WHY ABROAD ?
International experience
Our professional experience of supporting people who live across cultures, combined with our own international experiences, has taught us the importance of understanding how identity, a sense of belonging and cultural changes influence psychological wellbeing.
The intercultural dimension is not a specialism we have only recently incorporated into our practice; it forms part of our professional and personal journey.
Over the years, we have supported expatriates, migrants, international students, intercultural couples and professionals who lead their lives across different countries and cultural contexts. These experiences have enabled us to understand how changes in environment, language, values and points of reference can profoundly influence the way we experience our relationships, our identity and our emotional wellbeing.
In addition to our clinical experience, several team members have undertaken training, placements or voluntary projects in different countries, maintaining close and ongoing contact with diverse cultural contexts.
As a team, we share a genuine interest in engaging with what is different. We are united by a curiosity about other cultures, other ways of understanding the world and other ways of shaping the human experience. This sensitivity is not limited to the therapeutic setting: it is also part of our life journeys, our personal connections and our ongoing professional development.
‘Rather than seeing ourselves as experts in other cultures, we are keen to maintain an attitude of curiosity and openness towards each person’s unique experience.’
Multilingual therapy
Language is much more than just a tool for communication. It is deeply linked to our emotions, our history and the way we understand the world.
Sometimes we know how we feel, but we can’t find the right words to express it in another language. In therapy, every word counts. Being able to speak in the language that feels most natural to you makes it easier to connect with your emotions, to think clearly and to feel understood.
At Abroad, we offer you a multilingual space so that you don’t have to translate for yourself, and can focus on understanding yourself better.
Intercultural psychological support
Migration can give rise to significant emotional, relational and sense-of-belonging challenges that require a sensitive, empathetic and respectful approach.
One of the most widely studied concepts is acculturative stress, which includes uncertainty, language barriers and culture shock.
Furthermore, migration does not merely involve a geographical change, but also dealing with all the symbolic and emotional losses – from the distance from family and friends to the familiar routines and places that disappear from one’s daily life.
We understand that living between cultures can be a source of growth, enrichment and discovery, but also of uncertainty, loneliness or a sense of rootlessness. That is why we offer a space where these experiences can be explored and understood from a clinical, humane and respectful perspective that recognises each person’s uniqueness. We are committed to continuing to learn every day from our encounters with those who seek our advice, keeping alive the curiosity, openness and respect that intercultural work requires.
The aim is to help you manage and cope with all the challenges that migration entails, as well as to explore your identity,
finding answers to questions such as ‘Who am I in this new context?’