How to Find a Good Therapist: A Practical Guide for Expats
Many people find living abroad is harder than anticipated, and many people look for therapy help work through problems.
Living abroad can be one of the most rewarding and disorienting experiences of your life. The excitement of a new culture often comes paired with identity disruption, emotional strain, and relational stress that can feel isolating. That’s why finding the right therapist as an expat isn’t just about credentials; it’s about finding someone who understands the psychological and cultural terrain of expat life .
This guide walks you through what to look for in an expat-focused therapist, the therapeutic approaches that support the unique challenges faced by expats, and how to find a practitioner who aligns with your needs, values, and story.
Why Expats Need Specialist Mental Health Support
The Hidden Stressors of Life Abroad
Living across cultures brings both adventure and psychological complexity. Unique challenges include:
Identity disruption and cultural disorientation
Professional reinvention and career stagnation
Relationship strain, particularly for partnerships were one person is an accompanying partner or where there is a long-distance relationship
Grief for lost community and familiar routines
Chronic uncertainty about visas, timelines, and belonging
Reverse culture shock when returning home
These layers of stress impact emotional health in ways that therapists unfamiliar with expatriate life may overlook or misinterpret.
The Environment You Live in Profoundly Shapes Your Mental Health
Therapy is never culture-neutral. Cultural norms shape how we express emotion, seek help, and understand mental wellness. A therapist who understands the nuances of cross-cultural living can:
Help you work through adjustment reactions
Adapt communication and therapeutic pace to your cultural background
Understand the deep identity work involved in living between worlds
A culturally attuned therapist can hold space for the contradictions, grief, and transformation that come with being an expat.
What to look for in an expat-focused therapist
Professional training and registration as a counsellor, psychotherapist or psychologist.
Experience with expats, TCKs (Third Culture Kids), or global nomads
Knowledge of cultural adaptation models
Familiarity with identity disruption in mobile lives
Personal Experience and Humility
While lived expatriate experience is very helpful, what's even more essential is humility:
Awareness of their own cultural assumptions
Curiosity about your lived experience (as everyone’s experience is unique)
Willingness to learn from you and adapt their approach
Practical Flexibility
Offers online sessions and flexible scheduling across time zones
Experience with international clients
Continuity during travel or relocation
Free Initial Consultation
Many therapists offer a complimentary first session to ensure a good fit. This initial meeting allows you to:
Ask questions about their experience and approach
Share your current challenges and see how they respond
Assess whether you feel safe, understood, and comfortable
Clarify logistics like time zones, scheduling, and session format
Therapeutic connection is one of the strongest predictors of successful outcomes, so taking time to ensure a natural click is worth it. I offer all new clients a free consultation to give a no-obligation opportunity to see if the “fit” is right for both of us.
Make the Most of your Free Consultation: Ask the Right Questions
To ensure the therapist can meet your specific needs:
"What’s your experience working with expats or globally mobile clients?"
"How do you adapt therapy to different cultural backgrounds?"
"What modalities do you use, and how do they support identity transitions?"
"How do you support continuity if I relocate again?"
Therapy Isn’t Just About Problems. It’s About Growth
Yes, therapy can help you through culture shock, anxiety, or grief. But more than that, the right therapist can support you to:
Reclaim your sense of self across borders
Reconnect with lost parts of your identity
Make meaning from mobility
Integrate your international experience into a stronger, more grounded you
If you are living abroad and thinking about starting therapy, you do not have to decide everything at once. A first conversation can help you work out whether a particular therapist and way of working feels like a good fit.
If you would like to explore whether working with me is right for you, you can book a free 20 minute connection call. You can ask about my experience with expats and accompanying partners, how I work with individual and couples therapy, and what therapy might look like in your situation.
Explore other articles:
Understanding Trailing Spouse Syndrome
The Stages of Adapting to Life Abroad: What Every Expat Should Know
Why Moving Abroad Strains Relationships (and What To Do About It)
About Expatriate Therapy
Expatriate Therapy specialises in supporting individuals and couples navigating the unique psychological challenges of international relocation. With specialised training in expat mental health and personal experience expat life, I provide evidence-based therapy for trailing spouses, expat couples, and globally mobile professionals. Learn more about me here.
