English-speaking expats often face isolation, culture shock, and stress abroad, with up to 42% of expatriates finding it difficult to make friends abroad. In popular expat hubs, such as Turkey, Bali, and others, you may face problems getting a qualified counselor due to language and cultural barriers.
Thankfully, numerous online platforms now connect expatriates to culturally sensitive therapists for expats worldwide. These expat therapy services websites let you search for English-speaking therapists globally.
Read on to explore the top platforms to learn where to find expat therapists and find the best one for your needs. On these platforms, you will find local in-office therapy options for expats to fully online counseling solutions.
How to Find the Best Expat Therapists Online for Counselling?
When alone in a foreign country, you might find yourself Googling “expat therapist near me” or “English-speaking therapist” upon feeling overwhelmed. However, online expat therapy platforms can simplify the search. To find the best fit on these sites, follow these simple tips:
- Assess Cultural Fit: Most importantly, look for therapists with expat or cross-cultural experience. Those who understand issues like culture shock, identity shifts, and homesickness can better relate to expat challenges.
- Verify Language and Credentials: While finding expat therapists, make sure that they speak your language fluently and are properly licensed. Many expat platforms, such as The Other Therapy, list Western-trained counselors who specialize in dealing with international clients.
- Check Specialty Areas: Expat therapists often list issues like acculturation, stress of relocating, and career pressure abroad to trigger the pain points. So, while exploring options, look for keywords such as “culture shock” and “homesickness” on their profiles to find the right one.
- Consider Cost and Flexibility: Therapy platforms for expats may charge per session or use subscription models. Before making a choice, always compare fees and see if platforms offer sliding scales, free trials, or satisfaction guarantees.
Top 10 Platforms to Find Therapists for Expats Online
As mentioned, expats around the globe may face trouble while trying to adjust to foreign countries. That’s where expat therapy platforms come to their rescue. Each of the following sites offers them access to expat therapists, either fully online or with regional offices.
1. ExpatTherapy4
ExpatTherapy4U is an online platform connecting expats with English-speaking therapists. It offers in-person sessions in cities like London, Paris, and more, as well as secure online counseling. The expat therapists listed on this platform specialize in a wide range of issues, including depression, PTSD, and expat-specific topics like culture shock.
Booking on this site is done via an online directory, where you can search by language or issue to select a therapist. Most importantly, the network is multicultural, as therapists have global experience and serve thousands of expat clients worldwide.
Key Highlights
- 24/7 Booking: This web platform lets expats search the directory and schedule sessions through phone or online at any time.
- Specialized Therapists: ExpatTherapy4U has cross-cultural clinicians, such as NY/France licensed or Vienna-based counselors, experienced in expat issues.
- Client Guarantee: If the first therapist isn’t a match, you can re-book with another, ensuring you find the right expat counselor.
2. Expathy
Apart from being a mobile-first online therapy app, Expathy is designed solely for expats all over the world. On this platform, clients fill out a short questionnaire to be matched with a licensed psychologist who shares their cultural background. It’s accessible anywhere by phone or computer, making it ideal for mobile expats.
All counselors have personal expat experience, and the matching algorithm pairs you with someone fluent in your language. You can start with a free introductory session in seconds, then continue with affordable plans.
Key Highlights
- No Waiting List: This app offers an instant start, as booking a free session takes around 30 seconds, so support is available ASAP.
- Expat-experienced Therapists: All expat psychologists on Expathy have lived abroad themselves and focus on international client needs.
- Affordable Plans: Their subscription packages, such as €69 per session monthly or €59 per session quarterly, cover text and video sessions.
3. The Other Therapy (Editor’s Choice)
The Other Therapy offers specialist expat therapy fit for people living and working abroad. Led by Trevor Brown, a PACT Level 2 certified therapist, the service provides confidential online sessions for English-speaking expats and nomads. On this platform, clients can choose single sessions and discounted multi-session packages.
Moreover, this expat therapy platform provides a concierge subscription for priority access and flexible scheduling across time zones. Importantly, their therapists especially focus on culture shock, anxiety, and maintaining continuity of care during relocations.
Thanks to its global availability, The Other Therapy serves expats in countries, including Turkey, Bali, Singapore, the UAE, and more. Any expat from these countries can book an online therapy session via an intake call or online scheduler.
Key Highlights
- Flexible Packages: The Other Therapy offers hourly, 4-session, and 8-session bundles with measurable discounts, which are designed for long-term expat therapy.
- Remote Continuity: With their secure video expat therapy sessions across time zones, nomads can maintain mental health during moves.
- Certified Expat Therapist: On this platform, all of the top expat therapists are licensed with PACT Level 2, relational therapy, and other such certifications.
4. Talkspace
Talkspace is a large United States-based online therapy platform with over 1 million users. It connects clients to licensed therapists for expats over text, audio, or video counseling sessions. Apart from expats, this platform covers individuals, couples, LGBTQ+, and senior therapy, treating issues like anxiety, PTSD, and more.
Moreover, its pricing is subscription-based to help you save money if you need multiple expat therapy sessions. Most importantly, their sessions are highly flexible, so you can message your therapist at any time with the option to schedule video calls.
Key Highlights
- Licensed Nationwide: Their best expat therapists have professional degrees and licences, including LPCs, PhDs, and LCSWs.
- Insurance-Friendly: Therapies taken through this platform are covered by many major insurers and employers, including Aetna and Tricare.
- Multiple Specialties: Along with expat therapy, their therapist treats anxiety, trauma, relationships, plus creative solution-focused therapy.
5. Expat Therapy Hub
As an international therapy platform, Expat Therapy Hub delivers affordable therapy for expats around the globe. It features a network of psychologists, psychotherapists, and registered mental health nurses across 18 countries. You start with a free assessment call, often with a mental health nurse, to match you to the right therapist.
Furthermore, sessions through this platform are live video and cover issues like depression, anxiety, and adjustment after moving. Surprisingly, they even offer weekly aftercare group sessions and resources for ongoing support.
Key Highlights
- Multilingual Support: Their expat therapists online are fluent in over 11 languages, including English, Spanish, and more, to serve diverse expat communities.
- Expat-Specific Services: Expat Therapy Hub has personnel trained in therapy for homesickness, loneliness, career, or family stress abroad.
- Free Matching: This platform offers a no-cost initial consultation to assess your needs and pair you with a suitable therapist.
6. BetterHelp
Being the world’s largest online counseling service, BetterHelp has over 31000 licensed therapists globally. Therefore, expats can often find counselors from their own or similar cultures on this platform. Moreover, you can send unlimited text messages to your expat therapist, plus schedule live video sessions each week.
If you are worried about where to find expat therapists, their algorithmic matching system will help you pair with a suitable counselor. Its plans run on a weekly subscription, roughly $60 to $90 per week, so it is an affordable option.
Key Highlights
- Flexible Communication: Expats can call or video-chat with expat therapists on this platform, along with all-day messaging support availability.
- Global Availability: BetterHelp serves clients internationally with the help of therapists licensed in the US, UK, Australia, and other countries.
- Broad Expertise: Their expat mental health experts address anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more with evidence-based techniques.
7. Truman Group
The Truman Group is a teletherapy practice serving expats worldwide. Its team of United States-trained psychologists and therapists (many with doctoral degrees) has often lived abroad, so they understand expat life. They provide individual and couples counseling for issues like anxiety, depression, grief, and cultural stress.
All of their online expat therapy sessions are conducted via secure video link, making care accessible no matter where you live. Apart from therapy for expats, their additional services include couples therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and psychological testing.
Key Highlights
- Experienced Team: Led by Dr. Sean Truman (PhD) and colleagues, their team contains trained clinicians with decades of cross-cultural practice.
- Privacy-First Care: The Truman Group uses secure video links and stays independent of corporate EAPs for an extra layer of privacy.
- Diverse Clients: This top expat therapy platform works with corporate, NGO, and government expats, and TCKs (Third Culture Kids).
8. Momentum Counseling and Consulting
Based in Denver, this platform offers an Expat Therapy program aimed at international clients. On their website, they emphasize support for expats facing anxiety, depression, or culture shock during cross-border moves.
Additionally, Momentum’s clinicians are licensed counselors familiar with global stressors, providing personalized psychotherapy. All in all, this program is intended for expats seeking on-the-ground counseling in a more traditional practice setting.
Key Highlights
- Collaborative Approach: Their expat therapists use cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness techniques adapted for nomads’ challenges.
- Professional Care: The licensed counselors for expats within Momentum Counseling commit to continuity of care through transitions and relocations.
- Local and Global: Present in the state of Colorado, this expat therapy platform also serves clients worldwide via online sessions if needed.
9. International Therapist Directory
The International Therapist Directory is a global searchable listing of therapists who understand expat and TCK (Third Culture Kid) issues. It has over 500 members in 62 countries, all screened for expertise with intercultural clients.
Users can filter by location and issue, including trauma, identity, and more. Most importantly, the directory covers both online counselors and English-speaking in-office therapists.
Key Highlights
- Expat-friendly: Focus on international issues; therapists are sensitive to cultural adjustment and multilingual challenges.
- Multiple Languages: Filter expat therapists near you in over 50 languages (English, Chinese, Russian, Turkish) to find a provider who speaks your language.
- Free Resource: No signup needed, it is a directory-style platform for finding culturally aware counselors globally.
10. Apricity Expat Therapy
Founded in 2018, Apricity Expat Therapy is a 100% online counseling service created for expats. Its small team consists of English-speaking therapists who have lived internationally. Moreover, therapy is delivered via secure video chat, so clients can log in from anywhere (even remote locations).
Talking about their services, they serve individuals, couples, and families with an evidence-based approach. Apricity providers focus on expat-specific issues like relocation stress, relationship changes abroad, and anxiety.
Key Highlights
- Global Availability: All therapy is online, as nomads can access video sessions from any country, which is ideal for expat mobility.
- English-Focused: Therapists within this expat therapy platform are bilingual, which ensures clear communication and confidentiality.
- Care with Evidence: Their therapists use proven therapies (CBT, mindfulness) and a collaborative approach fit for your cultural context.
Conclusion
Expats around the globe have more options than ever for mental health support. Platforms like ExpatTherapy4U, The Other Therapy, and others make it easy to find an English-speaking therapist experienced with cultural transition.
Each platform above offers unique features, so consider what matters most to you. Overall, a platform like The Other Therapy stands out for personalized care, as its founder Trevor Brown, offers culturally aware services for expats worldwide.
Is it possible to get an online expat therapist?
Absolutely, many platforms like The Other Therapy offer online therapy specifically for expatriates. As long as you have the internet, you can connect with a licensed counselor in your language via video call, phone, or secure messaging.
Can you do online therapy from another country?
Yes, The Other Therapy provides the best online therapy services for expats. Our teletherapy lets you maintain a session schedule even when traveling.
Can you use BetterHelp internationally?
Yes, BetterHelp’s service is accessible via the internet in roughly 200 countries (as long as privacy laws allow). In practice, many users outside the United States successfully use BetterHelp, so you’ll just need internet access and possibly private payment.
What is the average cost of online expat therapy?
Costs of the online expat therapy vary, but it is generally comparable to traditional rates. Subscription services like BetterHelp or Talkspace run roughly $60 to $100 per week. Many platforms, such as The Other Therapy, offer package deals to fit different budgets.