About Me
I was blessed with the opportunity to be born in Venezuela and raised between Mexico and Venezuela, to then live in more than 7 countries and travel to over 22+ countries.
My work as a counsellor is deeply rooted in both professional training and personal life experience.
For more than ten years, I have supported individuals navigating emotional challenges, grief, life transitions and personal transformation.
I studied Counselling Psychology at the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) and later specialized in counselling through Lifeline South Africa, an organization internationally recognized for its work in crisis support and emotional care.
In addition, I completed further training in grief, loss and bereavement through Hospice, supporting individuals and families navigating some of the most delicate transitions of the human experience.
Supporting people during moments of crisis and emotional vulnerability shaped not only my professional skills but also deepened my sense of empathy, presence and compassion. It taught me how powerful it can be when someone feels truly heard during difficult moments in life.
״Sometimes the journey of living abroad becomes the journey of coming back to yourself.״
-Issa Blanco Simmons
Living the Expat Journey
Beyond my professional work, my life journey has also shaped my understanding of the challenges many of my clients face.
I have lived in more than seven different countries as an expat, navigating the joys and the complexities of building a life across cultures.
Living abroad can expand our world in beautiful ways, but it can also bring profound emotional shifts; questions about identity, belonging, relationships and purpose.
I have personally navigated major life transitions while living abroad, including going through a divorce as an expat while living in Germany and I know how it feels starting over after a divorce abroad.
Experiences like these deepen my understanding of how vulnerable and disorienting life transitions can feel when your familiar support systems are far away. This personal perspective allows me to meet my clients not only as a professional counsellor, but also with genuine human understanding.
Alongside my counselling work, I have written more than five books exploring themes of emotional healing, forgiveness, personal transformation and resilience.
One of these books became a best seller, reaching readers around the world who were seeking guidance through their own healing journeys.
Writing has allowed me to share insights and tools that support people in reconnecting with their inner strength and moving forward with greater clarity and compassion toward themselves.