Astramía Counselling by Lina Gabbaoan Preventive Mental Health Care (Preventieve GGZ) Coach & Counsellor
Specializing in migration stress, cross-cultural relationships, and emotional recovery for expats, migrant partners, and mothers.
Empathetic, trauma-informed, and non-clinical support in English that is rooted in lived experience.
A Space Where You Can Breathe Again
I created this practice for people like you, an expat partners trying to understand what changed, mothers longing to be heard, students who feel lost in the crowd, and anyone whose life doesn’t look the way they thought it would.
Whether you're still deciding to migrate or already adjusting to life in Europe, especially here in Groningen, the Netherlands, I offer a safe space to talk, to untangle your emotions, and to begin again.
You don’t have to carry it all alone.
About Me
Migration. Motherhood. Heartbreak. Healing. And Home,Finally.
Hi, I'm Lina Gabbaoan.
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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.
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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.
Why I Do What I Do
Through years of personal and professional experience, I’ve supported women, expat partners, students, and fellow moms navigating:
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The stress and uncertainty of partner visas and reunification
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Culture shock, isolation, and identity loss post-migration
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Relationship confusion or emotional abuse after moving abroad
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Adjusting to life in the Netherlands without a familiar support system
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Rediscovering confidence after emotionally difficult relationships
Whether it’s pre-visa emotional preparedness or post-visa recovery coaching, I walk alongside people in the moments that feel most fragile, because I’ve lived them too.
My Background & Training
While my lived experience has shaped my empathy and insight, I’ve also invested in the tools and knowledge to offer safe, responsible, and compassionate care:
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Bachelor’s in Psychology (Health Science stream)
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Certified in Trauma-Informed Coaching
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CBT Coaching, Somatic Healing & Emotional Resilience Tools
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Level 5: Coach Practitioner Diploma; EMCC Accreditation (in progress)
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Level 5: Counselling Diploma; ABCAP Membership Level Accreditation (in progress)
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Years of practical coaching experience with individuals navigating partner/family reunification visas and post-migration trauma
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Co-founder & Consultant of EuroAccess Visa Consultancy, specializing in Schengen short- and long-stay visas
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Registered & compliant with Dutch care quality standards (Wkkgz).