Therapy in Italian for Italians in Australia
Moving to Australia is a courageous and life-changing step. Whether you relocated for work, study, family, or a fresh start, living so far from Italy can bring both opportunity and emotional complexity.
At recoverED Clinic, we understand the unique psychological experience of being Italian in Australia and why doing therapy in Italian can make a profound difference in your healing journey.
The Emotional Experience of Italians in Australia
Australia offers space, opportunity, and multicultural vibrancy. Yet many Italians living here experience:
Homesickness and distance from family
Cultural differences in communication and relationships
Identity shifts between “Italian self” and “Australian self”
Loneliness despite being socially active
Changes in food culture and body image norms
Being geographically distant from Italy can intensify feelings that are already difficult especially when navigating them in English.
Even if you speak fluent English, your emotional world was built in Italian.
Why Therapy in Your Mother Tongue Matters
When you speak your first language, you access more than vocabulary; you access emotion, memory, and identity.
When you speak in your mother tongue:
Emotions flow more spontaneously
Childhood memories feel more accessible
Subtle nuances are not lost in translation
You feel deeply understood
Italian is not just a language it carries cultural meaning, emotional depth, humour, and relational style. In therapy, those nuances matter.
For Italians abroad, speaking Italian in therapy can feel like returning home emotionally. It allows you to articulate subtle feelings that may feel “flat” or difficult to express in another language.
Why This Is Especially Important for Eating Disorder Recovery
At recoverED Clinic, we specialise in eating disorder recovery and related challenges such as restrictive eating, emotional eating, body image distress, perfectionism anxiety and self-worth issues.
Food is deeply cultural. Italian culture holds strong meanings around meals, family gatherings, and social connection. Exploring eating behaviours without understanding this context can feel incomplete. In addition, moving abroad can disrupt family meal traditions, food availability, social eating dynamics, body image within a new culture.
Doing therapy in Italian allows us to:
Explore family narratives around food
Address cultural expectations
Work through shame or guilt connected to eating
Reconnect with a healthier relationship with food in a culturally sensitive way
Online Therapy Across Australia
Whether you are in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, or a regional area, online therapy allows you to access support in Italian from wherever you are.
Distance from Italy does not have to mean distance from culturally attuned care.
Carolina completed her Master’s degree in Italy, receiving part of her academic and clinical training within the Italian system. If you are interested in working with Carolina click here.
Carolina primarily supports Italians living in Australia. However, if you live outside Australia and are seeking therapy in Italian, she will also consider working with you.
Note: The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and is NOT intended as medical /psychological advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
This blog post was created with the support of AI tools to help with clarity and structure. All content reflects the professional knowledge and clinical judgement of the authors.
