Living Abroad
&
Unconventional Life Paths
Carly Stanton, LPC, MT-BC
I'm writing this to you from a small beach town in Costa Rica.
A few years ago, I did something I'd wanted to do for a long time. I packed up my life, moved to another country, and built a life that looked nothing like the one I thought I was "supposed" to have.
Along the way, I've heard just about everything you can imagine. "You're crazy." "You're running away." "That's not sustainable." "When are you going to come home?"
One of the biggest things I want you to know is this: there isn't only one right way to build a meaningful life.
You Might Be in the Right Place If...
Choosing a life that doesn't follow the expected path can be exciting, freeing, and deeply meaningful. It can also bring up fear, self-doubt, loneliness, and moments of wondering if everyone else was right after all.
Those emotions don't mean you made the wrong decision. They mean you're doing something brave.
If any of these sound familiar, you're not alone:
Wondering, "Did I make a huge mistake?"
Thinking, "Should I just go back?"
Feeling excited one moment and terrified the next.
Wondering why this feels so much harder than you expected.
Feeling caught between the life you left behind and the one you're trying to build.
Feeling lonely or misunderstood by the people closest to you.
Constantly questioning whether you're doing the right thing.
Feeling like no one really understands what you're going through.
Knowing you're becoming someone new but not quite knowing who that is yet.
Being tired of explaining or defending your choices.
You don't have to figure it all out on your own. Therapy gives you a place to make sense of what's changing, trust yourself again, and build a life that feels like yours.
Therapy with me isn't about having to justify the life you've chosen.
One of the biggest shifts I hope my clients experience is realizing that your life doesn't have to make sense to everyone else in order for it to be meaningful to you.
Instead, we'll work to make sense of what you're going through, better understand yourself, and build confidence in the decisions that are right for you. Whether we're processing everything that's changed, navigating difficult conversations, setting boundaries, or figuring out what comes next, my hope is that you leave therapy trusting yourself more than when you walked in.
Therapeutic Techniques I Use
My approach to therapy blends evidence-based practices tailored to your unique needs, including:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you make room for uncertainty and difficult emotions while staying connected to your values and what matters to you.
Psychodynamic & Attachment-Focused Therapy helps us understand how past experiences, relationships, and expectations may shape the way you experience belonging, identity, and the life you're building.
Nervous System & Emotional Regulation can help when change, uncertainty, or living between worlds leaves you feeling overwhelmed or emotionally activated, giving you tools to respond with more intention.
Mindfulness helps create some space between what you're feeling and how you choose to respond.
How Therapy With Me
Can Help You Enjoy the
Life You've Chosen
My clients report:
They feel more comfortable in their own skin.
They trust themselves and their decisions more.
They spend less time trying to fit into someone else's expectations.
They live more in line with their values instead of other people's opinions.
They feel more present and connected to the life they've worked so hard to build.
They stop feeling guilty for wanting something different.
They explain themselves less and simply enjoy their life more.
They feel more authentic, more confident, and more at peace with who they are.
The goal isn't to fit into someone else's life. It's to fully enjoy the one you've chosen.
About Carly Stanton,
LPC, MT-BC
Hi, I'm Carly!
A few years ago, I did it. I did the thing.
I packed up my life, moved to Costa Rica, and built a life that looked nothing like the one I thought I was supposed to have. Along the way, I heard just about everything you can imagine: "You're crazy." "You're running away." "That's not sustainable."
Turns out, none of those things were true.
Living abroad has been one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life. It's also given me a deep appreciation for what it feels like to build a life that doesn't fit the script.
If that's where you are, I'd be honored to help you navigate it.
Outside of Therapy
Outside of therapy, you'll usually find me hanging out with my two cats, Moo Moo and Magnum, playing board games or video games. When my vertigo decides to cooperate, I love scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean. One of my favorite parts of living in Costa Rica is waking up to the sound of the howler monkeys outside my home and watching the mama monkeys with their babies hanging onto them as they move through the trees. I'm also a huge fan of improv comedy and am still hoping to find, or maybe even start, a group here in Costa Rica.
Education, Credentials, & Trainings
Master's Degree in Music Therapy
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
13+ years of experience across inpatient psychiatry,
crisis intervention, PHP, IOP, outpatient therapy,
group therapy, and private practice.
Therapy FAQs
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Nope! This page is really for anyone building a life that doesn't fit the traditional path. Maybe you've moved abroad. Maybe you've left your faith, decided not to have children, chosen an unconventional career, or are simply creating a life that looks different than the one you were expected to live. If that's you, you're in the right place.
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It's much deeper than adjusting to a new country. That's often just what brings people in. We'll also explore the very real challenges that can come with living abroad or choosing an unconventional life path, like homesickness, loneliness, culture shock, identity shifts, or wondering whether you've made the right decision.
We'll also talk about what it's like when the people around you don't understand your choices, when you're questioning what you were taught, or when you're trying to build a life that feels authentic to you. Together, we'll make sense of what's coming up, where it comes from, and help you feel more confident living a life that feels like your own.
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Absolutely. My specialties overlap all the time. Big life changes often bring up anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, identity questions, grief, or old patterns that were already there. Therapy doesn't have to fit into one category. We'll work on whatever feels most important to you.
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No. I also work with ADHD, highly sensitive people, childhood trauma, Jewish identity, and life transitions. This is simply one of the areas I'm especially passionate about because I've lived it. There's something really powerful about working with someone who doesn't need you to explain why you've chosen a different path.
Get Started in 4 Steps
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Fill out the free consultation form and tell me a little about what’s bringing you to therapy. I’ll get back to you within one business day to schedule a time to talk.
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This is a chance for us to get to know each other. You can ask any questions you have, tell me a little about what’s been going on, and together we’ll see if we’re a good fit.
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If we decide to work together, we’ll schedule your first full session. We’ll spend some time getting to know your background, what shaped you, and what’s bringing you to therapy now. From there, we’ll figure out what you want to work on together.
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From there, every session looks a little different because every week of life is different. Sometimes we’ll process what’s happening right now. Other times we’ll explore patterns that have been with you for years, make sense of experiences that still affect you today, or work toward new goals. We’ll keep building on what we learn together.
You Don’t Have To Do This Alone Anymore
If any of this resonated with you, I'd love to connect.