Eva Virc, English-speaking therapist for expats, in her therapy studio

Therapy in Leiden, Amsterdam and Online for Expats Living in the Netherlands

Moving abroad brings unexpected challenges. You might feel anxiety after the move, a persistent sense of not belonging anywhere, or uncertainty about who you are in a new country.

You don't have to figure it out by yourself.

English-speaking therapist No GP referral required Studios in Leiden & Amsterdam Online across the Netherlands

Book a Free 15-Minute Introductory Call Ask questions, discuss what brings you to therapy, and decide if working together feels right. Prefer to talk it through? Call +31 6 24 78 08 77

From Google reviews of the practice

“From the moment I walked in, the environment felt welcoming, calm, and professional. Eva is thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely invested in helping me grow.”
— Jerry, Google review

“Eva creates a safe and non-judgmental space where it's easy to open up, even about difficult topics. Her approach to therapy is both professional and compassionate.”
— Nika G., Google review

“The therapist is really professional, knows what she's doing and can guide you without being intrusive. At the same time, she creates such a relaxed atmosphere that you can really open up.”
— Leila B., Google review (translated)

A note from Eva

Living far from where you started changes you in ways that are hard to put into words. The language, the social norms, and daily interactions feel different. Often the people closest to you back home don't fully grasp what it feels like to live between two worlds.

That experience rarely arrives as an emergency. It comes up as a quiet flatness, a restlessness, or a feeling that something has shifted inside you. I work with people in exactly that place through individual therapy and expat-focused work. If you are curious whether this work could help, I welcome the conversation.

— Eva

What relocation quietly does

These experiences are not signs of weakness. They are the ordinary cost of making a major move.

What we can work on together

Moving abroad reshapes how you understand your relationships, your competence, and your identity. For many people this creates a persistent loneliness, anxiety without a clear trigger, or a feeling that your life has stopped belonging to you — something often explored in expat therapy.

Therapy does not require a formal diagnosis. I often work with people handling anxiety after a move (often explored in individual therapy), identity questions, relationship strain, grief, and a loss of direction. If you are unsure whether your situation fits, the intro call is the place to find out.

Book a Free 15-Minute Introductory Call Explore therapy services

What working together actually looks like

Eva Virc seated in her Leiden therapy studio

Your first session — whether in online therapy or in person — is not an assessment or a test. It is a 50-minute conversation to talk about what has been weighing on you and see if returning feels right. You do not need to prepare anything in advance.

1 Reach out Fill out a short form — it takes about two minutes.
2 Free 15-minute introductory call Ask questions and get a feel for how I work. No cost and no obligation.
3 Begin, if it feels right Individual sessions are 50 minutes at €125. Couples sessions are €165–195.

Portrait of Eva Virc, logotherapist and mental health practitioner

About Eva

I am a logotherapist and mental health practitioner specialising in support for expats handling anxiety, identity shifts, and major transitions. My background includes over 800 hours of direct client work under supervision, alongside comprehensive psychosocial and psychiatric placements, and doctoral research examining the phenomenology of psychotherapy.

I work in English and Slovene — online across Europe, and in person in Leiden and Amsterdam.

PhD Candidate: Phenomenology of Therapeutic Practice
MA in Philosophy: Clinical Focus
BA in Psychotherapy Science: Sigmund Freud University Ljubljana
Logotherapy Accreditation: Viktor Frankl Institute Vienna
800+ Hours Direct Supervised Practice & ~300h Psychiatric Rotations
400+ Hours Personal Therapeutic Self-Experience
Workshop Leader: Phenomenological Therapy Practice (Amsterdam)

Get to know me better

Therapy services in Leiden, Amsterdam and online

Ontara Therapy provides individual and couples therapy in Leiden and Amsterdam, plus online across Europe. Every service focuses on the real challenges of living abroad, from relocation stress to relationship strain.

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy in Leiden and online for expats dealing with anxiety, burnout, identity shifts, or grief. Focused sessions to get to the root of what is wrong and build long-term clarity.

Couples Therapy

Couples therapy in Leiden and online for partners facing communication friction or the strain of building a life abroad together. We address root causes to rebuild connection and shared direction.

Online Therapy

Secure video therapy from Leiden, accessible across the Netherlands and Europe. Conducted in English or Slovene, with the same depth and structure as meeting in person.

Expat Therapy

Dedicated expat therapy supporting loneliness, cultural disorientation, and relocation pressure. A calm space to slow down, process life abroad, and regain your footing.

Book a Free 15-Minute Introductory Call

On working online

Online therapy is effective. For most concerns, clinical research shows outcomes equal to in-person sessions. For expats, it removes the hassle of finding a local clinic in a language you don't speak fluently. Sessions are fully encrypted and never recorded.

Read FAQ

In person in Leiden and Amsterdam

While online sessions suit most clients, I also meet people in person at two quiet studios in Leiden and Amsterdam. Both are calm rooms free from a clinical environment.

In-person slots are limited. If you prefer to meet in Leiden or Amsterdam, mention your preferred location when you book your call.

The Ontara Therapy studio in Amsterdam — a modern, calm consultation room with armchairs, sofa, and natural light — The Amsterdam studio

Leiden

Groene Maredijk 100, 2334 CT Leiden

A quiet garden studio a short cycle from Leiden Centraal, offering sessions in English and Slovene. Explore therapy in Leiden.

Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat 14, 1017 WS Amsterdam

A practice space near Frederiksplein, five minutes from Weesperplein metro station. Explore therapy in Amsterdam.

Common questions before a first session

Do I need a referral from a huisarts (GP)?

No. You can book directly without a GP referral or waiting list. Many clients reach out to avoid the long waiting times in the Dutch GGZ system.

Do you accept health insurance?

Sessions are self-paid and not covered by Dutch health insurance. The initial 15-minute call is free with no commitment.

What happens in the first session?

It is an unhurried conversation, not an intake exam. We discuss what brought you here, and you share as much as feels comfortable.

Read all FAQs

This begins with a conversation

The first step is a free 15-minute introductory call with no obligation. If you have been considering therapy for a while, this short call lets you ask questions, get a feel for how I work, and decide in your own time.

Book a Free 15-Minute Introductory Call Or call directly: +31 6 24 78 08 77 Sessions can be rescheduled up to 24 hours in advance. All sessions are confidential and GDPR-compliant.