Although I love living abroad, being an expat has been challenging. I’ve now lived in India, Morocco, and Ecuador, and after almost five years of expat life, I decided to start a therapy journey. I have transitioned a lot during my time as an expat. Those transitional seasons have not been easy because of the many challenges I struggle with regarding my relationships with others, my marriage, and becoming a new mother. I am happy to share this post, including my experiences, the therapy group I work with, the process, and more. If you want more information, please leave a comment below.
Why I Decided To Start Therapy
- I was struggling with life abroad and life in general.
- I was suffering from depression.
- My pregnancy journey was an additional stressor early on.
- I wanted to improve my relationships with my friends, family, and husband.
- I get homesick when I first move to a new country.
- The pandemic added additional stress to my life at home and abroad.
- The need to discuss/unpack my identity as an expat, wife, soon-to-be mother, within my career, and more.
- I felt the need to unburden my family & friends from the challenges I was going through. I felt like I did not have anyone to speak to regularly, so I relied on my family and friends to vent to, which caused them stress.
- Moving to three countries, plus moving back to the US over five years, took a toll on my mental health. I realized I needed strategies to help me deal with life transitions.
- I wanted to speak about the joys and challenges of living abroad with someone who could relate.
- After speaking to a local psychologist about everything I had experienced over the past few years, starting therapy was recommended for my treatment.
The Truman Group (My Experience and Review)
The Truman Group focuses on psychotherapy and mental health consultations for expatriates living anywhere with decent internet connections. Most providers have lived overseas or have experience treating customers who have lived internationally.
Healthcare Accessibility
Healthcare doesn’t always seem accessible when living abroad, but I find the Truman Group easy to access and navigate. The staff serves a wide range of needs as well. You can do individual counseling (which I am currently doing), as well as couple and family counseling.
Who Is Care For Through The Truman Group?
The Truman Group provides care to the expatriates who work or are affiliated with the government, private companies, NGOs, and international schools.
Are Sessions Done In-Person or Online?
Sessions are done online via a secure digital platform. The sessions are great because the software used keeps your conversations confidential.
What Does Pricing Look Like Through The Truman Group?
Therapy, in general, can be pricy. But if you have insurance, you may be able to receive reimbursement. Insurance coverage varies, but you can check with your health insurance provider to see what is covered. Payment is very transparent. They discuss the price with you during your initial consultation. The Truman Group will bill you via credit card for each session you complete with your therapist. You can submit the statement you receive at the end of the month to your insurance company as a claim to receive reimbursement.
How Do I Feel After About 4 Months of Therapy?
Overall I feel good. I started off doing therapy every week, and I liked that pace. Now, with the soon arrival of my baby, I have decreased my sessions to every other week. The adjustment has been noticeable to me, but I realize I need to practice wellness in between sessions so I stay mentally well and can cope with things as they arise.
Therapy has helped me enjoy my life abroad and my life in general. I am less reactive to certain situations that would usually cause me stress. I communicate better, which has been great for my relationships.
My mind doesn’t race as much as it used to, and when I find myself receding into old patterns, I have coping mechanisms that help me calm down.
I am more self-aware. I do not project my issues onto others as much as I used to. As a result, I can better recognize when I am also a problem in certain situations.
Lastly, I find that I am more confident and capable of doing so many things, which makes me proud of myself. I have realized that I need to prioritize what I am doing for specific purposes rather than the approval of particular people. This revelation has been so freeing, and I am happy I am in such a better place.
With all that said, I am still a work in progress, and I look forward to seeing what else my therapy journey will uncover as I move into a space of freedom and enlightenment.
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