Here I am in the UK

…now what?

Life is complicated, but to do it in an entirely different culture adds an element of difficulty that would be hard to understand unless you had lived through it yourself.

As an American born, UK trained counsellor, I understand how tough adapting to life in the UK can be.

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Here are just a few of the issues that expats might face along the way.

You might be/have…

thinking of moving and trying to work through the impact of that choice on yourself, your friends and your family?
newly moved and are finding it difficult to make new friends?
faced with things like setting up a bank account, looking for a job, preparing for interviews?
wondering what it means to be employed here? what is the etiquette?
a socially anxious person and the thought of doing something simple, like accepting a lunch invitation, might fill you with dread? What are the the social norms here? How do people communicate? What is risky? How should I speak, dress, respond, behave….??
preparing for family life in the UK, either by bringing children with you or planning your future family. How do you chose schools, hospitals, midwives…wait midwives?!
been here for a while and your original home country no longer feels like home? How do you process the feelings of watching your friends and family do life without you?

It is so normal to feel torn between 2 places, it creates a whole host of problems for which there are no easy answers and I understand these because they are the same issues I have faced myself!

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How counselling can help

It might be difficult to put into words how you are feeling, you might not want to burden your partner, or don’t want people to think you’re not coping just because you are feeling something less than positive. Maybe you feel like your colleagues or friends just won’t be able to understand, or maybe you simply don’t want to share your concerns or worries with the loved ones you left behind!

Whether you moved to the UK to work, study, or marry, there are many emotional implications in that choice!

Worried because you feel you don’t belong
Surprised because you’re having difficulty adjusting
Sadness from being homesick or isolated
Fearful or anxious due to the red tape and bureaucracy of immigration
Happiness, which can be overshadowed by the guilt of leaving people behind
Anger caused by the frustration of having to relearn simple things

The truth is, it’s a minefield! Counselling can help you explore your reality and help you find better ways to manage the feelings that come from living and working in a foreign country.

Talking to an experienced therapist who has the unique perspective of being an expat herself is an excellent way to help you understand all the feeling you might be having and can help you move through them in a healthy way.

I am an expat!

I am an expat from the US who moved from Colorado to the UK in 2008. Since moving, I have experienced the highs and low’s of expat life, including the birth of my own children, watching my loved ones in the states get married and have children, I’ve experienced family bereavement, and the utter hopelessness of watching people I love in the US experience crisis and trauma, all from 5000 miles away.

I won’t pretend to know exactly what it means to walk in your shoes, but I can offer you a warm space, free from judgement, and the unique perspective of someone who also left everything behind to start a new life in the UK. Together, we can explore the myriad of issues that affect expats and make sense of the nuances of life in the UK as an American born person.

Links that will help

I’d love to hear from you…

Please don’t suffer in silence, help is only a phone call away! I am always available by text or email as well.

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