Psychiatry for US Expats in Colombia
For Americans living, retiring, or working in Colombia. Telehealth across the country.
TL;DR: A board-certified, US-trained psychiatrist offering English-language psychiatric care to American expats anywhere in Colombia — familiar with the realities of life abroad, the practicalities of cross-border care, and the specific mental health concerns that come with moving your life to another country.
Most US expats figure out, eventually, that mental health care is one of the things that doesn't transfer cleanly when you move abroad. Speaking English is one thing. Finding a clinician who is US-trained, US-licensed, and actually understands the systems you came from is something else entirely.
That's exactly what this part of the practice is for.
Who I am
I'm a board-certified psychiatrist trained in both Colombia and the United States. I completed my medical degree at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá and my psychiatry residency and child & adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UPMC in Pittsburgh. I'm board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in psychiatry and in child & adolescent psychiatry, and I'm licensed in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
I understand US clinical culture — the medications, the diagnostic conventions, the way care is organized — because I trained inside it. I also understand Colombia — the country, the language, the healthcare system, the texture of daily life — because I trained in Colombia, too. Most psychiatrists in Colombia who speak English understand the first half. Most US psychiatrists who speak Spanish understand the second. Both halves together are rare. I am here to listen to all of you.
Why this works for US expats
Continuity with the US-style care you're used to. Same clinical approach, same diagnostic frameworks, same medications.
English as the working language. Not "good enough" English. Fluent clinical English, the kind needed to actually do the work.
Telehealth from anywhere in Colombia — Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, the coffee region, the coast, wherever you happen to be.
Eastern Time as the home time zone, which lines up well with most of Colombia (no scheduling acrobatics).
Superbills for out-of-network reimbursement with US insurance, and HSA cards accepted.
Familiarity with US-brand medications and how they map to what's available in Colombia.
Practical understanding of life as an American abroad — because I live the binational reality myself.
What I commonly help US expats with
Two broad buckets, often overlapping:
General psychiatric care:
Depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders
Medication management — including continuation of medications you were stable on in the US
Psychotherapy (psychodynamic, supportive, ERP, CBT-I, ADHD coaching)
Integrative psychiatry — lifestyle, supplements, and evidence-based add-ons when indicated
Expat-specific concerns:
The adjustment phase — culture shock, language strain, professional identity shifts, daily-life friction.
Isolation and homesickness — the slow loneliness that can build even when you're glad you moved.
Relationship and family stress related to relocation: partner adjustment, raising kids abroad, caring for parents from a distance.
Mental health in retirement abroad — major identity transition, sometimes sharpened by leaving behind community and routine.
The remote-worker and digital-nomad version of all of the above — high autonomy, low rootedness, often a quiet version of burnout.
Reverse culture shock when visiting the US.
Grief and loss at distance — losing someone back home is its own kind of hard.
How it works
All telehealth, secure and HIPAA-aware, from anywhere with a stable connection in Colombia.
Sessions in English — or Spanish, if you'd like the practice.
Insurance: the practice is fee-for-service. I provide superbills for possible out-of-network reimbursement under your US plan, and HSA cards are accepted.
Prescribing across borders is more nuanced than within one country — different regulatory systems, different brand names, different availability. We'll talk through your specific medications during the consultation and put a workable plan in place. [CONFIRM: your specific prescribing setup for patients physically in Colombia — direct prescribing from the US, coordination with a local Colombian prescriber, or some combination. This shapes what you can promise on this page.]
Coordination with any US-based therapists or physicians you already see, so your care stays connected rather than fragmented.
Who this is for
Retirees in Colombia — full-time or part-time, in Medellín, the coffee region, the coast, or anywhere else.
Digital nomads and remote workers building a life from a Colombian base.
Spouses of Colombians who relocated for family reasons.
Professionals on international assignment — multinational employees, NGO staff, journalists, diplomats.
Long-term travelers and slow nomads who happen to be spending a long stretch in Colombia.
Recent arrivals adjusting — and longtimers who realize they could use real support.
Common questions
Do I have to be physically in the US for our sessions? No. Telehealth from anywhere in Colombia (or elsewhere) is the norm, not the exception.
Can you continue the medications I was already on in the US? In most cases, yes.
Do you accept US insurance? The practice is fee-for-service. I provide superbills you can submit to your US insurance for out-of-network reimbursement, and HSA cards are accepted.
What time zones do you work in? Eastern Time, which lines up with most of Colombia year-round.
Can my US-based therapist or primary care doctor coordinate with you? Yes. With your permission, I work alongside any clinicians already involved in your care.
What if I need local care in Colombia — emergency, hospital, in-person? The practice is telehealth, not a 24/7 service. For psychiatric emergencies, local emergency services are the right resource. For routine in-person care or labs in Colombia, I can help you think through referral options.
Do you treat children? Yes — I work with people ages 5 and up. If your family is in Colombia and you're navigating school, language, or behavioral concerns with your child, that's part of what I do.
Ready to talk?
I offer a free 15-minute consultation call to talk through your situation and whether this kind of care is the right fit for you or your family.
