This blog combines therapeutic insight with lived experience. I write about mental health, identity, and the emotional texture of everyday life — especially through the lens of living abroad. Many posts include activities and reflection tools to help you engage actively with the ideas to form your own insights.
You'll find essays, exercises, and honest observations — some personal, some professional, all designed to prompt thought and self-awareness. This is a space for exploration, for asking questions, and for staying with complexity a little longer.
If you know me, you'll know I'm not exactly the biggest fan of team sports. I've always preferred solo pursuits — yoga, running, the occasional hike where I get lost and discover some hidden corner of the world (or at least a really good boulangerie).
How long does it take to really settle in?"
Let's talk about something we rarely talk about directly: class. Not just in terms of income or occupation, but in how we feel about where we come from. Whether we feel pride in our roots — or carry hidden shame.
Every year, the Internations "Expat City Ranking" report is released, and for years, a pattern has emerged: Paris consistently ranks near the bottom of the list for livability. In 2023, it was 49th out of 49 cities.
"Should I stay friends with my ex?"
Since moving to Paris, I've embraced a new hobby that has surprised me in more ways than one: improvisational theatre, or improv acting. It's been a game-changer — not just in my personal life, but also in how I connect with others as a therapist.
If you ever want to start a contentious conversation at a dinner party of international people in Paris, ask them one simple question: "Do you consider yourself an expat or an immigrant?"
In two days time, it'll be the one year anniversary of the opening of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Les JP, as they were known in France, proved to be a transformative moment for me.