Therapy for missionary kids, from an MK who's been there

Request an intro call

You always knew there'd be challenges living abroad, but…

When you decided to live abroad, you knew there'd be challenges for your kids. You also knew they'd gain so much from being part of something bigger, from experiencing the world in a unique way. Your kids have made it this far, and you want them to keep thriving as TCKs, but you can tell something's off with your kid. Sure, they love the TCK life in a lot of ways, but losing friends has really taken a toll. Now, with big changes coming up, you're seeing their sadness more and more.

I'm Brianna White, LMFT, and I offer therapy for missionary kids at Intrepid Counseling. I grew up as an MK myself, so you won't have to explain your family's calling before we get to work.

The last few years hit hard

You know they've got some good tools for handling your often chaotic life, but you're starting to see that the past few years have brought some especially heavy stuff they need help processing. They've been dealing with nightmares, headaches, and it's getting harder for them to open up about it. Until recently, you didn't realize how bad it had gotten. Now, your kid is caught in a loop: feeling overwhelmed by school, escaping into sleep, texting friends or going online, and then feeling guilty about not keeping up.

Getting your MK the support they need

You want them to have tools to help them through those overwhelming moments and ways to work through the heartache of growing up as a TCK, losing friends, and facing tough transitions. They've tried talking with counselors before, but it's been hard because they didn't really get what the TCK life is like. Or maybe they loved a counselor they worked with for a little while before you had to move. Online counseling where you are means help can start right away.

Who this is for

In-person and online counseling for missionary kids, TCK children, TCK teens and young adult Third Culture Kids, and the parents who love them.

  • U.S. clients: In person in Edmonds, WA, and online in Washington and Georgia.

  • International clients: Many countries, on a case by case basis.

If we cannot meet with you where you are, I will try to help you find someone who can.

Here to help your MK find joy in their life as a TCK

I help Third Culture Kids unpack their stories, the good and the hard parts. If they're not ready to look through the TCK lens, we just focus on what's getting in the way of them feeling good and having fun. I help TCKs understand their feelings and gain confidence that what they're going through is normal. With this understanding, they feel better about opening up to friends and family for support.

Together, we'll make sense of it all

I include parents when I work with kids. We'll work together to map out what's happening: what pushes their buttons (and yours), how you each usually react, and ways to avoid those patterns. We'll find what brings peace, celebrate what you're like at your best, and build the strengths and skills to get back there. With therapy, instead of feeling numb or spiraling, you and your kids will have the tools to talk yourself through it, and feel comfortable reaching out for support.

My team

I am passionate about team work. That's why I surround myself with TCK care colleagues that I can consult with. If you reach out and I'm not the best fit, I'm happy to refer to others to make sure you get to work with the best TCK therapist for your needs. You can even check out some of my teammates on the I See TCKs page.

I am an adult TCK and family therapist, and I can help

Growing up at a Bible translation center in Papua New Guinea, I saw first hand how important it is for teens to have access to mental health care wherever they are. That inspired me to become a counselor. Now as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist I get to work exclusively with TCKs like me. My clients want to make sense of their TCK life and identity: to enjoy it, and be real about the hard parts.

The first step is 15 minutes on a video call where I'll answer any questions you have and let you know how I can help. If I am not the right person, I'll do my best to get you to the right person. Then, if we agree to work together, we'll spend another 10 to 15 minutes setting up the logistics for starting online counseling.

What we can work on together

FAQ about therapy for missionary kids

What are the states and countries clients can be in during sessions? The U.S., state-by-state, licenses therapists and counselors and lets only those clinicians work with clients in that state. It doesn't matter where you live, only where your body is during the session. I am licensed in Georgia and Washington and my U.S. clients generally need to be physically in one of those two states during sessions. Some states have "temporary practice permissions" which let therapists continue care for clients who are traveling or just moved somewhere new. Some countries operate like this, but many don't have this level of detail in their mental health care regulation. That often means they don't have a block on incoming mental health care, meaning they don't try to prevent therapists from elsewhere helping people in their country. These also tend to be places where it is hard to find a local English-speaking counselor with the right specialty, who understands the TCK life. Most of my clients live in places like this.

How do I know if I need counseling or therapy? Let's not let things get terrible. As a parent, you can know it's a good time to get support for your kid if you start to feel like they're not themselves, if you don't know how to help, or what you've tried already isn't working. They won't be in counseling forever. I just want to help you go from "What on earth?!" to "We got this." If you're a young adult considering counseling, ask yourself, "am I living well right now, or struggling?" It's ok to get help before things get really bad. You might start to feel better on your own eventually, but counseling can help you feel better sooner. We'll get to the bottom of what's going on and get you to your goals and graduated from counseling as soon as possible.

How long will counseling take? It's hard to know for sure how long it will take for you to feel better, but most of my clients reach their goals in 6 to 20 sessions. I've found that my clients who invest in weekly sessions have a better experience and reach their goals faster. For some of my clients, the pain has been building up for years, maybe with some not-so-helpful coping habits. If you've gone through trauma or have a history of having trouble keeping yourself safe, feeling like you're yourself again and on a healthy trajectory tends to be a longer process. There's no contract to stay in therapy. We'll make a treatment plan together that outlines your goals and how we'll work towards them. We'll get numbers on the situation so that you'll be able to see and celebrate how far you've come. When you reach those goals, it will be me encouraging you and celebrating with you that you're done.

Can I use my insurance? I do not bill insurance providers directly and I am not listed as an in-network provider for any insurance companies. This is because my clients live in such diverse locations and move so often, that billing the correct insurance in the correct way would take away from the time I have to serve my clients. Instead, I can provide you with a Superbill, which is a receipt that contains all the information your insurance company will need to reimburse you at their out of network rate. If there is not an in-network provider in your area, it is possible that the insurance company may reimburse you at the in-network rate.

Ready to help your MK feel like themselves again?

If you need a counselor who understands life as a TCK, request an intro call. Let's talk about how counseling can help your MK get back to thriving.