Why this exists
„Neke stvari se ne mogu reći na stranom jeziku."
Some things can't be said in a foreign language. Millions of people from the former Yugoslavia live across Europe and North America, and research on refugee mental-health care keeps finding the same barrier: not willingness, but language. In Germany, studies estimate that only about one in seven refugees who need psychotherapy receives adequate treatment. Talking to someone who understands your words — and where they come from — should not depend on where you live.
The name bridges two words for the same feeling: the Portuguese saudade and our sevdah — the longing for a home you carry with you. This project turns that longing into a place to be understood.
How it will work
- Choose your language and what matters to you. Filter by language, country and time zone, specialty, and price range — therapists set and publish their own prices.
- Read a profile you can trust. Every therapist is vetted before listing: diploma and license checked against their national registry, plus a live interview. Each profile shows exactly what was verified.
- Meet directly. You contact the therapist, schedule with them, and settle payment between the two of you. Sessions happen on a secure line between you and your therapist — never through our servers.
For therapists
If you are a licensed psychologist or psychotherapist who works in Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian — in the region or in the diaspora — the pilot is your invitation. Listing is free, there are no commissions, and you keep 100% of your fee, always.
Frequently asked
- What is Saudade Therapy?
- A nonprofit directory that connects the Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian-speaking diaspora with independently vetted therapists who work in their native language. It launches in late 2026; therapist applications are open now.
- Is it really free?
- Yes. Saudade Therapy is a nonprofit: free for clients, free for therapists, no commissions and no subscriptions. Therapists keep 100% of their fee, and you agree payment for sessions directly with your therapist — the platform never handles money.
- How are therapists vetted?
- Every therapist's diploma and license are checked against the professional registry of the country where they are licensed, followed by a live video interview. The full methodology is published on the vetting page, and every profile will show exactly what was verified.
- When does it launch?
- The full directory launches in late 2026. Leave your email above to receive exactly one message when it opens.
- Who is it for?
- For anyone from Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, or Montenegro living abroad — the generation that left during the war and the generation born abroad — who would rather talk to a therapist in the language they feel in. Sessions are online, from anywhere in Europe or North America.
- Is this a crisis service?
- No. Saudade Therapy is not a crisis or emergency service. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis lines on the help-now page — they answer immediately, in your country.
Saudade Therapy is not a crisis service. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, find a crisis line for your country — they answer immediately.