English-Speaking Therapist
in Hamburg & Online.
Trauma-informed therapy for expats, internationals, and intercultural couples in Germany and worldwide.
Living abroad can be exciting - and emotionally challenging.
Hello, I’m Mara Chow, a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Germany, offering English-speaking therapy for expats and intercultural couples in Hamburg and online worldwide. As a former expat myself, I deeply understand the emotional complexities of cross-cultural living, relationships, and family life abroad. I specialize in helping expats, intercultural couples, and international families create balance, connection, and healing - so you can thrive personally and relationally, no matter where in the world you live. My approach is systemic, trauma-informed, and attachment-based, integrating CBT, TF-CBT, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
My clients.
Individuals.
I work with adults who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, identity questions, or emotional overwhelm—often connected to cross-cultural life experiences or major transitions. We are shaped by our past experiences, relationships, temperament, and environment. As we grow older, we gain more control over the choices we make, which can be both liberating and, at times, confusing, stressful, or overwhelming. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive space where you can reflect on your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and explore their connections to past experiences. In our work together, we’ll explore and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, nurturing self-awareness and compassion along the way. I want to help you rediscover and recreate yourself by gaining insight into your underlying motivations and driving forces.
Couples.
We thrive in relationships and create meaning about who we are through our interactions with others. In my couples work, I draw on attachment theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help partners build secure, emotionally responsive relationships. When we enter a relationship, we each bring a unique set of experiences, expectations, and needs. At times, these needs and expectations can clash or go unmet, triggering vulnerabilities and past wounds. This can cause conflicts to escalate and leave couples feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck. In our sessions, I support you in identifying underlying attachment needs and fears, deepening relational self-awareness, exploring new perspectives, and fostering healthier patterns of communication and connection.
Families.
Families are shaped by their histories, relationships, and cultural contexts. I offer systemic family therapy for international and intercultural families navigating transitions, conflict, and changing family dynamics. Periods of change—such as relocation, shifting roles, or developmental transitions—can bring stress to the family system and impact how members relate to one another. In our work together, I support families in strengthening communication, deepening understanding, and developing healthier, more supportive patterns of connection.