Living in another country can be exciting and disorientating. You might miss home comforts, feel stuck between cultures, or juggle time zones to stay connected with loved ones.
Counselling offers a consistent space to process these experiences and build a sense of belonging wherever you are.
How culture shock and belonging issues show up
- Feeling isolated or misunderstood in your new environment.
- Worrying about losing touch with family, friends, or cultural rituals.
- Struggling with language barriers or administrative systems.
- Questioning identity as you move between cultures.
- Balancing excitement about new opportunities with grief for what you left.
- Navigating visa or relocation stress alongside everyday life.
Why living abroad can feel emotionally complex
Relocation impacts identity, relationships, and practical stability. You may be rebuilding community from scratch while adapting to different norms. Without familiar support networks, emotions can fluctuate quickly. Even returning “home” can bring reverse culture shock, leaving you unsure where you belong.
How counselling helps you feel rooted
Weekly sessions offer a steady anchor across time zones. We explore your story, honour the losses and gains of expatriate life, and develop rituals that keep you connected.
Approaches we may use
- Pluralistic therapy to tailor support to your cultural background and goals.
- Narrative work to integrate your international experiences into a cohesive story.
- Emotion regulation strategies to manage homesickness or anxiety.
- Cross-cultural coaching to plan communication and boundary-setting across contexts.
Support for men living abroad
Men may feel pressure to appear confident abroad, especially when relocating for work. Counselling offers a place to share vulnerability, loneliness, or family concerns without judgement.
Affirming support for LGBTQ+ expats
Queer and trans people may navigate varying levels of safety and community abroad. Therapy provides a space to strategise around disclosure, healthcare access, and staying connected to affirming networks.
Living abroad counselling FAQs
Do time zones make weekly sessions difficult?
We agree a regular slot that fits our time zones.
Can therapy help if I plan to move again soon?
We can prepare for upcoming transitions, explore how to say goodbye, and plan ways to build community in your next location. Every move is different, so we tailor ideas to what feels helpful for your situation.
Next steps
Book a consultation to talk about your life abroad. If we continue, your weekly session at the same time becomes a grounding ritual as you create belonging across borders.