Coaching & Support Groups
Expats can experience a variety of health problems during their career abroad, such as grief, anxiety/stress, triggering a past trauma, destructive health behaviours, lack of self-esteem to deal with the overwhelming situation or marriage & relationship issues. This can lead to a decreased productivity in their jobs and poses therefore a problem for corporations. Expats and corporations need to keep in mind that talking to their friends and family about their issues is important, but it is not the same as seeking professional help. Their friends and family do not have the proper education and skills to perform proven coaching techniques. They often have their own perceptions and personal agendas even though they want the best for them. Professional coaching can really help solving the issues that your expats are experiencing. Please feel free to contact us to see how we can help you.
Expats often experience a unique form of grief. At any given time, expats may be grieving the loss of familiar locations, relationships, careers, daily routines, or even the identities they’ve built. The grief that comes with leaving behind a career you’ve worked years to build, or adjusting to life in a place with unstable security, can be overlooked or dismissed. Even the shifting dynamics of friendships after a move can leave a person feeling like they’ve lost something significant. The emotional toll is real, and it can manifest in ways such as culture shock, homesickness, difficulty focusing, anxiety, depression, loss of identity, and insomnia. It’s a deep, often unspoken grief that can linger long after the initial excitement of relocation fades.
Moving to a new country may seem exciting and full of promise, but the reality can be more difficult than expected. The language, values, daily routines, and social customs of the new culture may be very different from what you're used to. While you can try to prepare for these changes, there are always surprises along the way. You might face performance issues at work. With so many adjustments to make, it’s normal to feel anxious or stressed about one or more aspects of the experience.
What people tend to think is that their past is left behind when they move to another country, but this is not true. A trauma from the past that is not resolved will have a bigger impact when you move abroad to a new environment. You are literally taking yourself with you with all the issues that you had previously. Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, crime, natural disaster, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, death of a loved one, war, being forced at something you did not want to do, a sudden medical disease and more.
When moving abroad you will quickly find out that arranging everything yourself is stressful and time consuming. In addition to your new job, you need to learn a new language, integrate in the host country, build new relationships, giving extra attention to your spouse if you have one, settle down and do administrative tasks in your free time. Often there is little time left to take care of yourself or even sleep well. You can quickly gain or lose weight due to exposure to stress. Old addictions like smoking or alcohol can come back or get worse. None of this will benefit you or your health. Becoming health efficient is the key towards a sustainable expat life.
Strong relationships with loved ones are essential for a meaningful and satisfying life. We build connections with those we care about, such as family and friends. Among these, our relationships with partners, parents, and children are particularly significant. However, living as an expat can put a strain on these bonds, leading to stress and tension. This is especially true for couples, who often face additional challenges in managing their relationship while adjusting to expat life. These problems can be further complicated when partners come from different cultural backgrounds. It’s important to acknowledge and address these challenges in order to maintain healthy, supportive connections with those we hold dear.
Are you feeling lost, lonely, or simply having a difficult time in life? Being a human is hard enough and being an expat is even harder. The dream come true also comes with vulnerability, adjustment, and some psychological hardships in a foreign country. We all need some safe space to feel the support from the community. Curated by Franciscus Vermeer, this group will be discussing various topics about mental health and how to deal with issues such as grief, anxiety, stress, and cultural differences. We will be doing exercises to help you cope with whatever you are going through.
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