Expat Therapy
Are You An Expat Struggling To Adjust To Living Abroad?
After moving to another country, are you feeling more homesick and isolated than you’d like? Do you feel like your issues have become too difficult to manage on your own?
It's normal to stress over a big decision like moving abroad, but you might worry that you made the wrong choice. Perhaps the unfamiliarity of your new home has made you wish you had never chosen to relocate. As a result, you could use a helpful listener to provide some support and help you find your confidence again. For the first time, you may be considering therapy for expats.
The Challenges Of Being An Expatriate Can Be Overwhelming
When you move to a new country there are language and cultural barriers to contend with while you try to settle in. In all likelihood, you expected some struggle, but you may find the sheer magnitude of changes and challenges more all-consuming than you anticipated.
Perhaps you don’t feel any motivation to leave the house except for work—you can’t seem to connect with the people around you and you haven’t made new friends. Yet by the same token, you may have little interest in reaching out to your support network back home.
Because of these challenges, you may experience frustration, irritability, anger, anxiety, depression, and feelings of loss. If you brought your kids who are struggling with this big change, or if your spouse is having a difficult time, you might experience feelings of guilt—as if you’re to blame for their challenges.
Perhaps you are the spouse who wasn’t 100 percent on board with moving abroad and you are struggling to come to terms with your new reality. Or maybe you are the child in a family that expatriated, and you are frustrated because you left your life in America behind and you didn’t get to have much input into your parents' decision.
At Ascent Therapy Services, we understand the needs and challenges that expats face as we are expats ourselves. You can take comfort in knowing that we understand what you’re going through and can help you navigate the demands and adjustments of your new life.
More And More Americans Are Living Abroad
Expats today are not just members of the military but people who have moved abroad due to increasing remote work opportunities. American expats can be found in dozens of countries across the globe, and as of 2022, over 5 million US Citizens live abroad. (1) But the struggles can take their toll, and as many as 50 percent of expats were more likely to develop mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. (2)
Some of the main issues that expats face include language barriers, culture shock, and having to navigate new education, healthcare, and legal systems. When things feel overwhelming, they may idealize their home in America, which makes being separated from friends and family even more difficult.
Research has shown that expats are at significantly increased risk for mental health issues, yet as little as 6 percent of them get help before they relocate. (3) Being in the midst of change can make it hard for expats to see how much they are struggling.
Sometimes expats don't share their problems because they don't want to admit failure, especially if they experienced a lot of grief or disagreement from their family or friends about moving in the first place. If they have to constantly justify their decision, that could cause additional emotional and mental stress.
Most of the time, the main issue is that expats often lose their social support, which can be isolating and depressing. Thankfully, A therapist can be a helpful part of your new support system and an emotional lifeline when times are challenging. We provide online therapy to English-speaking expats in countries around the world who are seeking guidance, help, and support.
We Provide Therapy For Expats, By Expats
At Ascent Therapy Services, we understand the challenges and demands of the expat life, because we have gone through this transition period ourselves in our personal lives. Our therapists provide a safe space to explore your feelings, thoughts, and experiences as an expat. Many of our therapists are Americans currently living abroad, so we are uniquely qualified to understand your situation.
Our licensed therapists and psychologists can help you regardless of whether you are new to being an expat or have lived abroad for a long time. We provide online therapy sessions and methods you can trust to help with anxiety, depression, issues with grief and loss, trauma, and work-related struggles.
We Can Help You Identify The Core Issues That Make Life Difficult
In addition to exploring your mental health challenges, your counselor will work with you to ensure you are utilizing any community resources or solutions available to you as an expat in your specific country. Perhaps you are looking for therapy options after Aliyah as new Olim. Or maybe you’ve expatriated somewhere completely new to you and you are totally out of your comfort zone.
Our long-term goal is to leave you happier and more settled in your new home and give you the confidence to navigate unfamiliar challenges. We offer individual and group therapy and utilize a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is an approach that helps with issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma. The goal of CBT is to explore how negative thoughts and beliefs impact your emotions, behavior, and every area of your life. You will learn to reframe your perspective and see your situation in a more positive light.
Solution-focused brief therapy helps with everyday problems that you may struggle to resolve while living abroad. Perhaps you are only in your living situation for a few years, yet still find it difficult to cope with certain aspects of your life, such as dealing with language barriers and new customs. This therapeutic method may help you get back on track with your goals quickly as it is usually reserved for less time-intensive issues.
Mindfulness strategies help you focus on reducing your anxiety, quieting your mind, and paying attention to your body. These strategies can include meditation, breathing exercises, positive self-talk, and other self-care techniques.
Whatever brought you to your new country, unforeseen challenges can happen, and the stress of not having the social support you had back in the US can be overwhelming. Let Ascent Therapy Services become a new lifeline for you as an expat, helping you navigate your difficulties and come out on the other side happier, more confident, and more settled.
You Might Still Have Concerns About Therapy for Expats…
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It is common for someone already dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or feelings of loss to also feel hopeless about getting help, but therapy does make a difference. At Ascent Therapy Services, your therapist understands the struggles of living abroad such as acclimating to a new culture, learning a new language, and making new friends. We have seen first-hand how overcoming these challenges is possible with the right help and support.
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Therapy can be considered an investment instead of simply a cost, as it can help improve your life as an expat in the near and foreseeable future. Figuring out the root causes of your struggles and learning coping skills are benefits that can last indefinitely. Most insurances cover a partial amount of therapy with out-of-network providers and we can give you a Superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. The reimbursement amount varies by Insurance Carrier and we highly recommend that you confirm your benefits. We also offer group therapy at a lower rate, which can help with the overall cost of services.
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While therapy might seem like adding another item to your full plate, it can help you reduce the amount of time and energy you spend trying to manage mental health challenges. You may find that therapy makes you more productive as you adjust to your new life. Give online therapy a try and see if it opens up some mental and emotional space in your expat life. What’s more, you can engage in sessions from your home and don’t need to worry about travel concerns.
Let Us Help You Start Thriving While Living Abroad
Ascent Therapy Services can help expats like you work through your struggles to start living the life you want with confidence. We provide online therapy for English-speaking expats in Berlin, Germany. Reach out to us for a free, 15-minute consultation by calling us at (800) 906-8083 or send us your information through our online form.
3.https://expatnetwork.com/mental-health-growing-issue-expats/
