A blog about the good expat life

Living abroad can be deeply enriching. Many expats describe the experience as life-changing: new cultures, new perspectives, new relationships, and new opportunities. But living abroad can also make some of life’s most difficult moments feel even harder. At some point, many expats face loss while living far away from home. It may be the death of a parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend. Sometimes the loss is different but equally painful: a divorce, a serious illness in the

Sometimes, the losses that affect us most are not the ones the world immediately recognises as grief. A cancelled journey, a postponed plan, or an experience we had quietly been looking forward to for months can touch something deeper in our nervous system. This reflection explores why certain places, experiences, and trips can feel like psychological oxygen , and why losing access to them can unexpectedly feel like loss and grief.   Recently, I had to cancel a long-planned t

Repatriation is the phase no one prepares you for!   To begin with, the emotional and psychological aspects of expatriate life are finally receiving the attention they deserve. Today, many organisations recognise that international assignments succeed not only because of the employee’s performance, but because partners and children are able to build meaningful lives abroad.   Yet one phase is still consistently underestimated: namely, coming home!   Returning is expected to b

When I first moved abroad, I thought I was prepared. I had the language. I had the professional identity. I knew how to build a life. What I had not anticipated was the quiet, relational impact of living between cultures. The way that your sense of self shifts depending on where you are. The way belonging becomes layered and, at times, fragile. The way your nervous system has to work harder when everything familiar is no longer around you. Having lived as an expat in three di

Living abroad can look exciting from the outside: new places, new languages, new people, new possibilities. And it truly can be all of that. But having lived abroad myself for many years, I also know how quietly heavy expat life can feel. One of the things that surprised me most was loneliness that didn’t always look like loneliness. I could be busy, productive, surrounded by people – and still feel deeply unseen. Not because anyone was unkind, but because connection often ta

Living abroad is frequently described as an adventure: an opportunity to broaden your horizons, explore new cultures, and create a life beyond your previous imagination. While this is often the case, there is an aspect of expatriate life that is seldom discussed openly: the hidden emotional burden that subtly depletes your energy over time. This hidden load can quietly affect how you feel about yourself, your relationships, and even your sense of purpose abroad. Having lived

Identity shifts, identity grief, and integration abroad Living abroad is often described as exciting, enriching, and full of opportunity. And it can be all of that. At the same time, it can quietly challenge your sense of who you are and where you feel at home. For many expats, the experience also brings profound identity shifts abroad  and moments of identity grief  — subtle losses of versions of ourselves that no longer fit. This quiet, ongoing work reshapes how we feel abo

Before booking a session for psychotherapy, you may be curious to know more about what psychotherapy is and how it works. Many are unsure about this, and it is only natural to want to know a bit more about what you are getting into before booking a session.  These are questions I frequently receive about my work: What is psychotherapy? Psychotherapy, often referred to as talk therapy, is a recognised method for addressing mental health issues. Sessions are held regularly, eit

As a bilingual therapist primarily working in my second language, English, to support expats in improving their mental health, emotional...

Introduction Before moving abroad, did you ever think about the concept of identity? Did you ever consider what it may feel like to have...

What is stress? For you to best manage expat stress and to apply relevant strategies to find solutions to move beyond, it's important to...

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions. From time to time, we all feel anxious and fearful; but for some, anxiety...

With the lack of light and the ongoing short days, many people find themselves looking inwards and spend the darker time of the year being introspective. With that, or perhaps without the intended introspection, many lack energy, develop a persistent low mood, and become irritable. Some have feelings of despair and guilt, some feel worthless, and it's not uncommon to feel a change towards craving carbs, gaining weight, and sleeping more during the day. When suffering from SAD

How can we regulate our nervous system at such testing times? Read this blogpost to understand your emotional response to the war and for...

Caring for and supporting someone with a mental illness can be challenging. Many people feel they haven’t got the knowledge and as such,...

According to the Danish Mental Health Fond every five or six of us will suffer from depression of varying degree at some stage throughout...