Mrs Brenda Mate Psychologist | Expat & Perinatal Focus

My choice to work with expatriates grew from my own life journey. Having lived outside my home country, Brazil, for more than ten years, I have personally experienced the emotional challenges and profound transformations that come with relocation and adaptation.

I have lived in South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, and the Philippines. My son was born in Sweden, and through that experience, I came to understand deeply what many of my clients share during therapy: cultural barriers, the process of adaptation, the longing for home, and the constant effort to care for oneself and one’s family in a foreign environment.

This personal and professional journey inspired me to dedicate my work to mothers and expatriates. It gave me an intercultural perspective that goes far beyond theoretical knowledge and allows me to connect with each client with authenticity, empathy, and understanding.

Becoming a mother while living abroad can be one of the most transformative and isolating experiences of a lifetime. The joy of welcoming a child often comes with the deep challenge of doing so without the familiar support network of family and friends. Many mothers abroad find themselves caring for everyone else while feeling emotionally alone.

As a psychologist and a mother myself, I understand what it means to rebuild a sense of community far from home, adapt to new cultural expectations, and still try to meet your own needs amid the demands of motherhood. It can be difficult to ask for help or to admit that you are tired when everyone assumes you are strong.

Through therapy, I help mothers and families abroad navigate these emotional changes with warmth, empathy, and practical guidance. Together, we explore identity shifts, postpartum emotions, and the ongoing challenge of balancing personal well-being while raising a child in a new culture.

Online sessions are available in English and Portuguese, so you can express yourself freely, in the language that feels most like home. Therapy can be the space where you are reminded that you matter too, and that caring for yourself is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Many expats describe a quiet sense of sadness or emptiness that appears when the novelty of a new country fades. You might miss the smell of familiar food, the sound of your language, or simply the feeling of belonging. It can be confusing to have built the life you dreamed of abroad and still feel that something essential is missing.

Homesickness is not just about missing home. It is also about feeling disconnected from who you were before. Moving countries often means rebuilding your identity from the ground up, redefining relationships, and adapting to new social norms. The person you were back home may not fully fit into this new environment, and that can bring a deep sense of loss and uncertainty.

In therapy, I help clients explore these emotional shifts with compassion and curiosity. Together, we make sense of what feels unfamiliar, uncover the hidden grief behind adaptation, and gently reconnect with meaning and purpose. My role is to help you find a version of yourself that feels whole, grounded, and authentic, no matter where in the world you are now.