What is therapy for expats?
Терапия для экспатриантов is psychological support adapted to people who live outside their home country: expatriates sent abroad by an employer, people who moved for love, study or a new start, accompanying partners, international families and returnees. It works like any psychotherapy, with a qualified therapist and a confidential space, but the therapist also understands what moving and living between cultures does to your identity, relationships and wellbeing, and can work with you in your own language.
At My International Therapy, verified psychologists and psychotherapists offer therapy for expats in more than ten languages, in person in Berlin, Париж, Ницца и Барселона, and online wherever you live.
Why expats seek therapy
Many people move abroad expecting practical challenges and are surprised by the emotional impact. Common reasons to start therapy include:
- Culture shock and difficulties adapting to a new country
- Homesickness, loneliness and social isolation, loss of community
- Тревога, депрессия или Выгорание linked to a demanding job abroad
- Трудности в отношениях, including intercultural couples and long-distance relationships
- Parenting abroad and supporting children and teenagers through moves
- Вопросы идентичности and the feeling of belonging nowhere
- Горе when a loved one at home falls ill or dies
- Career uncertainty, the loss of a professional role or career changes
Sometimes difficulties that existed before the move become more visible once familiar support systems disappear. Therapy helps with both.
Culture shock and adapting to a new country
Adjustment often follows a pattern: excitement at first, then frustration and fatigue when daily life becomes hard (language, administration, social codes), and later a more stable balance. When stress, low mood or irritability last for months and affect sleep, work or relationships, it may be an adjustment difficulty rather than ordinary homesickness. Therapy helps you understand what you are going through, rebuild routines and a support network, and make sense of the change.
Accompanying partners, international families and third culture kids
The partner who followed a career move often loses their job, network and independence at the same time, a situation sometimes described as “trailing spouse” syndrome. Couples can drift apart when one partner thrives and the other struggles. Children who grow up between countries, often called third culture kids, can feel rootless or struggle with repeated goodbyes. Individual, couples и семейная терапия can support each of these situations.
Returning home: reverse culture shock
Coming back to your home country can be as hard as leaving it. People expect to feel at home and instead feel like strangers: friends have moved on, habits have changed and the experience abroad is hard to share. This reverse culture shock is common after several years abroad and is a good reason to talk to a therapist, including online before and after the return.
Why therapy in your own language matters
Even when you speak the local language well, emotions are often easier to explore in your mother tongue, where words carry their full meaning. A therapist who speaks your language and understands your culture of origin and your host culture can help you without you having to translate yourself. Our therapists work in languages such as English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish.
Что ожидать от сеансов
The first session is a space to describe what brings you, ask questions about the approach and see whether the therapist feels like a good fit. Sessions usually last 50 minutes, weekly or every other week. Depending on your needs and the therapist’s training, the work may draw on когнитивно-поведенческая терапия, терапия принятия и обязательств, психодинамическая терапия or an integrative approach. Some people come for a few sessions during a transition; others prefer longer work.
Онлайн-терапия для экспатов
Online sessions by video let you keep the same therapist when you move, travel often or live in a place with no therapist who speaks your language. They are a good option for frequent relocations, rotating assignments and the months before or after a move. Many therapists offer both formats, so you can combine online and in-person sessions.
Therapy for expats in Berlin, Paris, Nice and Barcelona
If you prefer to meet your therapist face to face, My International Therapy welcomes international residents in four cities. Each city page lists the therapists who see clients in person, the languages they speak and the therapies they offer: therapy in Berlin, therapy in Paris, therapy in Nice и therapy in Barcelona. If you live elsewhere, the same therapists are available online.
How to choose an expat therapist
- Check the therapist’s qualifications and professional registration
- Choose the language in which you feel most at ease to talk about emotions
- Look for experience with expatriation, intercultural life or the issue you want to work on
- Decide between online and in-person sessions, and check availability and fees
All therapists on My International Therapy are interviewed and verified by our team, and their profiles show languages, approaches, formats and prices so you can compare before booking.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
Do I need a diagnosis to see a therapist as an expat?
No. You can start therapy because you feel lonely, overwhelmed or stuck in a transition. A therapist helps you understand what is happening, and refers you to a doctor if medical assessment is needed.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
For most common difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, stress and adjustment, research shows that video therapy works as well as in-person sessions. The quality of the relationship with the therapist matters more than the format.
Can I keep the same therapist if I move again?
Yes, if your therapist offers online sessions. This continuity is one of the main reasons expats choose online therapy.
How much does therapy for expats cost?
Fees are set by each therapist and shown on their profile before you book. Check with your health insurance or international insurance plan whether psychotherapy sessions are covered and under which conditions.
Is what I say in therapy confidential?
Yes. Psychologists and psychotherapists are bound by professional confidentiality. What you share stays between you and your therapist, except in the rare situations where the law requires them to protect someone from serious danger.
This content is for general information only and does not replace a diagnosis, emergency support or treatment by a qualified professional. In an emergency, call 112.