Real Life Counselling · Online Therapy in BC & Ontario

Living abroad can be exciting, and it can also be emotionally demanding. Many expats struggle with loneliness, culture shock, identity changes, relationship strain, and the pressure to adapt quickly. Counselling offers a supportive space to process what you are carrying and build stability where you are.

  • Culture shock and feeling out of place
  • Loneliness, isolation, or difficulty building community
  • Anxiety, stress, or emotional overwhelm
  • Grief, homesickness, or missing family support

All new clients begin with a brief intake so we can ensure the best therapist match.

Expat life and adjustment support in a virtual counselling session
Insurance coverage: Covered by most extended health plans. Receipts provided for reimbursement.
BC & Ontario: Services are provided virtually to clients located in British Columbia and Ontario, in accordance with provincial regulations.
No referral required: A doctor’s referral is not typically needed to begin counselling.

Common emotional challenges for expats

Many expats appear fine on the outside while feeling unsteady internally. You might be navigating new systems, language differences, social pressure, or the loss of familiar support. Therapy can help you regulate stress, process grief, and feel more rooted in your life abroad.

Culture shockDifficulty adjusting to new cultural expectations, and feeling out of place in daily life.
Loneliness & disconnectionFeeling disconnected, misunderstood, or far from the people who really know you.
Accompanying partnersYou moved for someone else’s career, and your own identity, work, and community were put on hold.
Relationship strainTension, conflict, or communication challenges under the stress of the move.
Homesickness & distanceMissing family supports, and carrying guilt or grief about being far away.
Living in betweenNot sure how long you’re staying, so parts of life stay on hold: self doubt, anxiety, and decision fatigue.

What you can work on in counselling

  • Reducing anxiety and strengthening coping skills
  • Building confidence and self trust in a new environment
  • Managing stress, burnout, and emotional overwhelm
  • Improving communication and relationship support
  • Boundary setting and managing expectations
  • Creating routines that support stability and wellbeing

How getting started works

  1. Complete the short intake form
  2. We review your needs and confirm your province
  3. You are matched with the best-fit therapist
  4. You are guided to book your first session

Expat counselling FAQs

Am I an “expat” or a “newcomer”? Does it matter?
Not to us. Whether your move feels temporary or permanent, whether you came for work, love, study, or adventure, the emotional work is similar and the label is yours to choose. If your move is a permanent settling-in, you may also find our counselling for newcomers to Canada page speaks to you.
I’m a Canadian living abroad. Can I book sessions?
Unfortunately no. Provincial regulations require our clients to be physically located in British Columbia or Ontario during sessions, so we cannot provide therapy to clients outside Canada. If you’re abroad, a therapist registered where you live is the right fit; if you’re an expat living in BC or Ontario, we’re here.
I moved for my partner’s career. Is counselling for me too?
Very much so. Accompanying partners often carry a particular mix: gratitude and resentment, a paused career, a social life built from scratch, and pressure to be endlessly adaptable. That deserves its own support, not a footnote in someone else’s relocation.
The honeymoon phase ended and now I’m struggling. Is that normal?
Yes, and it’s so common it has a name: the culture shock curve. Early excitement often gives way to frustration and homesickness months in, before things gradually stabilize. Struggling after the novelty fades doesn’t mean the move was a mistake. It means you’re in the hard middle, and support helps.
Is counselling covered by my insurance as an expat?
If you have Canadian extended health benefits through work, sessions with Registered Psychotherapists (Ontario) or Registered Clinical Counsellors (BC) are typically covered. Many international and employer expat plans also reimburse registered providers; we provide detailed receipts either way, so check your plan.
Is online counselling effective?
Yes. Research on video-delivered therapy has found it comparable to in-person care for many common concerns, and for expats it removes the extra hurdle of navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system to get support.
Where is expat counselling available?
Anywhere in British Columbia and Ontario by secure video, including Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa, Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, and Kelowna.

Related counselling services

Newcomers to CanadaIndividual CounsellingAnxiety CounsellingCouples Counselling

Ready when you are.

Building a life far from home takes more than everyone sees. Complete the intake and we will contact you within one business day to match you with the right therapist.

If you are in crisis, call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call or text 988 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, Canada), available 24/7.