Manhattan skyline representing therapy support for expats and international clients adjusting to life in New York.

therapy for ex-pats

You’ve made the leap to life outside the U.S. It might have been for work, love, adventure, or a fresh start. But even the most exciting international move can stir up unexpected challenges. It is common to simultaneously feel happy about your relocation and feel loneliness, challenged by the cultural adjustment, confusing identity shifts, or a sense of disconnection from your roots.

At Groundwork Therapy, we specialize in providing virtual therapy tailored for expats, remote workers, creatives, and professionals living abroad. Our New York-based, licensed therapists understand the complexities of adjusting to life outside the U.S. and are here to support you in navigating this journey.

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virtual therapy for former new yorkers

  • We draw from psychodynamic, relational, and trauma-informed frameworks to explore the deeper meaning of your experience, alongside practical tools (CBT, mindfulness, narrative work) to help you feel more grounded and intentional.

    Whether you’re feeling untethered, disillusioned, relieved, or stuck between worlds, therapy can help you hold the contradictions and begin to feel more whole.

    You can read more about how we do therapy.

  • Support for identity shifts as you redefine home, community, and belonging.

    Processing grief and loss, even if you “chose” to leave.

    Cultural adjustment: Navigating a new cultural landscape can lead to feelings of confusion and disorientation.

    Navigating political disillusionment, anxiety, and moral fatigue.

    Relational work around boundaries, guilt, and change with family or friends still in NYC.

    Homesickness: Missing family, friends, and familiar surroundings can impact your emotional well-being.

    Relationship Dynamics: Adjusting to new social norms can affect personal and professional relationships.

  • For queer and trans folks, relocating outside of the US can bring a unique set of challenges. For New Yorkers, leaving NYC, a city where many find safety, visibility, and chosen family, can create a deep sense of loss and disorientation.

    You might be facing:

    • A sudden loss of queer community or affirming spaces

    • Navigating a new culture with different (or hostile) attitudes toward gender and sexuality

    • Fear of being out in public or expressing yourself freely

    • Increased pressure to conform, mask, or "explain" your identity

    • Feeling isolated, invisible, or hyper-visible in unfamiliar environments

    • Longing for connection, but struggling to find your people

    We understand how these experiences can amplify anxiety, depression, shame, or identity confusion. We also get how hard it can be to feel like you belong when you’re far from places that once held you.

    At Groundwork Therapy, we provide identity-affirming, trauma-informed, and queer-competent therapy for expats and former New Yorkers who are now located across the globe. Our therapists bring experience working with LGBTQIA+ clients and those navigating life transitions in culturally complex environments.

    We’ll help you:

    • Explore how to maintain a sense of self and safety

    • Grieve what you’ve left, while embracing what’s ahead

    • Rebuild confidence, boundaries, and community

    • Find moments of joy and authenticity, even in uncertain spaces

Stay connected to the city from abroad
with a Brooklyn-based therapist who gets it.

For many who’ve lived in NYC, the city becomes a core part of identity. Leaving can stir up a surprising mix of grief, guilt, relief, and rootlessness. You might find yourself wondering:

  • Did I give up or reclaim my life?

  • Who am I outside of New York?

  • Why do I still feel like I’m waiting to go back?

  • Why is this supposed to feel better, but doesn’t?

You might feel like a part of you still lives in the city (like your ambition, your creativity, your urgency, and your grit).

Therapy can help you hold those parts of your identity, while also making space for growth and clarity in your new chapter.

You don’t have to choose between the person you were in NYC and the life you want to build now. We’ll work with you to integrate both. The NYC Identity runs deep. Our NYC-based therapists get that.

We offer secure, video therapy for expats, remote workers, creatives, and professionals who’ve left NYC and are navigating life transitions. We understand the intensity of the city, as well as the emotional terrain that follows when you leave.

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