Heather Demir, LMSW - Smooth Transitions Psychotherapy

My clinical focus is helping expat and immigrant adults manage and build insight into the roots of both mental health conditions and social/life problems so that healing can take place. Many clients I work with suffer from symptoms of depression and/or anxiety which are highlighted after a recent life transition, in the context of parenting, or in the context of cross-cultural relationships. Some of these client’s experienced trauma in early life that is triggered by a recent experience. As every client is different, I use an integrative approach tailored to the client’s specific needs, and draw mainly from psychodynamic, narrative, cognitive, and body-based therapies. I have specific and extensive training in EMDR and MBSR/MBCT, and the clinical applications of attachment science, brain science, and polyvagal theory.

I consider myself an adult TCK, as my first experience abroad came as a young adult. Since then, I spent several years learning Japanese language, history, and culture at both university and in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, worked in several international communities in the US, and have traveled, lived, and worked in Europe. I am now a member of a bicultural family, living abroad between Istanbul, Turkey and Dubai, UAE, and raising two bicultural/bilingual children. I am a leader in the expat parenting community, and familiar with issues affecting both bicultural and third culture families.

I have a Master’s in Social Work (2012) with a focus on clinical practice with refugees, immigrants, and the military community, and a Master’s in Japanese Studies (2007), with a focus on modern culture and history.