred for children under 12 or for people who feel more grounded through face-to-face connection.

Either way, the quality of therapy remains the same.

What should someone expect from their first session at Therapy in Barcelona?

The first session is about creating a private and comfortable space to share your story and goals.

We don’t rush into diagnoses or labels. In fact, we do not offer diagnoses or formal psychological assessments and will refer you if you need this service. Instead, we focus on understanding your current challenges, your background, and what you want from therapy.

Expect to feel respected, validated, and like you’ve found someone who’s in your corner.

You mentioned using different therapeutic approaches like CBT, ACT, and existential therapy. How do you decide which one is best for a client?

It’s collaborative.

Some clients benefit from structured tools and strategies — CBT can be excellent for that.

Others are facing deeper identity questions, grief, or transitions — and existential therapy, psychoanalysis, humanistic therapy or ACT might be more fitting.

We also integrate mindfulness, compassion-based therapies, and systemic thinking depending on the client’s needs.

The goal is always to work with the client, not on the client.

Are there any memorable client journeys (without breaking confidentiality) that show the impact of the right therapy fit?

One that comes to mind: a woman who came to us deeply disconnected after moving for her partner’s job. She had lost her professional identity and felt invisible.

Through therapy, she rebuilt a sense of personal agency, started a new career path here, and redefined what “home” meant on her own terms.

Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you — it’s about reconnecting you to your own resources and wisdom.

Finally, Leigh, what advice would you give to internationals trying to prioritise their mental health while living abroad?

Treat emotional wellbeing as essential maintenance, not a luxury.

Make connection a priority — even small conversations matter.

Stay physically active.

Nurture old passions and try new ones.

And if you notice persistent sadness, anxiety, or overwhelm, don’t wait — finding the right therapist near you or online therapist can be a game-changer.

Looking for an English-speaking therapist in Barcelona or online?

Visit Therapy in Barcelona to book your free discovery call and meet a therapist who truly understands international life.

References:

• Marcos, L.R., & Urcuyo, L. (1979). Evaluation of the bilingual patient’s emotional responses: The use of projective techniques. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 39(2), 145–149.

• Altarriba, J., & Santiago-Rivera, A.L. (1994). Current perspectives on using linguistic and cultural factors in counseling the Hispanic client. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 25(4), 388–397.

• Schmitz, P. (2012). Loss and grief in expatriation: How we experience loss and grieve for our “homeland.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36(5), 658-669.