Why expat therapy?

I moved to The Netherlands not as a “typical expat” but as a student. This means that although I did have the same issues that most expats do - cultural shock, acculturation issues, language barriers, etc - I had a built in support system of my university and classmates to protect me from these issues.

Fast forward to May 2018, I graduated from my university and chose to stay in The Netherlands. This is when I became a “true expat” and began to fully notice the struggles that come along with the expatriate life. Now, I did have experience with working with expats during my internships and saw first hand what these clients were presenting - stress, anxiety, loneliness. However, it wasn’t until I left school that I really understood.

Moving to a new country is hard. Moving away from family and friends is hard. Moving to a country where you don’t speak the language is hard. So why do so many people do it? Why do so many people have the desire to do it? Maybe it’s a new job, a new challenge, a desire for a change of scenery, maybe it’s for love. But no matter why you decided to move abroad - you’re now here, and new you must figure out how to deal with the changes.

Being an expat can be lonely. It is difficult to find a home, find work, find a group of friends; at times it feels like you’re doing the wrong thing, that you are some intruder that doesn’t belong on this land. But there is no reason to feel this way. The feeling of loneliness is so normal and okay in these situations, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel lonely, you don’t have to be alone.

I’ve chosen to focus on expat therapy/life coaching because I understand firsthand what it is like to leave everything familiar behind and to chose to struggle to make it in a new place. And I find it incredible when other people chose to do the same thing, no matter what the reason is. I want to provide expats with an understanding, compassionate, and safe place to share the good, the bad, and the ugly of the expat life, and to have support to make this strange land your home.

If you or anyone you know are having issues with adjusting to the Dutch way of life, or would like support and guidance, contact me at: info.therapywitholivia@gmail.com