Not everyone is willing to face the challenge of leaving their homeland to live and work in a new country. You’ve done it, so you know what we are talking about.
People choose to relocate to another country for different reasons; advancing their career, a new cultural experience or to simply escape the wet cold weather.
Although there are many benefits to working overseas there can also be some challenges. Almost every aspect of life is affected, from what you eat for breakfast, your work environment to building new relationships. In a way, you go through a “life transplant.” You are exposed to new situations and experiences which although interesting and exciting can lead you to feel like a bit of an outsider. Being adventurous people, you tend to see the future as a challenge to embrace and overcome. However, these feelings if left unchecked can develop into loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
Expatriate Mental Health
What expats go through has been described as early as the 17th century. During the Thirty Years’ War, expatriated Spanish soldiers suffered from the “sickness of the heart” (later called nostalgia). Similar challenges were studied in other immigrants too, ranging from missionaries to employees of oil companies. Psychiatrists of that time described symptoms of neurasthenia, which included fatigue, anxiety, depressed moods and headaches.
We have identified many stressors specific to expatriates, such as the process of acculturation, anxieties connected with home country (for instance, domestic problems you can’t attend to due to distance) and lack of regular physical contact with family and friends. Expatriates can be considered at a greater mental health risk than their home-based counterparts as they do not have easy access to their social support or healthcare system in their native language. Therefore, it is important to address those stressors early and develop coping strategies that can maintain both your physical and mental well-being.
Skype Therapy: Benefits
The only cure for Spanish soldiers back in the 1600s was repatriation. These days, however, we have more sophisticated ways of assisting people who experience emotional and mental turmoil while abroad. For example, telehealth is booming in all areas of the health industry. We now successfully use video conferencing in physical rehabilitation as well as for mental health interventions.
The use of video-conferencing software such as Skype represents a convenient option for people who live in a foreign country and want to try cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The growing evidence for therapy via online video is good. For instance, a study from the University of Melbourne concluded that both therapists and patients reported a positive experience using Skype therapy. Benefits included 1) time convenience, 2) efficiency, 3) flexibility, 4) increased access. People have less time to waste driving to appointments and need to balance therapy-time with other daily commitments. It is easier to simply schedule a CBT session when it suits you from the comfort of your home or office.
CBT is a talking therapy based in the here and now. During each session your therapist will teach specific techniques to help change the way you think, feel and behave. These new skills will help you to overcome difficulties and work towards your life goals. Therapy continues in-between weekly sessions with tasks that are agreed collaboratively to help you progress in your own time.
If you are concerned that Skype therapy might miss on the personal connection, a study led by Rd. Nasreen Kathri, clinical psychologist and researcher at the Rotman Research Institute in Canada, found that on-line video CBT met the same professional standards and outcomes as face-to-face therapy. Skype therapy enables therapists and patients to see one another and communicate both verbally and nonverbally in real time. In fact, some clients found on-line sessions more personal.
In a nutshell, CBT skype therapy experience the same benefits as those who receive CBT in-person, science shows that Telehealth technology works. At Oxford CBT, we offer Skype therapy to many people who are unable to commute to the clinic, people live and work abroad and others who simply have busy lives.
Noticing the challenges and seeking help early can prevent initial mental health difficulties developing into more complex and enduring problems. Oxford CBT provide fast access to therapy with an experienced qualified therapist even if you live thousands of miles away.
Feel free to send us any questions you might have to [email protected] or visit https://www.oxfordcbt.co.uk
