Expat Therapy
For those who have moved countries and found that the emotional reality of relocation is more complex than they expected.
The hidden weight of living abroad
Relocation is often framed as an adventure or a career move, but it is also a series of profound losses. You leave behind not just a place, but the context that made you who you were — your social status, your familiar routines, and the effortless connection of sharing a common language and culture.
What remains is a specific kind of 'expat loneliness' that can surface even when you are surrounded by people. You might find yourself questioning your identity, feeling constantly exhausted by the effort of adaptation, or struggling with a sense that you don't fully belong anywhere anymore.
Expat therapy takes these context-specific challenges seriously. It recognizes that your anxiety or sadness isn't necessarily a sign that something is wrong with you, but a natural response to a very difficult kind of transition.
When work and relationships carry the strain
For many people, the move began with a job: a transfer, a new contract or a partner's career. That can make it difficult to explain what feels wrong when, on paper, life is going well. Work stress crosses borders. It may feel heavier when your professional confidence, status and usual way of talking to colleagues have been reset.
Relationships come under pressure too. If one partner's career brought you both abroad, resentment or loneliness can settle inside an otherwise stable relationship. Cultural differences that seemed charming at first may reappear in arguments, in parenting and in your separate ideas of what 'home' should look like.
This doesn't mean the move was a mistake. Usually, the life you've built simply has more moving parts than either of you expected. Some need attention.
Therapy that understands the international life
I work with people caught between two worlds. My approach helps you navigate relocation stress, loneliness, and identity shifts, making sense of your move and what it means for your future.
We explore the questions that international life inevitably raises: What does 'home' mean to me now? Who am I when my external context changes? How do I build a life that feels authentic in a new place?
The work is reflective and unhurried. We stay with these questions long enough to allow a clearer sense of direction to emerge — one that isn't just about 'adjusting' to a new country, but about finding a way to be yourself within it.
People sometimes call this expat counselling, which is a fair description. Sessions are in English, and we can start with whichever part of the move feels loudest: cultural adjustment, work, your relationship or a quieter loss of direction. We don't have to name the main problem before we begin.
Who I work with
I support expats and internationals at various stages of their journey:
- New arrivals struggling with the initial shock of relocation
- Long-term expats facing a 'mid-move' crisis of identity
- People navigating cross-cultural relationships or parenting
- Internationals considering a move back 'home' and the reverse culture shock it brings
- Anyone feeling 'in-between' and seeking a clearer sense of purpose abroad
If you're unsure which kind of support fits, the therapy services overview sets out the options and fees.
Common Questions
Why work with an 'expat' therapist specifically?
A therapist who understands the expat context recognizes that your difficulties aren't just personal — they are often deeply tied to the context of relocation. You don't have to explain why moving is hard, why you feel 'in-between', or the specific exhaustion of constant adaptation; that understanding is already built into the work.
Do I have to be in a crisis to start?
No. Many expats seek therapy not because something is 'broken,' but because life has lost its color, direction, or sense of meaning. It's often more effective to begin when you first notice those shifts, rather than waiting for a crisis.
Is this only for people who just moved?
Not at all. In fact, many people find that the 'identity crisis' of expat life hits hardest after several years, once the initial busyness of settling in has passed. The questions of 'where is home?' and 'who am I now?' can surface at any stage.
Can we work in my language?
I work in English and Slovene. For many expats, working in a language that isn't their first is a way to explore new parts of themselves, while for others, the comfort of their native tongue is essential. We can discuss what feels right for you.
What if I move again?
That's the benefit of the expat-focused model. We can continue our work online, providing a stable point of reflection through your next transition.
What can expat counselling help with?
Expat counselling here means reflective therapy focused on life abroad. People come because of relocation stress, loneliness, difficulty adjusting to another culture or questions about identity and belonging. Others are struggling with a relationship or pressure at work. Often these overlap, and we look at how they connect instead of treating them separately.
Can therapy help when work was the reason I moved?
Yes. Many people moved for a job, only to find that the job became something they felt trapped by, defined by or uncertain about. We can talk about the pressure, about who you are outside your role, and about whether you want to stay or leave. You don't need an answer before you start.
Other services: individual therapy, couples therapy, or online therapy.
Understand your experience abroad
The first step is a free 15-minute introductory call. It’s a space to talk about your move, how it has changed you, and whether this approach feels useful for your next chapter.
Book a Free 15-Minute Introductory Call