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Mental wellbeing advice for expats, immigrants and cross-cultural living.
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Quick Guide: When to Refer an Expat Child or Teen for Therapy
When therapy can help a child Many expat/international/cross-cultural children and adolescents experience periods of sadness, stress, or struggle. Most of the time, this is transient and can pass on its own without professional intervention. Adults, teachers, school counsellors and others are often expecting a period of adjustment when a child is transitioning to a new country or feels pulled between two worlds. Every move, change or challenge doesn't necessarily dictate a ne
jennamayhew
Oct 112 min read
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Why the News Overwhelms Us: The Information/Empathy Mismatch
By Rebecca Bacon Ehlers News burnout is a common issue these days, and that’s no surprise: our information environments operate on a scale that dwarfs our human emotional and mental capacity. Our nervous systems are designed to empathize and connect when people in our community suffer so that we will be motivated to help them. The system functions beautifully at that level. For example, say I hear that my friend is ill. My natural empathetic response is to feel a range of emo
jennamayhew
Sep 294 min read
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Who Finds You Attractive? How Beliefs Shape Interracial Attraction
Interracial Attraction Do you believe you’re more attractive to people of your own race (your in-group) or to people of other races (your out-group)? At Hola Therapy, we often sit with clients navigating these very questions. In Mexico City’s cross-cultural environment, topics of interracial sex, love, and attraction come up frequently in therapy. Many people wonder not just who they’re drawn to , but also how their own race and cultural background are received by others in M
jennamayhew
Sep 172 min read
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Staying Close While Far Apart: The Psychology of Long-Distance Friendships
Moving to a new place brings many positives. However, there is no denying one particularly difficult aspect - leaving important people...
angela7173
Aug 56 min read
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Polyamory and Consensual Nonmonogamy in Mexico
Polyamory and Consensual Non-Monogamy in Mexico Despite Mexico’s reputation for traditional gender roles and family structure, many...
jennamayhew
Jul 285 min read
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An Introduction to Emotions, Culture, and Language: Why Feelings Get Lost in Translation
It can be hard to communicate about emotional topics in a second language. An Introduction to Emotions, Culture, and Language: Why...
angela7173
Jul 215 min read
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Getting to Know Mexico's Healthcare System
Navigating health care in a new country can be overwhelming, especially if you’re doing it in your second language or during a health...
angela7173
Jul 115 min read
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Feeling Stuck in Your Thoughts? Cognitive Distortions After Moving Countries – and What to Do About Them
Stuck in your thoughts? By Angela Leonardo and Jenna Mayhew Starting over in a new country is more than just paperwork, packing, and...
angela7173
Jun 243 min read
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Could It Be OCD? Here’s What You Need to Know about Therapy for OCD
Could it be OCD? By Angela Leonardo and Jenna Mayhew Could It Be OCD? Here’s What You Need to Know Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)...
jennamayhew
Jun 163 min read
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The Complexity of Celebrating Mother's Day in Mexico
Mother's Day in Mexico By Jenna Mayhew, Psychologist  Every year on May 10th, Mexico celebrates DÃa de las Madres—a day filled with...
jennamayhew
May 84 min read
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Do Bilingual and Multilingual Children Speak Later than their Peers?
Kate Morling, Bilingual Speech Therapy and founder of Communicate with Kate, talks about speech delays and bilingualism. This week we had...
jennamayhew
May 13 min read
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The Problem with Billing for Therapy in Mexico
If only it was so simple... The cross-cultural quirks of accessing therapy as an English speaker in Mexico. One of the most common...
jennamayhew
Apr 242 min read
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Misión México and Hola Therapy: Supporting Chiapas’ Children and Community
Behind this table and the smiles (because I do always love seeing Melissa) is a deep conversation - one about resilience, hope and the...
jennamayhew
Mar 72 min read
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AFSPA FSBP: Accessible Therapy for U.S. Foreign Service Personnel
How to use your AFSPA FSBP health medical plan to access psychotherapy worldwise
jennamayhew
Mar 42 min read
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Jenna Mayhew Awarded the "Professional Excellence Alumni 2024" Award from Charles Sturt University
A huge thank you to Charles Sturt University (CSU), that has recognised the exception work of Hola Therapy in cross-cultural/intercultura...
jennamayhew
Oct 21, 20242 min read
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Expat Child Syndrome: Moving to/from Mexico
Expat Child Syndrome (ECS) might not be in the psychology textbooks, but ask any parent who's moved their family abroad—those emotional...
jennamayhew
Jun 25, 20243 min read
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Are you a Therapist Looking to Relocate? Your Guide to Visas and Licensing in Mexico.
As a team of immigrant therapists in Mexico, we understand both the thrill and challenge of moving to Mexico. Degrees and registrations...
jennamayhew
Apr 8, 20242 min read
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Healing Beyond Hurt: Transforming Trauma with EMDR Therapy
EMDR , short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing may be one of the strangest ‘mainstream’ therapies available. It burst...
jennamayhew
Oct 30, 20233 min read
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Breaking the Silence: Are Your Secrets Safe at Hola Therapy?
Do you feel like living in Mexico is akin to small town life? Greater Mexico City has 22 million people. Yet I often feel more like a...
jennamayhew
Oct 23, 20233 min read
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Sex and Shame in Mexico
Somewhere along the way, as you decode the meaning of 'ahorita' to signify enduring patience and discover that "no pica" can pack a spicy...
jennamayhew
Oct 2, 20235 min read
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