Hello, welcome to my private practice.
I created this space for people like you, expat partners trying to understand what has shifted, mothers longing to be heard, students who feel lost in the crowd, and anyone whose life doesn’t look the way they once imagined.
Whether you are still considering migration or already adjusting to life in Europe, especially here in Groningen, the Netherlands, this is a safe place to pause, speak openly, and gently untangle what you are carrying.
You don’t have to carry it all alone.
My Story
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.
Psychotherapy 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 healing became the foundation for everything I offer today.
Now, 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.
My Approach
My work is grounded in the belief that emotional distress does not always require clinical intervention, but it does require safety, understanding, and skilled psychosocial support.
I offer trauma-informed, non-clinical, and client-centred psychosocial counselling, with a strong emphasis on emotional regulation, self-understanding, and restoring a sense of personal agency. I work within clear ethical boundaries and remain attentive to when additional or specialist care is needed, supporting clients in seeking referral through their GP or appropriate mental health services when indicated.
I approach emotional distress as something that is often a natural response to prolonged stress, unsafe or confusing relationships, migration, or major life transitions, rather than something that must immediately be pathologised. My role is not to diagnose or “fix,” but to create space for reflection, clarity, and grounded understanding.
Being trauma-informed in my practice means that I prioritise emotional and psychological safety, work with awareness of how trauma can affect emotions, behaviour, and the nervous system, and take care to avoid re-traumatisation by respecting boundaries, consent, and each client’s pace. I focus on stabilisation, grounding, and self-understanding, while recognising when support should shift toward specialist or clinical care.
Our work together is collaborative and reflective. Depending on your needs, sessions may involve exploring emotional patterns and responses in a safe, contained way; developing awareness of triggers and stress responses; strengthening emotional regulation and self-soothing skills; reconnecting with personal boundaries, values, and inner signals; and making sense of relational experiences without blame or labels. I support clients in understanding themselves more clearly and reconnecting with their own capacity for choice and agency.
My practice is shaped by both professional training and lived experience, including migration, cross-cultural relationships, and recovery after emotional and psychological abuse. This combination informs a culturally sensitive, non-judgmental approach, particularly for individuals who may feel unseen, misunderstood, or unsupported within traditional systems.
Astramía Counselling exists to provide a safe, respectful space for individuals navigating emotional complexity, identity shifts, and life between cultures — a space where experiences are met with care, clarity, and respect rather than judgment or urgency.
Training & Professional Background
My work is informed by a combination of academic study, professional counselling training, and specialist trauma-informed education.
Academic Foundation
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Bachelor-level coursework in Health Science, major in Psychology (USA)
Coursework includes developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, behavioural psychology, social psychology, mental health foundations, and research methods.
Professional Diploma
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Level 5 Diploma in Life Coaching & Counselling (UK)
Focused on counselling skills, ethical practice, client communication, boundaries, and psychosocial support frameworks.
Specialist Continuing Professional Development
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Trauma-Informed Care – 20 CPD hours
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Recognising & Addressing Domestic Violence in Psychosocial Settings – 5 CPD hours
My professional focus is on trauma-informed psychosocial counselling, not diagnosis or medical treatment. I work preventively and collaboratively, supporting clients in understanding their emotional responses, strengthening coping capacity, and navigating complex personal and relational experiences.
I am committed to ongoing professional development and to aligning with Dutch professional standards, including registration with a recognised professional body and completion of the required foundational training.