Overcoming Life’s Challenges: Support for Expats and More
As an expatriate, adjusting to life in a new country can be a rich and rewarding experience, but it also comes with unique challenges that can amplify emotional and psychological difficulties. Whether you’re dealing with culture shock, homesickness, or struggling with everyday stressors, it’s important to know you’re not alone. I provide a safe, supportive environment where you can explore these issues, and together, we’ll work towards finding strategies that help you regain balance and well-being.
My practice offers both online and face-to-face therapy, giving you the flexibility to choose the format that best fits your lifestyle, whether you’re settling into a new country or managing the complexities of expat life from afar. Below are some of the difficulties I have helped others work through, and how therapy can be beneficial in these areas:
ADDICTIVE AND COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOURS
Addictions or compulsions—whether related to substances like alcohol or activities such as gambling—can take over your life, leading to significant financial, health, or relationship problems. Many people describe a sense of loss of control, where the behavior becomes an impulsive and destructive habit. EMDR and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be highly effective in addressing the triggers, emotional avoidance, and underlying trauma that maintain these behaviors.
ANGER
While anger can be a normal response to certain situations, for some, it becomes overwhelming and constant, impacting daily life and relationships. In more extreme cases, it can even lead to physical violence and legal consequences. Anger often stems from past experiences of injustice or mistreatment that remain unprocessed. EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help release old patterns and build healthier responses to current triggers.
INSOMNIA
Insomnia is frequently connected to anxiety or mood-related issues but can sometimes persist as a standalone problem. Chronic insomnia can deeply affect your quality of life, especially when living abroad and trying to adapt to new surroundings. CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based treatment designed to address the thoughts, behaviors, and conditioned responses that keep insomnia going.
LONG TERM HEALTH CONDITIONS
Managing long-term physical conditions, such as diabetes, respiratory problems, chronic pain, or fatigue, requires significant lifestyle adjustments. These changes can be hard to accept and often cause stress in relationships or lead to unhelpful activity and avoidance patterns. Both CBT and ACT are proven to support individuals in navigating these challenges and improving quality of life.
GRIEF/LOSS
Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or even the life you once knew, grief can feel overwhelming. It’s not uncommon to feel stuck or unable to reconnect with meaningful aspects of life after a significant loss. Therapy offers a space to process these feelings, and approaches like ACT or EMDR can help you find ways to reengage with life, even in the face of loss.
PERFECTIONISM
The drive for perfection can push you to achieve great things, but it can also lead to overwhelming stress, avoidance of important tasks, and strain on relationships. It’s often linked to deeper self-esteem issues and can be a source of ongoing frustration. CBT is particularly effective in helping people manage perfectionism, allowing for more balanced and fulfilling living.
You don’t have to face these challenges alone. Whether you identify with one or several of the difficulties above—or perhaps something else entirely—I invite you to reach out. Together, we can explore how therapy might help you find relief and clarity.
A brief initial consultation can help us determine if we’re a good fit to work together. You deserve to feel your best, no matter where life has taken you.
Help with other difficulties…
Depression / mood problems
Anxiety / stress
Trauma / postraumatic stress
Expat living problems
Couple relationships