Living the life of an expat is filled with adventures and perks: new horizons, new social circles, a new home, a new school for the children, etcetera. However, all of those changes can also cause stresses. It is said that moving houses is perceived by many as one of the most stressful events in their lives. If you cross borders that stress could be even higher.
How will you build new social circles? How do you cope with the practical aspects of the move? There is surely a lot of administrative work that needs doing, as much as finding out how things work in your new place of domicile.
If you are the spouse of a traveling professional, there might be strains on your relationship: how are you going to find your place in your new environment? And the children: how well do they cope and adapt?
Living the life of a trailing spouse has advantages, but it could also really pull a number on you and your romantic relationship. In (online) couples counselling I can help open up the dialogue about shared dreams, shared meaning, and how to find ways of addressing issues that can no longer be swept under the carpet.
In expat counseling we can work through these issues, and seek a deeper grounding of yourself in the life you will live for the foreseeable future. We can do so face-to-face in Nyon or Lausanne(in the canton of Vaud/Waadt in Switzerland), or otherwise through online counseling, which works through safe, encrypted and secure videolink and email.
You can always contact me (free of any obligation) to find out how you and I could work together.
Expat Counseling
In my expat counseling I keep a keen eye for any cross-cultural differences. Over the last twenty years I have worked in over thirty countries in Africa, with individuals from a wide set of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. Working with diversity for me means celebrating what we have in common as human beings, while honoring our differences. As a counselor I look for what makes you unique, while aware of the influences that we all under. Working cross-culturally for me means being aware of the need of the counselor to be humble, and curious.
Life as a Nomad
Each move comes with excitement, but also with a kind of hidden tax: the loss of what was familiar. Friendships that once felt effortless now need to be rebuilt from scratch. Everyday routines that ran on autopilot suddenly demand effort again. This constant starting over takes energy, and over time it can erode the sense of stability that couples and families rely on.
For many trailing spouses, the move is not just a change of address but a change of role. A career might be paused, professional identity put on hold, or personal ambitions reshaped to fit around the partner’s assignment. This can feel like an invisible sacrifice, and unless it’s spoken about openly, resentment and disconnection can quietly grow between partners.
And yet, relocation also brings opportunities: a chance to redefine priorities, discover resilience, and build a shared vision of what this new chapter can be. Couples who learn to talk honestly about both the losses and the gains tend to find their footing more quickly. Support — whether from community, friends, or counselling — can make the difference between feeling uprooted and finding a deeper ground together.
