Psychotherapy for
Internationals
Online · Barcelona · Sant Cugat
Shai Shinar

Psychotherapy for
Internationals
Online · Barcelona · Sant Cugat

I’m Shai, an English-speaking psychotherapist. I work online across Europe and in person in Barcelona and Sant Cugat del Vallès. I support people navigating life, life abroad, relationships, self-esteem, anxiety, trauma, and the transitions of parenthood.

I believe in the healing power of human relationships and in each person’s own capacity to heal and grow, given the space and tools to do so.

I offer an integrative, trauma-informed approach, combining a psychodynamic background with evidence-based practices, including CBT, ACT, and EMDR.

Starting therapy isn’t always easy, whether it’s sending that first message, trusting someone new, or turning toward something you’ve been avoiding. However, I believe that in the willingness to take that first step, something already begins to shift.

Let's talk
Learn more about me

How I Can Help

Parenthood

Parenthood
Adults

Adults
Kids

Kids

Adults

Adults

There are times in life when we need more support than usual. Or maybe it simply feels like your time to make a change, put more attention on yourself, and focus on your own development.

Maybe you’ll find yourself in one of the categories below, and maybe not as what brings someone to therapy can look very different from one person to another.

You’re always welcome to message me and share a few words about yourself, so we can think together about whether I can help.

Living abroad can bring up questions about identity, relationships and belonging. Navigating everyday life in a different language and culture can feel overwhelming and exhausting at times.

Whether you’ve just moved or have been living abroad for years, therapy can offer a space to explore these experiences with a professional, develop effective coping strategies, and navigate challenges with greater confidence.

I work with people dealing with stress, anxiety, OCD, mood fluctuations or depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, and challenges around self-esteem or self-criticism.

In therapy, we can explore your needs and gradually tailor the process to fit them. We make room for the painful parts while also holding onto hope together, and explore practical tools for better coping and support.

I often work with clients who identify with different forms of neurodivergence, including high sensitivity, autism, and ADHD. These differences can bring unique qualities and perspectives, as well as complexities and struggles, in how a person experiences the world, relates to themselves and others, and navigates daily life, relationships, or work responsibilities. Therapy can offer a space to better understand yourself, your needs and strengths, find coping strategies, and work toward meaningful personal goals.

Parenthood and Birth

Parenthood and Birth
Parenthood and Birth

Becoming a parent is a profound life transition. It can affect the emotional, hormonal, physical, and social aspects of our lives, often shifting how we relate to ourselves and others.

Parenthood and birth can bring a wide range of emotions, sometimes even contradictory ones. Alongside joy, love, and a sense of meaning, there can also be moments of frustration, guilt, anger, or doubt, as well as stress and anxiety.

Individually or as a couple, we explore parenting challenges, recurring family patterns, and feelings that can be difficult to share. Together, we make sense of your child’s needs and your relationship with them.

Develop practical tools and greater confidence in responding to everyday challenges and connecting with your child.

Make sense of your birth experience and find ways to cope with lingering doubts, recurring thoughts or images, and difficult feelings.

Sessions can also explore experiences of pregnancy, early motherhood, or breastfeeding.

Explore worries and expectations around birth and parenthood, and develop practical tools to feel more prepared. These sessions are for first-time parents and those preparing for another child.

Kids and Adolescents

Children go through many transitions as they develop emotionally, cognitively, and physically, while also navigating changes at home, at school, and in their relationships. Sometimes they need a space of their own to express themselves, make sense of their experiences, and build confidence.

I have experience working with kids and adolescents with challenges such as fears or phobias, anxiety, self-esteem challenges, social difficulties, and emotional regulation difficulties.

In therapy, we can communicate through conversation, art, and play. Non-verbal languages can often help children find words for their experiences, process sensitive subjects, and reduce anxiety. We can also use mindfulness, breathing techniques, and other practical tools to help strengthen self-regulation, build confidence, and support them in everyday life.

Adolescence is a time of change, identity development, and growing independence. For international adolescents, it can also bring questions around belonging, language, culture, and feeling between different worlds. Therapy can offer a safe space to explore emotions, relationships, and identity, gain coping tools, and build a stronger sense of security.

I see parents as crucial partners in their child’s therapy. Throughout the therapeutic process, we meet monthly to think together about the child’s needs, explore practical tools, and support change at home.

Kids and Adolescents

Integrative approach to therapy

“Most big transformations come about from the hundreds of tiny, almost imperceptible, steps we take along the way. A lot can happen in the space of a step.”
Lori Gottlieb

How to get started?

Option 1: A quick WhatsApp message

Send me a short message with your name, how you found me, and what you’re looking for (online or in-person therapy, for you or your child), and we can take it from there.

Option 2: Book a free introductory call

A 15-minute video call to ask questions, consult, and see if we are a good fit to start therapy together.

Free 15-minute call