Molly Toomey, LCSW
counseling | clinical social work | consults
online from Jena, Germany
counseling
(DE & international)
counseling / clinical social work
(Connecticut, USA only)
consults for moving to Germany
(USA)
connect with me
relocation consulting: USA > Germany
strategy & support for aspiring expats, migrants, & digital nomadswith specialized support for
mental health & social work professionals & LGBTQ+ folks
One-to-one consults offering guidance on moving to Germany, working in your field (or a new one), surviving & thriving—from someone who's done it
Orientation to German cultures, systems, & professions with an American lens
Practical support with planning & making your move: exploring realistic options for residence permits, where & when to move, logistical prep, how to get your foreign training & credentials recognized, & (much) more
Emotional support from a U.S.-trained counselor & internationally accredited social worker who's walked the same path
Tailored guidance for:
—Mental health & social work professionals: navigating professional recognition, regulations, career options, & more
—LGBTQIA+ communities & beyond: planning out your "safe landing"; finding affirming care, support, & community
Appointments from 11:00-20:00 CET / 5 AM-2 PM EST
how I got here
my story
After months of research and preparation, I left the U.S. for Germany in 2021. I was excited to start immersing myself in German, getting my foreign credentials recognized, and working on building a life and career here. I had been very happy in my clinical social work career in the U.S. and dedicated myself to figuring out the path back into my profession in my new land.Then I met German bureaucracy.Things here worked differently. Compared to back home, it seemed like anything involving bureaucracy took much, much longer to process—and probably involved a fax machine. And the process of getting my foreign professional and educational credentials recognized, getting back into a meaningful career in Germany, and finding community here felt formidable.I struggled to find accurate—or any—information on how my foreign qualifications and career in the U.S. could translate into a fulfilling career in Germany, working under German law. I received inconsistent, incomplete, or incorrect guidance from immigrant counseling centers unfamiliar with my professional training and from well-meaning but uninformed folks online. It seemed like my only career options were poorly paid social services or extensive (and expensive) retraining.After countless phone calls and emails, passing an advanced language exam, completing a professional recognition course and passing that exam, consistent research and self-advocacy, and help from kind German friends, I received recognition of my foreign credentials and German professional recognition in one of my fields. I also found community and started truly integrating. I could finally focus on building a life here. I also realized I could help others navigate the maze of migration and help them build a career, connection, and community with fewer obstacles than I had faced.I'm very grateful to call Germany my home now, and I really enjoy helping people like you to successfully make their own big leap.
a personal photo from one of my favorite spots in Köln
overview of my services
what you get
This service aims to equip you with the info and support you need for a smoother transition and landing in Germany through:
Greater clarity on your options
Greater confidence in your next steps for a smooth transition
Cultural orientation from someone from your cultural context
Specific guidance on continuing your mental health or social work career abroad
Concrete suggestions and resources for getting set up personally & professionally and finding community
Insider tips on local & regional culture, integrating, finding community, getting a reply from a German authority...
Emotional support from someone who's from your country & has been through it themselves
A response within 1-2 business days. You'll understand soon why this is a precious thing!
why it's different
What I offer is different from conventional "relocation services" or "expat coaching". I offer you emotional and logistical support with a personalized, down-to-earth flavor that you won't easily find elsewhere—holistic support from someone with both the personal life experience and professional training to support you through one of the biggest transitions of your lifetime.I offerbig-picture support for all future expats, immigrants, and digital nomads,specialized support for mental health and social work professionals,and specialized support for LGBTQIA+ and other communities.Click to read more about each offering.
important note
I do not offer:
"Full relocation packages" (I won't be applying for your residence permit, finding you housing, or completing your applications for you)
"Life coaching" for personal development and inner transformation
Job hunting services
Financial advisory services
Legal services or legal advice (I am a consultant, not a lawyer)
Certified translation services
...but I can refer you to agencies offering such services.
Through this service, I aim to help you with your planning and offer non-legal support. Guidance, tips, or information that I offer are not legal advising, and any resources or suggestions I bring forth are not a legal or formal endorsement. I am not a lawyer or legally liable for decisions you make or actions you take. I am here to help, but I do not guarantee any outcomes. You are responsible for verifying the accuracy and legality of all steps taken related to your relocation and for ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and policies, domestic and international.
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Big-Picture Supportfor all future expats, immigrants, & digital nomads
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Orientation to German society, politics, & culture (info & perspectives grounded in the lived experiences of a U.S. expat-turned-immigrant)
Cultural knowledge & comparisons (American vs. German societies & cultures, regional differences within Germany, "sticking points" to anticipate)
Preparing for the move (tips for what to bring & what to do before leaving)
Getting settled after the move (what you may need to do after you arrive & when to do it)
Help understanding residency & residence permits (residence permit vs. visa, when & how to apply for a residence permit, how to prepare for an application)
German systems & processes for academic and professional recognition (where to apply, what to submit, & what you should start doing even before moving)
Help choosing the "right" city for your needs & wishes (where to go for German language & cultural immersion, international scenes, traditional or progressive, LGBTQ-friendly)
Tips for finding housing (which platforms to use, housing situation in different cities, what is a SCHUFA?)
Recommendations for English-friendly, American-friendly life essentials (health insurance companies, banks, tax software; finding a doctor, dentist, therapist)
German language-learning options (learning through self-study vs. a language program, VHS vs. private programs, tips for immersion)
Pro Life Tips for getting things done in Germany (ever used a fax machine before?)
Bonus: Personal tips from living in Köln/Cologne, Leipzig, & Jena
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Support for LGBTQIA+ Communities & Beyondfor all gender, sexual & relationship diversity
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Considerations for where to move (social & political climate, regional differences, tips on queer-friendly cities)
Residence & legal considerations (current laws & legal protections that potentially affect residency for same-sex spouses/partners and dependents, name recognition)
Finding affirming care (how to find an affirming doctor, therapist, or other service provider)
Gender auf Deutsch (navigating gendered language, pronouns, & titles in German)
Tips for finding community (where & how to connect with your communities online & offline)
Emotional support during a big transition, in a stressful political climate
...& other resources to help you have a safe & comfortable landing in Germany
Bonus: Personal reports from life in 3 queer-friendly cities
services & fees
Each service includes all of the following for a flat fee:pre-consult personalized research/notes preparation (2+ hours)
1:1 video call (1 hour)
follow-up documentation / "resource recap"
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Gateway
Single Consult
$
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Roadmap
Package of 3 Consults
$
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Choose Your Adventure
Custom Package
price TBD
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gatewaysingle consult
This may be for you if:
You'd like to get an overview of how best to prepare for the move (e.g., documents to prepare and bring)
You have a few specific questions about how to get something specific done in Germany (registering your address, getting a bank account, ...)
You're interested in a general chat about Germany or life as an expat/foreigner/American abroad
You're feeling anxious about the move and need a little grounding or support from someone who gets it
You want to bounce some ideas off of me
You'd like to feel me out and see if you'd like to work with me further
roadmappackage of 3 consults
This may be for you if:
You have questions that require more than one session to address
You'd like structured conversation and support making a concrete plan tailored to your specific situation and needs
You want an "accountability partner" to help you stay on top of things in each stage of your process
We'll always tailor the 3 sessions to your particular interests and needs.
For those looking for a more structured approach with step-by-step support, I suggest the following:
Session 1: Strategy & Feasibility
Support with the big questions: Can I move? Should I? Where? When?Session 2: Preparation
Support with preparation: Logistical & emotional prep, timeline, bureaucracySession 3: Settling In
Support with landing: Social integration, finding community, logistics of local life
choose your adventurecustom package
This may be for you if:
You want additional or more frequent sessions
You'd like ongoing logistical and emotional support and/or a longer-term "accountability partner"
You're interested in alternative or additional types of support (e.g., text support via Signal, regular email check-ins, check-in calls, ad-hoc help with translation)
You'd like in-person support getting settled after you arrive*
*I am available to meet with you in person in Germany for a pre-arranged fee, either when you land or after you arrive at your destination.
Please contact me to discuss a fee tailored to your needs. You're also welcome to book a single consult before booking a custom package!
professional & educational background
I've been in the business of helping people since 2010. I've worked with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds in their communities, schools, homes, and online. My overall mission is to build bridges across language and culture in order to make mental and physical wellness more affirming and accessible to people of all backgrounds.
degrees
Master of Social Work (2016)
Smith College School for Social Work - Northampton, MA, USAB.A. Sociology (2010)
Amherst College - Amherst, MA, USA
licensure
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Connecticut, USA (current) (License #15933)
State-recognized Social Worker - Germany (2024)
Required coursework + exam through the Hochschule Zittau-Görlitz.Licensed Indep. Clinical Social Worker - Massachusetts, USA (2021-2023)
Required min. 3,500 hours of supervised post-master's clinical experience + min. 100 hours of post-graduate supervision + clinical exam.Licensed Certified Social Worker - Massachusetts, USA (2017-2021)
Required master's degree + social work placements + exam.School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor, Initial License - Massachusetts, USA (2017)
Required recognized internships + coursework + exam.
mental health & social work
Private practice counseling (DE & international) & therapy (USA)
Individual outpatient psychotherapy (community, school, home, & online)
Clinical care coordination for individuals & multidisciplinary care teams
Supportive counseling & case management for parents/guardians of children with trauma & mental illness
Psychotherapy group facilitation (process groups, psychoeducational groups, creative-expressive groups)
Crisis intervention, deescalation, mediation, restorative justice
Trauma-informed day treatment program
Intensive 1:1 psychosocial support
Supervision of undergraduate psychology research interns
sexuality education & sexual health work
Community-based sex education (workshops & outreach)
Training of peer sexual health & sexuality educators
School-based sexuality education & counseling & bilingual outreach/awareness campaigns
Clinic-based sexual health counseling & STI/HIV testing
Curriculum development (bilingual comprehensive sex ed)
Staff coordinator of LGBTQIA+ youth support/advocacy groups
immigrant advocacy work
Support groups for LGBTQIA+ immigrant youth
Grant writing for immigrant rights organization
Program support & curriculum development for immigrant youth development program
Writing & PR for immigrant rights causes
continuing education
Trauma: Trauma-informed care & assessment, treating complex trauma, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), misc. other
LGBTQIA+: LGBTQIA+ mental health, sexual health & outreach, cultural competency
Gender, Sex & Relationship Diversity (GSRD)
Neurodiversity: Neurodiversity-affirming therapy
Kink/BDSM: Kink-affirming clinical practice
Group work: American Group Psychotherapy Association workshops & experiential trainings, Theatre of the Oppressed experiential workshops, Internal Family Systems in group work
Sex education: Comprehensive sexuality education training, sexual health & tech/new media
Sexual health: Sexual Health Counselor Certification, HIV Counseling & Testing Certification
Sexual & reproductive rights & justice: Sexuality & activism, abortion rights & reproductive freedom
Sexual exploitation: Sexual exploitation of immigrants/refugees, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)
Crisis support: Psychological First Aid, 40-hour peer crisis support training
Community organizing: Community organizing strategies training
languages
Goethe-Zertifikat B2 (current level: C1)
Intensive German language courses, A2-B2 level
Spanish language immersion program in Spain