Therapy for Trailing Spouses & Expat Partners
Specialist therapy for trailing spouses & expat partners
You moved across the world for your partner's career. Maybe you left behind work you loved, as well as friends, family and community. You thought you'd adjust quickly, find your footing, and make it work. But months or even years later, you may feel grief, resentment, disconnection, and uncertainty about who you are anymore.
If this sounds like you, you don't have to work through this alone. I offer compassionate professional therapy for trailing spouses and expat partners tailored to help you process loss, understand the complexity of what you're feeling, and rebuild stability, an identity and life that feels genuinely yours.
You May Be Struggling With…
Identity Loss and Career Interruption
Your career wasn't just a job - it was how you understood your value. When it disappears, you're left asking: who am I now? You struggle with what to say when people ask what you do. Your skills become outdated while your partner's career accelerates. The independence that came from your own income and professional identity shifts into dependence and uncertainty.
Isolation and Loneliness
The deep friendships you had took years to build and can't be replicated quickly. You're in superficial expat circles where conversations stay surface-level. You're the "plus one" at corporate events, introduced through your partner's job. No one here knows the version of you who was confident and successful.
Relationship Strain and Resentment
You gave up your career, network, and independence. Your partner got a promotion and professional growth. Even in loving relationships, this creates tension. You feel resentful when they complain about work stress. Communication breaks down because you don't want to seem ungrateful. The partnership that felt equal now feels lopsided.
Guilt and "Should Be Grateful" Syndrome
You're living in another country, you have a partner who loves you, maybe financial security. From the outside, your life looks good. So why do you feel terrible? The guilt about struggling when you "should be grateful" becomes another layer of suffering. You feel ashamed for not being happier, and you don't want to burden your partner.
How Therapy Can Help
Working with a professional therapist who understands expat life and the trailing spouse experience means we can move directly to how what challenges you are experiencing. In our work together, we might:
• Untangle the complex grief (and gains) that can arise after relocating
• Explore your identity, and what matters to you now
• Notice and gently shift patterns of self-criticism, blame, or withdrawal
• Strengthen your capacity to set boundaries and express needs in your relationship
• Look at how you want to relate to work, purpose, and money
• Build practices that help your nervous system settle, so life feels less overwhelming
My approach to supporting trailing spouses
My name is Corene and I am Australian registered psychotherapist with a Master’s degree in Counselling and degrees in psychology and counselling. I have also lived in six countries and deeply understand the emotional impact of relocation from both clinical expertise and my own lived experience.
My approach is warm, thoughtful, and collaborative. You remain the expert on your own life. My job is to bring clarity, psychological knowledge, careful listening, and honest reflection so you can see your experience more clearly and choose your next steps with greater steadiness.
I've written a book specifically for trailing spouses on identity, loss, relationships and rebuilding a new sense of self. I am passionate about supporting trailing spouses and accompanying partners, and if you’d like to explore whether I am the right therapist for you, you are welcome to book a free consultation to meet me and learn more.
What Clients Say
The Relocated Self: A Guide for Trailing Spouses
I've written The Relocated Self for expat partners whose lives changed when they moved for someone else's career. It explores identity loss, career reinvention, relationship changes, and building a life that feels authentically yours.
The Relocated Self releases early 2026. Join the waitlist for updates and a free chapter.
Fees and Practical Details
I offer caring, professional psychotherapy in English for trailing spouses worldwide. I am based in Brisbane, Australia and all therapy is offered through a confidential online platform. When booking you will see your own time zone.
I offer both short term (6- 12 sessions) and open-ended individual therapy. There are no lock-in contracts, and no doctor referral is needed to work with me.
Pricing for Individual Therapy Sessions
80 minute sessions (including first Clarity Session) AUD200
50 minute individual sessions AUD160
Payment is made at the time of booking. Sessions can be rescheduled without charge with at least 24 hours’ notice. Cancellations with less notice are charged the full fee.
At the time of booking you will be provided a secure video link that we will use for the session.
Invoices for insurance purposes are available upon request.
If you are unsure about scheduling or have questions about the process, please check out the FAQs or you are welcome to get in touch.
To explore whether I am the right therapist for you, please select “New client” below to book a free 20 minute connection call.
Is this therapy just about adjusting to my new country?
No. While cultural adjustment is part of what we might explore, therapy for expat partners and trailing spouses addresses the deeper identity, relationship, and emotional challenges that come from relocating for someone else's career. We look at grief, career loss, relationship dynamics, and who you are becoming in this transition.
I feel guilty complaining when I am lucky to be here and my partner works so hard. Can therapy help with this?
Yes. The guilt many trailing spouses and expat partners feel is one of the most common issues we address. Your struggle is valid. Therapy creates space to process these complex feelings without judgment.
What if I can't work due to visa restrictions? Can therapy still help?
Absolutely. Many trailing spouses and expat partners face visa barriers to employment. Therapy isn't about "fixing" external constraints you can't control. It's about processing the emotional impact, exploring what gives you purpose and meaning, and building a life that feels authentic within your circumstances.
Will therapy make me want to leave my partner or regret the move?
Therapy provides a safe space to explore honest feelings - including difficult ones. The goal isn't to make you leave or stay, but to help you understand yourself better so you can make conscious decisions about your life and relationships. Most clients find clarity strengthens their relationships rather than threatens them
I moved a while ago and thought I'd be over this by now. Is it too late for therapy?
It's never too late. Some trailing spouses and expat partners struggle for years before seeking support, often because they believed they "should" have adjusted by now. The timeline for processing identity loss and rebuilding isn't linear, and therapy can help at any stage.
Do you support accompanying partners that are struggling with children or parenting too?
Yes. Parenting abroad without your usual support network adds another layer of challenge. We can explore how to navigate parenting stress, identity beyond motherhood/fatherhood, and relationship dynamics when you're managing most of the family logistics.
Common Questions
Take the First Step
You don't have to pretend you're fine. The first step is a free 20-minute connection call. This is a no-pressure conversation where you can describe what's on your mind and see if working together feels right.
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