Henriette Johnsen
Has expat life thrown you into identity crisis?
Essentially, identity is a question of who you are. Identity reflects your values that guide your choices in life. When you make choices...
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A blog about the good expat life
by Henriette Johnsen
Welcome to my blog! Here you’ll find everything from guides on various aspects of Danish culture to personal accounts from other expats - and most importantly, an in-depth look at some of the psychological challenges of expat life. I hope you will use these blog posts to enhance your expat experience.
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Henriette Johnsen
- Feb 5
- 5 min
How to effectively navigate disagreements, conflicts, and crises in your romantic relationship?
Many, if not most, couples experience disagreements, conflicts, and crises at some stage of their relationship. These can break trust,...
Henriette Johnsen
- Jan 25
- 4 min
Shame … on language
When living in London, I studied and trained to become a psychotherapist. Doing so in my second language, I experienced frustration,...
Henriette Johnsen
- Jan 16
- 3 min
Loneliness in expats
In recent years, much has been written about loneliness, in particular amongst the younger and the elder generations: loneliness is on...
Henriette Johnsen
- Jan 16
- 4 min
Tips on befriending Danes!
It’s no secret, that Denmark has a lot to offer, but being an expat in one of the seemingly happiest countries in the world is no walk in...
Henriette Johnsen
- Dec 20, 2023
- 3 min
Self-compassion as part of mental health and emotional self-care
Compassion means to suffer with; and as such, self-compassion means to suffer with yourself! To feel compassionate with yourself, you...
Henriette Johnsen
- Nov 21, 2023
- 4 min
Tips for having guests visiting from home whilst living abroad
In my expats days, we were often blessed with family and friends coming over for visits. Blessed in the sense that not only did they come...
Henriette Johnsen
- Nov 21, 2023
- 5 min
Christmas on your own?
As humans we are programmed to evolve and seek new experiences, but when it comes to Christmas, our mindset prefers for it to be same...
Henriette Johnsen
- Nov 21, 2023
- 4 min
Tips for Christmasing in your home country
For many expats, Christmas of 2020 and 2021 were particular difficult times as they were forced to cancel their plans to travel over the...
Henriette Johnsen
- Nov 15, 2023
- 7 min
For love-pats and partners hereof: bringing your loved one home...
... unfortunately, isn't always the adventure that you had hoped it to be. This blogpost will explore why and what to do to prevent...
Henriette Johnsen
- Oct 10, 2023
- 6 min
In relationships, conflicts are personal development waiting to happen - for both partners!
In my practice, I see lots of couples. Couples who love each other, hurt each other, keep fighting for the relationship, keep having the...
Henriette Johnsen
- Sep 27, 2023
- 4 min
Anxiety in expats
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions. From time to time, we all feel anxious and fearful; but for some, anxiety...
Henriette Johnsen
- Aug 28, 2023
- 4 min
Expat life: maintaining friendships at home!
Whilst you may be excited about your move abroad, of starting afresh, meeting new people, engaging in a foreign culture, learning a new...
Henriette Johnsen
- Aug 28, 2023
- 2 min
How to deal with the curse of expat friendships
Whilst nurturing your friendships at home, possibly attempting to befriend the locals, you might also want to create a circle of friends...
Henriette Johnsen
- Jul 2, 2023
- 8 min
A guide to Danish school life!
New to Danish school culture. Learn how to best support your child.
Henriette Johnsen
- Jun 4, 2023
- 3 min
Parenthood - balance imbalances!
In Denmark, today is Father’s Day. It’s also Constitutional Day. And speaking of the law, new legislation on maternity/paternity leave...
Henriette Johnsen
- Jun 1, 2023
- 7 min
Rights and responsibilities of children in Denmark
In Denmark, adulthood starts at the age of 18, but long before then, the process of becoming independent from one's parents and of taking...
Henriette Johnsen
- May 10, 2023
- 4 min
TCK and ECS - what are they?
Third culture kids and expat child syndrome! Raising children abroad means for them to be different, being the odd ones out. And not just...
Henriette Johnsen
- May 10, 2023
- 1 min
Do Danish Babies Sleep Outside?
Many moons ago, a young Danish mother was arrested and incarcerated for 36 hours for leaving her child to nap in a pushchair outside a...
Henriette Johnsen
- May 10, 2023
- 4 min
Expat mum! Super hero!
Being a mum is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles in life – I imagine being a dad is the other one! Before motherhood, if...
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