Third Culture Therapy

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains several mentions of extreme violence and self-harm, particularly involving children. While difficult to talk about and listen to, we felt it right to include these moments to illustrate the severity of the situation and the vital importance of Alexandra’s work. In spite of these difficult conversations, we hope that the episode will leave you feeling more hopeful and provide you with a better idea as to how we should help the most vulnerable. What are the long term effects of war on the children who suffer because of it? And what can we do to help those most in need? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alexandra Chen, a Hong Kong-born child psychologist and trauma specialist with over a decade of experience working with war-affected children and families across the Middle East and Africa.Alexandra shares her deep insights into the often-overlooked, long-term impacts of conflict on children’s mental health, cognitive development, and education—drawing on her work with UN agencies, governments, and nonprofits in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and beyond.We delve into how Alexandra copes with the emotional weight of witnessing such profound trauma, the strategies she employs to maintain her own wellbeing, and how her diverse identities—from her Hong Kong roots to her experiences in the UK—shape her approach to helping and healing.Join us for a conversation that explores resilience, trauma, and the enduring power of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.If you are directly impacted by the war in Gaza and require mental health support, follow this link to sign up for support from Healing for Gaza. And if you want to provide support as a clinician or interpreter, or just want to donate to Healing for Gaza, all the information about how to do that can be found here. To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

How do you stay hopeful when times are hard? And can love truly survive, and even thrive, in the face of adversity?In the first episode of Season 2, we hear from award-winning journalist and writer Anna Lekas Miller, who specialises in conflict and migration. Despite covering distressing events like the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS, Anna has always sought stories of compassion and love.Her latest book, Love Across Borders, which recently won the Arab American Book Award, weaves real-life stories of couples navigating conflict and borders. One of those stories is Anna's own relationship with her husband Salem, a Syrian journalist.Together, we explore the power of love in the face of adversity, discuss Anna's upcoming novel, and examine what role stories of hope can play even in the darkest times.To make sure you never miss a Third Culture Therapy session, download the pod on your favourite platform and watch us on YouTube here and Instagram here.We deeply appreciate your support as one of our listeners. If you'd like to support us even more, feel free to donate to our Patreon here.And if you want to hear more from Anna, you can find her brilliant Instagram here:This episode is sponsored by Paradise Fold, the silk hair wrap company. Listen to the episode for a special discount code on all purchases.

Third Culture Therapy host Layla Maghribi announces the return of another season of the podcast with an amazing new line-up of guests!From the impact of hostile foreign policies on love and relationships to the role of art, poetry & literature in healing, Layla goes deep on topics that are both highly personal, and completely universal.Third Culture Therapy will be back on the 25th September - and every other Wednesday after that - so make sure to follow & subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts and get alerted when the next episode drops. And if you’re a watcher then we are also on YouTube!If you’re new to the show, scroll back & have a listen to previous episodes where i talk to therapists, shamans, tech entrepreneurs, and many more.Like follow and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts, and follow us on instagram and patreon @thirdculturetherapypod

How do a father and son maintain a strong relationship while working together on healing others?Can professional collaboration strain personal family ties?Daniel Mate, musician, author, mental chiropractor, and Palestine advocate, joins us to explore these questions. Co-author of The Myth of Normal with his father, Gabor Mate, Daniel shares insights into their father-son partnership and their joint project, "Hello Again: A Fresh Start for Parents and Their Adult Children."Together, we dive into Daniel’s healing journey, his unique mental chiropractic approach, and the transformative experiences that shaped him, including Ayahuasca in Peru. We also explore the challenges of growing up in the shadow of a famous father and how Daniel has created his own path.We further discuss Daniel’s recent involvement in the Israel-Palestine debate and how his healing work applies to larger societal conflicts. Join us as we discuss personal healing, family collaboration, and activism.To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our twitter and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest Daniel, you can find them on instagram here, and their website here.

How can embracing both Arab and Jewish identities offer a new vision for healing in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?What does it mean to love Judaism but reject Zionism?Hadar Cohen, an Arab Jewish scholar, mystic, and artist, joins us to explore these complex questions. Founder of malchut, a spiritual school focused on Jewish mysticism and direct experience of God, Hadar’s work bridges spirituality, politics, and social issues. As a 10th-generation Jerusalemite with roots in Syria, Kurdistan, Iraq, and Iran, her personal and ancestral experience brings a unique perspective to her teachings on healing and justice.Together, we discuss growing up in a divided Jerusalem, the challenges and beauty of identifying as both Arab and Jewish, and why true healing between Israelis and Palestinians requires the recognition of shared pain. Hadar also shares her thoughts on spiritual maturity, why personal healing is vital for societal change, and how building interfaith spaces can strengthen Arab communities across different religions. Join us for a conversation about identity, spirituality, and the path to peace.To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest Hadar, you can find her instagram here.This episode is sponsored by Paradise Fold, the silk hair wrap company. Listeners get a special discount on all products with the code TCT12

What does it mean to live outside the stereotypes, and how can we free ourselves from shame?How do we stop caring about others' judgments and start living for ourselves?Alya Mooro, Egyptian-born and London-raised writer and best-selling author of The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes, joins us to explore these themes. Many of you may know Alya from her newsletter and community, The Greater Conversation, but did you know she’s also a TV producer with exciting projects on the horizon? In this episode, we dive into her journey of self-development, her mental health toolkit, and how she’s learned to trust herself more through life’s challenges.Together, we discuss what it means to be a “woman outside the stereotypes” and why Alya might rethink putting "Middle Eastern" in her book title today. We also touch on body image, how illness taught her self-trust, and why looks are the least interesting thing about her (though she still loves a good selfie!). Alya also reflects on hosting her podcast The Talk of Shame and explores how confronting shame can empower us, especially for women.To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.Finally, click this link to hear more from our brilliant guest, Alya!

How can we practice self-compassion and set boundaries while facing collective grief during a genocide?What does it mean to decolonize therapy, and how can it help communities struggling with generational trauma?This week, we’re joined by Palestinian-Polish therapist Tasha Matar, who specialises in generational wounds, diasporic grief, and complex trauma. Raised in Canada by a Polish mother and a Palestinian father, Tasha brings her third-culture perspective and decolonial approach to her work, connecting deeply with clients—many of whom are Palestinians. Her eclectic practice includes Sensorimotor, DBT, internal family systems, and art psychotherapy.In this episode, Tasha shares how her experience as an intersectional therapist has been especially invaluable during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. We explore tough but critical questions: How can we be self-compassionate during a genocide? How do we deal with survivor’s guilt? And how can we stop intellectualizing trauma and learn to sit with our grief?Join us as Tasha discusses how art therapy bridges the brain’s divide, what ‘good’ therapy looks like during a crisis, and why decolonizing therapeutic practices is essential for more effective healing.To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest, visit their instagram here!

How can healthcare workers cope with the emotional toll of witnessing a humanitarian crisis, and what can be done to protect them in conflict zones?What are the mental health impacts of being an outspoken advocate for Palestinians in politically hostile environments?In this episode of Third Culture Therapy, Dr. Omar Abdel-Mannan, a British-Egyptian paediatric neurologist and humanitarian activist, joins us to discuss these questions. As a leading voice in the global movement to protect healthcare workers in Palestine, Omar shares the mental and emotional challenges he’s faced after witnessing the horrors in Gaza. He also reveals advice he received from PTSD experts on how to process such trauma healthily.We dive into Omar’s experience as a UK-based activist, the personal challenges of advocating for Palestinian rights in a politically difficult environment, and the reasons he decided to speak publicly about the mental health struggles faced by medics, including suicidal ideation. Omar sheds light on why it’s essential to destigmatise mental health issues among healthcare workers, particularly those on the frontlines of conflict.Together, we explore Omar’s journey as a humanitarian, from his early trips to the West Bank and Gaza to co-founding Gaza Medic Voices, a platform amplifying the voices of Palestinian healthcare workers. We also discuss his work with Health Workers for Palestine, a global civil society movement holding vigils for healthcare workers killed in Gaza.To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.Finally, To hear more from our brilliant guest you can follow Omar's work here and here.