Media Appearances

Welcome to my press page. Below you’ll find podcasts, interviews, and articles where I’ve spoken about expat mental health, cultural transitions, grief and identity after relocation, and psychological wellbeing in global life contexts. If you're looking for expert commentary on expat psychology, trauma, or emotional resilience, this page brings together recent media features and appearances.
Podcasts & Interviews
Grief Out Loud Podcast
When Grief and Trauma Collide – Christina Babich, MA
Published February 2026
Description via the Dougy Centre:
When Christina Babich's partner, Alex, died suddenly from a brain aneurysm while they were visiting his family in Italy, her world shattered in more ways than one. In addition to the grief of losing the person she loved and the future they were building together, Christina was also left to navigate the aftermath of a deeply traumatic event - one that profoundly impacted her nervous system, sense of safety, and identity. In this episode, Christina shares what it was like to grieve a sudden, "out-of-order" death while also navigating the derealization, hypervigilance, and other ways the trauma of his death affected her. She talks about how being a "quasi widow" shaped the care and recognition she received and why platitudes about resilience and post-traumatic growth can sometimes feel alienating rather than supportive. Christina also reflects on how her personal experience shaped her work as a psychologist specializing in grief and trauma, including the role of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), the pressure placed on people who are grieving to "transform" their pain, and the importance of being witnessed by someone who truly understands.

Listen to the Grief Out Loud episode here.
CultureXchange Podcast
When Change Hurts - The Hidden Grief of Life Transitions with Christina Babich
Published November 2025
Screenshot from a CultureXchange Podcast interview featuring Christina Babich discussing the hidden grief of life transitions.
We tend to associate grief with the loss of a person.
But grief also appears when the life you imagined is no longer the life you’re living.
I spoke about this “hidden grief” on the CulturExchange podcast: how major transitions shape our identity, our sense of belonging, and the quiet emotional currents beneath change.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction & why I work with expats
03:05 The hidden grief that comes with major life transitions
06:50 The rise of mental health awareness
08:10 What PTSD is (and how it shows up)
09:40 The mind–body connection
11:35 Practical grounding tools for difficult moments
14:10 The quiet losses expats experience
16:10 My personal loss and how it shaped the way I support others
22:00 How relocation changes us: challenges and growth
24:40 The “in-between” feeling and identity
26:20 How to practice self-compassion
Watch the CultureXchange episode on YouTube here.
Building Home: An Expat Podcast by Nneya Richards
Carrying Home Within: Navigating the Holidays, Grief, and Life Abroad with Christina Babich
Published December 2025
Video thumbnail showing Christina Babich and podcast host Nneya Richards smiling during a recorded conversation for the Building Home expat podcast.
What happens when grief follows you across borders?
In this episode of Building Home, I speak openly about loss, trauma, and what it means to rebuild a life far from where it began.
Our conversation naturally turns to the holidays, a time that can amplify loss, loneliness, guilt. We talk about why this season can be especially triggering for expats: for those who can’t go home, who’ve chosen distance from family, or who no longer have a home to return to at all.

Episode chapters:·
00:00 Introduction & setting the scene·
01:39 My journey to Budapest·
04:49 Cultural perspectives on psychology·
09:20 Navigating grief and trauma·
14:08 Finding home and stability·
18:31 The mind–body connection in healing·
23:35 Coping with holiday triggers·
27:54 Creating new traditions as an expat·
32:42 Staying sane during the holidays
Worlds Collide: The Podcast about moving abroad
Embracing Change - Christina's Expat Life from Canada to Budapest
Published December 2025
Graphic reading “From Canada to Budapest” with a red maple leaf inside the word Canada and an illustration of the Hungarian Parliament building below.
In this episode of Worlds Collide, I sit down with host Viktoria to talk about my own journey as a Canadian expat and how living across borders shaped the way I work as a psychologist.
What began as a spontaneous move from Vancouver to Europe took me through Paris, London, Amsterdam, and eventually Budapest. Living this lifestyle myself gave me a deep, embodied understanding of relocation, cultural disorientation, identity shifts, and the emotional complexity of starting over again and again.

Episode chapters:
01:30 Introduction & my move to Europe
05:10 Why I chose Budapest as my base
09:40 The challenges of moving to Budapest
14:00 My work as a psychologist supporting expats
26:20 Celebrating Christmas as an expat & navigating holiday traditions
Articles
International Living Magazine
Beyond the Honeymoon Phase: Building Inner Resilience Overseas
Published June 2025
DenaeMcGaha.com
Coping with Change: Mental Health Strategies from Psychologist Christina Babich
Published April 2025

This article explores how grief and stress live in the nervous system during life transitions—and offers practical, body-based ways to feel more grounded. Drawing on psychology and mindfulness, it shares simple strategies to support yourself while navigating change, identity shifts, and the emotional impact of starting over.
Soft-focus image of wildflowers in sunlight, symbolizing coping with change and mental health during life transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions aboutstarting online therapy, sessions, and what to expect.
How do I get started?
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I am currently accepting new clients. Complete the contact form (link below). You can share what you're struggling with and what you're hoping to get out of therapy, or keep it brief if you're unsure of how to describe things right now.

We’ll then schedule a free 15-minute consultation, where we can talk about what’s been feeling difficult and see whether working together feels like a good fit. There’s no obligation, it’s simply a chance to ask questions and get a sense of next steps.

Online contact form here.

What is your fee?
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My fee is 100 euros for one 50-minute session.

We can begin with a free 15-minute consultation, so you can ask questions and see whether working together feels like a good fit before committing.

Do you offer sliding scale sessions?
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Yes, I offer a limited number of reduced-rate sessions for clients experiencing financial constraints.

If cost is a concern, feel free to mention this when you reach out and we can see whether availability allows.

What is your cancellation policy?
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Due to the very limited nature of appointments, you will be charged the full fee for cancellations with less than a 48-hour notice. I reserve your therapy time just for you, and last-minute cancellations do not allow me enough time to schedule someone else in that slot.

This policy allows me to manage my schedule fairly and ensures availability is respected.

Is there anything outside of your scope?
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Yes. Being clear about the scope of my work is a key part of ethical care.

I work with individual adults (18+), supporting concerns such as anxiety, trauma, grief, emotional regulation, burnout, relationship challenges, and life transitions, including the emotional impact of expat and digital nomad life.

There are certain areas, however, that fall outside my scope of practice. If any of the following apply, I will help you explore more appropriate care options or refer you to a trusted specialist:
• Active suicidal or homicidal thoughts, with a current plan or intent
• Ongoing self-harm behaviours (e.g., cutting, burning)
• Significant substance use or addiction requiring medical or inpatient support
• Psychotic symptoms (such as hallucinations or delusions)
• Psychological or diagnostic testing needs. Note: I am partnered with Mind Clinic in Budapest (www.mind.hu). This clinic offers robust psychological and diagnostic testing remotely via video.
• Full DBT programs requiring group skills training or 24/7 phone coaching

While I integrate DBT principles into my work, I do not offer a full DBT program. If that level of support is needed, I’ll help you connect with a program that provides it.

My goal is always to ensure you receive care that truly fits your needs, whether that’s with me or with another qualified professional.

Do you offer in-person sessions?
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My practice is fully online, and I offer therapy via a secure Zoom link.

Working online allows me to support expats and digital nomads wherever they're based, while also giving clients the flexibility to fit therapy into their lives without commuting or navigating local healthcare systems.

Online research is well-research and effective, and for many people - especially those living abroad, it can feel more accessible and consistent than in-person sessions. I write more about this in my article "How to Pick a Therapist" if you'd like to explore this further. You can find the article HERE

Is your practice LGBTQ+ friendly?
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Yes. My practice is fully LGBTQ+ affirming and inclusive. I welcome clients of all gender identities, sexual orientations and relationship structures, and I am committed to providing a space where you can show-up exactly as you are - without judgement or assumption.