Hello,
I’m Lina.

I’m a counsellor, a mother, a migrant,
and someone who has walked through
the very journeys my clients are in.

Astramía exists to walk beside internationals, migrant partners and mothers in every season of life, especially the ones that feel heavy, confusing or lonely.

Hi, I'm Lina Gabbaoan.

My journey from the Philippines to Europe wasn’t a straight path; it was a deeply personal, sometimes painful, and ultimately healing transformation that shaped the work I do today.

I first arrived in Europe on a Schengen tourist visa, curious and hopeful. Eventually, love led me down the path of a partner visa and, later, the challenging yet meaningful process of family reunification so my children could join me to be with their father. I studied for and passed the mandatory language exams, navigated the culture shock of daily life in a new land, and tried to build a home for my young family.

But things didn’t unfold the way I imagined.

The relationship that once felt like stability began to unravel. I found myself mothering in a new country, far from family, trying to make sense of a life that no longer felt like my own. I lost myself for a while, but I also found strength I didn’t know I had.

Therapeutic support became a lifeline. It helped me understand what I had endured emotionally, relationally, and mentally. It helped me come home to myself. Slowly, I began to rebuild. I sought healing, not just for survival, but for peace. That period of healing deeply shaped my understanding of emotional recovery and now informs the way I support others.

At present, I have lived in the Netherlands for over a decade with my children, thriving in a new, healthy, and loving relationship with a partner who supports me for who I have become. I’ve grown into a role I never expected but one I feel deeply called to: guiding others through life transitions tied to love, migration, and emotional well-being.

WHY I DO THIS WORK

Having experienced the challenges of migration, cultural adjustment, and rebuilding life in a new country, I understand that emotional struggles are often carried quietly. My work combines professional training with a deep appreciation for the resilience and complexity of life transitions, offering a supportive space where individuals can reflect, process, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.