Therapy for Expats and Multicultural Identities
Living as an expatriate or a person with multiple and/or third cultural identities can be an interesting and rich life experience, but it can also present unique challenges. As an expat myself with multiple cultural identities who has moved to different countries and lived abroad for many years, I can relate.
Coping with culture shock and/or assimilation takes time and it can lead to a sense of grief, frustration, loneliness and rootlessness.
It can be difficult in small communities to find an anonymous, English-speaking therapist who can relate to your circumstances. I am experienced in working with adolescents and adults who live internationally away from their provenance and/or people who have mixed cultural heritage.
Therapy can help you navigate challenges around displacement of identity and the strain living abroad can have on a marriage and relationships and family dynamics. Being foreign and/or non-native can also raise feelings of alienation or not belonging. Together, we can create a safe and nurturing space where you can freely express and explore all aspects of yourself.
Themes I commonly work with:
Adaptation // Alienation // Cultural bereavement
Cultural norms and differences in value systems
Discrimination // Displacement
Inherited trauma // Marital issues // Family issues
Homesickness // Migration // Parenting // Secrets // Storytelling
Trauma // Oppression/repression of your identity and/or desires
“Since we finished our sessions, I’ve been spending time with my best friend from home and we have talked a lot about our past and the hard but most worthwhile work of processing generational trauma and grief. I once again realised how much our sessions helped me. And to discover that the ‘perfect’ societal boxes don’t need to be ticked at all times.”
By working together, we can navigate the complexities of your cultural identities, address feelings of grief and confusion, and foster a sense of belonging and identity.
Contact me today to embark on your transformative journey towards healing and self-discovery.
Here's what you can expect when working with me:
Inclusive and safe space remotely or in-person: I create a dedicated, intentional, nurturing, and trauma-informed environment that unconditionally supports your healing, growth, and development
Cultural Sensitivity: I acknowledge and embrace the diverse experiences and backgrounds of individuals, including intergenerational, race, gender and sexuality
Personalised therapy approach: I recognise that each client's life trajectory and residence presents different challenges which are unique, and I tailor the therapy approach to meet their specific needs of belonging, identity, grief, and confusion and place
Foster collaboration and empowerment: I work collaboratively with clients to establish a strong therapeutic alliance across cultural lines, ensuring that their voice is heard and valued and name any biases or differences so as to acknowledge and explore power dynamics within each client-therapist relationship, including the impact of conditioning and privileges on the therapeutic viewpoint and that of whiteness and privilege