Therapy in English

Are you an English speaker living in Europe and looking for professional mental health support? Sage Mental Health specializes in providing counseling and coaching in English, tailored to meet the needs of expatriates and international residents. Sidra is a California-licensed therapist who is fluent in English and understands the unique challenges faced by the international community.

Read more about online counseling / specialties

Why choose Sage Mental Health?

Counseling in English is crucial for those who feel more comfortable expressing themselves in English. For expats, finding the right counselor who can communicate effectively in English can make a significant difference in your wellbeing. At Sage Mental Health, our English-speaking counselor offers a safe and supportive environment where you can discuss your issues without language barriers.

Our mental health services in English

We offer a range of services in English, including:

  • Online Counseling: Convenient and accessible individual support sessions via secure video calls
  • Professionally-led Online Support Groups: Low cost, small group sessions to get emotional support
  • Couples Coaching: A neutral, understanding approach to help couples navigate their relationship challenges
  • Live Mindfulness classes or private lessons: Learn to manage stress, regulate your emotions, and improve both your focus and sleep
  • Ecotherapy / Forest Bathing: Allow me to escort you on a mindful or therapeutic walk in nature

Interested in our services? Contact us to book a free consultation.

Who can benefit?

Counseling with Sage Mental Health is ideal for:

  • Expatriates and immigrants (internationals) seeking to learn new coping skills
  • Students and visiting professionals who would like emotional support in English
  • Individuals seeking culturally sensitive support tailored to their (North American) background
  • Couples who reside in different parts of the world and want an English-speaking professional to coach them

Challenges faced by English speakers in the EU

Living in a foreign country can be isolating, especially when language barriers exist. English speakers may find it difficult to access quality mental health services in their preferred language. Our English language counseling bridges this gap, offering culturally aware and linguistically appropriate support.

Meet our English-speaking counselor

Sage Mental Health offers of a highly qualified, English-speaking counselor with diverse specializations. Meet Sidra to learn more about her qualifications and areas of expertise.

Hi, I’m Sidra

Mental Health in the Netherlands - English therapy - Sidra Lea Gifford

I am a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been working in clinical mental health for over 10 years. Prior to my clinical career, I earned a masters degree in public health (specifically mental health) so I was involved in a variety of projects related to mental health research, education and training, program development, and evaluation for the better part of 30 years.

I am originally from the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York, and lived in South Florida, Chicago, Washington DC, and a few places in between before moving to California in 2002. In the summer of 2024, I pursued a life-long dream of moving to The Netherlands! I am the proud mother of a rising Junior at Cal (UC Berkeley) and currently the guardian of one friendly cat named Katniss.

As a counselor and coach, I use my education and life experience to help you navigate your thoughts and emotions and to obtain a sense of clarity and peace. I work via Telehealth (also called E-health), and I focus on English speaking twice-exceptional adults in Europe.

I am serious about offering an affirming, Humanistic practice. That means I work to empower a client with respect to their gender identity, sexuality, relationship orientation, neurodiversity, body size / shape / ability, cultural, and any other differences, rather than trying to “repair” or minimize such differences. Clients describe me as insightful, empathetic, compassionate, genuine, funny, easy-going, and nonjudgmental.

Read more about Sidra

How to book an appointment

Booking an appointment is easy. Simply fill out our online form, send us a Whatsapp on +33(0)755738029, or email us at sidra@sidragiffordlcsw.com so we can schedule a brief free phone consult. We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate your needs, including evening and weekend appointments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Per Iamexpat.nl:  Public vs private therapy There are two types of therapy in the Netherlands: public and private therapy. Public therapy is free (or heavily subsidised) in the Netherlands - as long as you have Dutch health insurance and you go with a contracted provider. If the provider is not included in your insurer's list of contracted-care providers, then you may have to pay a small amount or pay the bill first yourself before sending it to the insurance company. Also, the waiting times for public therapy are much longer than for private therapy. Conversely, it is easier to get an appointment with a therapist from a private clinic as the waiting times are usually much shorter. However, many private psychologists in the Netherlands do not have contracts with Dutch health insurers and you may be expected to pay for your treatment out-of-pocket. E-health If you have mild to moderate mental health symptoms, you can also use an e-health service for online counseling. This option offers flexibility as it can be done from the comfort of your own home. It is also a good option if you are on a waiting list and do not wish to go a long period of time without therapy.
Sage Mental Health (SMH) does not work with insurance providers, which means that you are responsible for the cost of services yourself. In most instances, you will receive an invoice on the day of services. If you fail to attend a scheduled service without providing at least 24 hours notice, we reserve the right to invoice the standard fee.
Yes. Sidra, the proprietor of SMH, has a masters degree in Mental Health which has been recognized by Dutch authorities as equivalent to a masters degree in Clinical Psychology, as indicated by her membership in the Dutch Institute for Psychologists (NIP). In addition, Sidra has a masters degree in Social Work and subsequent clinical training and testing which led to licensure to practice psychotherapy in California.
Yes. There are several conditions that require specialized training or are simply outside of our scope of practice, including but not limited to: active suicidality, eating disorders, addictions, bipolar disorders, psychosis, personality disorders, OCD, severe aggression/violent behaviors. It is recommended that you contact your GP for more information on getting treatment with these conditions.
Per Iamexpat.nl:  Emergency mental health services If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, such as suicidal thoughts or tendencies, acute depression, delusions or panic attacks, then you should contact a GP immediately. They can help you or your loved one by contacting the 24/7 crisis intervention team. 113 Suicide Prevention You can anonymously contact 113 Suicide Prevention by calling 113 (normal calling costs) or 0800 0113 (free of charge). You can also use the "Chat" button on their website. They have a strong international orientation and many of their trained volunteers can help you in English, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Support lines If you need emotional support or just need someone to talk to, there are several helplines and resources that you can use anonymously in the Netherlands: Emotional support helpline (Stichting Korrelatie): 116 123 The Listening Line (De Luisterlijn): 088 076 7000 MIND Korrelatie: 900 1450 or WhatsApp: 061 386 3803 Social services: 070 205 2222 Domestic abuse hotline (Veilig Thuis): 0800 2000 If you find yourself in a life-threatening situation, contact the standard emergency hotline 112 for urgent assistance.
Coaching can be for a month or two, for example to improve communication or social skills. The length of therapy or counseling is determined in consultation with the therapist, depending on the severity and persistence of your complaints, as well as your goals and financial considerations. You also have the right to cease treatment at any given time and for any reason. However, please note that pre-paid coaching packages are non-refundable.
This is usually determined during the phone consult depending on your goals, needs, financial considerations, and availability.

Get in touch for counseling in English

Ready to take the next step? Reach out to us today to schedule a brief free phone consult. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.

    What is it that you want to talk about / what do you want help with?

    Counseling vs. Coaching

    Generally, counseling (like psychotherapy) is intended to support people as they heal from an emotional experience such as trauma or better manage a condition such as anxiety. Meanwhile, coaching is intended to help people move from a place of adequate functioning to a place of superior functioning by helping them achieve personal goals such as improving intimacy in relationships, identifying values and priorities, advocating for better work-life balance, etc. While some therapists (like myself) do counseling and coaching as well, not all coaches do therapy. Which one is right for you? That depends on where you are in your process and what you are hoping to get out of it. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to social-emotional wellbeing, and I am happy to help get you started for free in a brief consult call. Read more about online counseling in English

    What is Telehealth / online counseling?

    Telehealth is when we engage in counseling or coaching from the comfort of your home or office using your desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Telehealth allows us to connect anywhere with secure and convenient appointments. It also reduces impact on the environment and reduces my overhead (the cost of renting office space and supplies, gas and vehicle maintenance, business insurance, etc.), thereby costing YOU less. Read more about Telehealth

    Sage Mental Health works with English-speaking adults across Europe, including:

    France: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Grenoble, Lille, Rennes, Nantes, Nice, Angers, Saclay

    Germany: Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Dresden, Leipzig, Göttingen, Freiburg, Darmstadt, Jülich, Garching

    Netherlands: Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, Delft, Rotterdam, Groningen, Nijmegen, Maastricht, Wageningen, Tilburg, Eindhoven

    Belgium: Leuven, Brussels, Ghent, Liège, Antwerp

    Switzerland: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Bern

    Sweden: Stockholm, Uppsala, Gothenburg, Lund, Linköping, Umeå

    Denmark: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Roskilde

    Norway: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø

    Finland: Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Espoo

    Estonia: Tallinn, Tartu

    Czech Republic: Prague, Brno

    Poland: Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk

    Austria: Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg

    Italy: Milan, Rome, Bologna, Florence, Turin, Padua, Pisa, Trieste

    Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Bilbao, Granada, Santiago de Compostela

    Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga

    amongst others

    Major research institutions and universities served:

    CERN (Geneva) · EMBL (Heidelberg) · ESA · Max Planck Institutes · Fraunhofer Institutes · ETH Zurich · EPFL Lausanne · Karolinska Institute · KU Leuven · Erasmus University · University of Amsterdam · Leiden University · Delft University of Technology · University of Copenhagen · Uppsala University · University of Helsinki · Charles University Prague · University of Warsaw · University of Vienna · University of Bologna · Autonomous University of Madrid · University of Lisbon · University of Tartu · and many more.