What is psychotherapy?
Defining psychotherapy: How it works, and how it can help you as an expat
Throughout the years, many have asked me what psychotherapy is and what it involves.
What does psychotherapy do?
Why does therapy work?
And what is the difference between a psychotherapist vs. psychiatrist vs. psychologist?
If you have ever wondered about these questions, this page will help you understand what psychotherapy is and how it may support your emotional wellbeing.
Defining psychotherapy
Put simply, psychotherapy is a form of talking therapy. It can help you identify and work through whatever barriers are stopping you from living your life to the fullest in line with your values, integrity, and identity.
In practice, psychotherapy involves structured conversations with a trained therapist. The therapist will help you explore experiences and beliefs that influence your way of seeing and being in the world.
Many of us have developed unconscious strategies, often founded in childhood, to help us manage difficult situations.
However, the strategies that once protected us can sometimes become obstacles later in life.
For example, you might notice patterns such as:
-
finding yourself in similar relationship dynamics again and again
-
withdrawing, over-pleasing, or feeling like you have to manage everything on your own
-
having a persistent, strong inner critic that shapes how you see yourself
-
emotional reactions that repeat in ways that feel hard to shift, even when you understand them.
Psychotherapy helps you recognise and understand your patterns, so that you can work actively with your thoughts, emotions, and actions to create new strategies and begin leading a more satisfying life.
What does psychotherapy do?
Next, let’s explore what psychotherapy actually does.
Therapy provides a safe and confidential space where you can slow down, reflect, and explore what is happening in your life.
Rather than giving advice or quick solutions, psychotherapy focuses on helping you understand the deeper dynamics behind your experiences.
The therapy itself can take different forms depending on your needs. I work with both individuals, couples, and families, and draw on several psychological approaches in order to tailor the therapy to each individual person rather than applying a single method to everyone.
In therapy you may explore:
-
emotional triggers and responses
-
relationship dynamics
-
past experiences that influence present behaviour
-
beliefs about yourself and others
-
ways of coping with stress, anxiety, or uncertainty.
Over time, this process often leads to greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, more fulfilling relationships, and a life that feels more meaningful.
Key takeaway: Psychotherapy is not about “fixing” you. It is about helping you understand yourself more deeply so you can live with greater authenticity and balance.
Explore the different forms of therapy
Why does therapy work?
Therapy creates a dedicated space for reflection without interruption or judgement that we rarely have in everyday life. And a good therapist will help you recognise patterns that may otherwise remain invisible.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, studies show that the relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important factors in successful therapy.
A good therapeutic relationship is built on trust, safety, and openness. It creates a space where you can explore difficult emotions, thoughts, and life experiences without judgement.
How to choose a therapist
As the relationship between client and therapist is of great importance for the quality and outcome to the therapeutic work, I recommend that you are thorough in your choice of therapist:
Find one with an approved education, listen to the experiences of others, check out websites, call, or write around – pick the therapist who makes you feel most comfortable and safe with sharing personal and often emotionally difficult issues.
It is also the primary reason I do not use an online booking portal: I prefer to talk with potential clients in person. This allows you to ask questions, get a sense of how I work, and decide whether the fit feels right for you.
Therapy for expats: working with the unique challenges of living abroad
There are many good reasons to be in therapy. Sometimes, life can be challenging and overwhelming. Expat life especially.
As expats, we are faced with the same challenges as everyone else: relationship issues, stress, anxiety, and the list goes on. But being far away from our usual support network, trying to adapt to a new culture, dealing with identity changes and homesickness – it adds to the struggles.
Even everyday situations can feel more complicated when you are far from the support systems you once relied on.
This is where therapy can be helpful.
Therapy offers a space to process these experiences and build a meaningful life, wherever you are in the world.
As a therapist and former expat, myself, I understand many of these challenges from both professional and personal experience.
You can read about my personal expat experience here.
By working with a therapist, you will:
-
gain a greater understanding of yourself.
-
recognise what may be holding you back from the life you want.
-
develop healthier ways of relating to others.
-
strengthen your emotional resilience and ability to manage stress and anxiety.
-
feel more confident expressing your needs and boundaries.
-
reconnect with your values and sense of direction.
Therapy is valuable, even when there is no specific crisis. Many people use therapy as a space for personal development, reflection, and emotional growth.
What is a psychotherapist?
Now let’s clarify another common question: What is a psychotherapist?
A psychotherapist is a professional trained in supporting people through psychological therapy and emotional counselling.
Their work focuses on helping clients understand the underlying patterns behind their struggles and develop healthier ways of navigating life.
Psychotherapists are trained to work with issues such as:
-
depression and low mood
-
trauma and difficult life experiences
-
identity questions and life transitions
Training to become a psychotherapist typically involves several years of theoretical education, clinical practice, supervision, and personal therapy.
This ensures that therapists develop both professional knowledge and personal insight into the therapeutic process.
The title “psychotherapist” itself is not legally protected, neither in Denmark where I am based, nor in England where I trained.
However, you can choose a therapist who is a member of Dansk Psykoterapeutforening (look for the letters MPF) or Foreningen af Danske Psykoterapeuter in Denmark – or The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) in England.
This guarantees you a therapist who meets a long list of strict requirements in relation to training, experience, ongoing professional development, and supervision.
My own training is accredited by BACP, and I am a member of Dansk Psykoterapeutforening.
Psychotherapist vs. psychiatrist vs. psychologist
There can be a lot of confusion about the difference between a psychotherapist, a psychiatrist, and a psychologist.
Although all three work with mental health, their training and roles differ.
To compare:
-
A psychotherapist focuses primarily on therapeutic conversations and emotional as well as relational exploration. The goal is to help clients understand psychological patterns and improve mental health as well as emotional and relational wellbeing. Besides psychological and therapeutical theory, part of psychotherapeutic training involves extensive client work, supervision, and personal therapy.
-
A psychologist, by contrast, holds a degree in psychology where the main focus is theory and methodology rather than practise. They are trained to assess and diagnose psychological conditions. Psychologists also provide therapy, but often work within diagnostic frameworks.
-
A psychiatrist, on the other hand, is a medical doctor specialising in mental health. Psychiatrists can diagnose psychiatric disorders and prescribe medication when needed. They will often work with patients with difficult diagnosis such a personality disorders, psychoses, etc.
Source: Dansk Psykoterapeutforening
In many cases, people benefit from psychotherapy without requiring medical treatment or a formal diagnosis.
A first conversation can be a good place to start
In summary, psychotherapy is structured conversations that helps you understand your emotions, relationships, and life patterns more clearly.
For many people – particularly those navigating life abroad – therapy provides a valuable space for reflection, emotional support, and personal growth.
If you are curious about whether therapy could support you, the first step can simply be a conversation. Sometimes a single conversation is enough to clarify your next step.
FAQ about psychotherapy
What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a collaborative and confidential process where we slow things down and explore what feels difficult, stuck, or overwhelming. We look at emotional patterns, life experiences, and relationships – not only to reduce distress, but to help you live with greater clarity, meaning, and self-connection.
Why does therapy work?
Change happens through a combination of insight, emotional processing, and new relational experiences in the therapy room. As we understand the roots of your reactions and regulate the nervous system, new ways of responding to yourself and others become possible. Therapy is not about giving advice, but about supporting your process.
What happens during a therapy session?
We begin with what feels most present for you. Some sessions are reflective and exploratory, others more focused and practical. We may work with emotions, body awareness, current situations, or past experiences – always at a pace that feels manageable. The aim is to create both understanding and a sense of safety.
What issues can psychotherapy help with?
Clients often come with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief and bereavement, relationship difficulties, identity questions, life transitions, or a sense of feeling lost or disconnected. Therapy can also support you through relocation, cultural change, and the experience of living between countries.
How do I know if psychotherapy is right for me?
Psychotherapy can help if you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or notice patterns that affect your wellbeing, relationships, or sense of self. But you do not need to be in crisis, to begin therapy. Therapy simply offers a safe space to explore emotions, understand yourself more deeply, and develop new ways of living in alignment with your values and integrity.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and coaching?
Coaching often focuses on specific issues, short-term guidance, or coping strategies, while psychotherapy tends to be deeper and longer-term, exploring emotional patterns, relational dynamics, and past experiences. Psychotherapy helps you understand why you respond the way you do and supports meaningful, lasting change in your relationships, sense of self, and life choices.
What is the difference between a psychotherapist and psychologist?
Psychotherapists are trained to provide relational, therapeutic work using emotional processing and evidence-based methods. Psychologists may provide therapy too, but their training also includes assessment, research, and diagnostic work. Both can support mental health and emotional well-being, but psychotherapists focus primarily on understanding patterns, emotions, and relationships to promote growth and healing.
How is your way of working grounded?
My work is grounded in attachment theory, existentialism, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and a trauma-informed, nervous-system aware approach. This means we focus not only on understanding problems, but on creating emotional safety and new experiences of connection – with yourself and with others.