What?
Living in another country can be an enriching and exciting experience. At the same time, it can also be deeply unsettling. Many expats discover that building a life abroad brings challenges that people around them do not always fully understand. Cultural differences, language barriers and the loss of familiar surroundings can slowly create a sense of loneliness or disconnection. You may feel as if you are living between two worlds, not entirely belonging in the new country, while also feeling somewhat distant from the life you left behind.
I know this experience from my own life. I’m Femke, the owner of FB Relatietherapie, and I have lived abroad myself for several years in Norway with my Norwegian husband. Moving to another country changed many parts of my life at once. I had to build a new social network, navigate a different culture and language, and find my own sense of belonging again. I understand how disorienting, isolating and emotionally complex that process can be, even when life abroad also brings wonderful opportunities.
Many expats notice that the challenges of living abroad start to affect their emotional wellbeing or their relationships. You may feel misunderstood or lonely, even when you are surrounded by people. Small cultural differences can lead to tension or misunderstandings with your partner, and the stress of adapting to a new environment can make conflicts arise more easily. Sometimes couples who once felt very connected begin to feel further apart after moving abroad, simply because they are both trying to cope with change in their own way.
Family life can also become more complicated. Children often adapt quickly to a new language, school and culture, while parents may still be searching for their footing. This can sometimes create distance or frustration, especially when communication becomes more difficult or when a child starts expressing themselves in a language that feels less natural for you as a parent. It can leave you feeling left out, powerless or unsure how to stay connected to your child.
At the same time, living abroad can raise deeper questions about identity and belonging. Many expats find themselves wondering how to stay connected to who they are, their values and their roots while building a new life in another country. Therapy can offer a place to slow down, reflect and make sense of these experiences.
In my practice, I offer a warm and understanding space for expats who are navigating these challenges. Because I know from personal experience what it means to build a life abroad, many clients feel understood quickly. Together we can explore what you are going through, strengthen your relationships and help you find more balance, connection and a sense of home in your life abroad. You don’t have to navigate it all on your own, and sometimes a few meaningful conversations can make a real difference.
How?
Therapy usually consists of around eight structured sessions that help you move from insight to meaningful and lasting change. Whether you come on your own, together with your partner, or as a couple, the process is always tailored to your specific situation and the challenges you are facing while living abroad.
In the first session we take the time to get to know each other and explore what brings you to therapy. Together we clarify your goals and begin to identify the patterns that may be creating distance, tension or disconnection in your life or relationships.
In the following session we look more closely at the emotions and needs that lie beneath those patterns. Understanding these deeper layers often helps things make much more sense and opens the door to new ways of relating to yourself and the people around you.
In the middle phase of therapy we focus on change. During these sessions you will practice new ways of responding, communicating and reconnecting. We often leave a little more time between sessions so that you can try out what you are learning in daily life and bring your experiences back into the conversation.
In the final session we reflect on the progress you have made and look at what has helped you most during the process. Together we create a kind of personal toolkit that can support you in maintaining these changes and navigating future challenges.
If needed, follow-up or “booster” sessions are always possible later on. These sessions can help you reconnect with what you have learned and offer support whenever new situations arise.
Where?
Therapy sessions can take place either in the practice or online. Together we look at what best fits your situation, preferences and practical possibilities.
Meeting in the practice offers a calm and safe environment outside of your daily context. Being physically present together can help create more focus and depth in the conversation. There is more space for silence, body language and direct attunement. For many people, coming to the practice becomes a meaningful moment to pause and give real time and attention to themselves and what they are going through.
Online therapy offers a flexible and accessible alternative. It can be especially helpful when traveling is difficult, when schedules are busy, or when you live further away. Speaking from your own familiar environment can sometimes make it easier to recognize patterns in everyday life and reflect on them together. Online sessions are just as careful, structured and supportive as sessions in the practice.
Both forms of therapy are equally valuable. What matters most is choosing the setting that supports your process and helps create a sense of safety, openness and space for change.