Counseling for Expatriates
Empowered to Heal, Healed to Empower
Counseling Approach
Letiecq’s online counseling services are professionally tailored to the distinct needs of adolescent and adult expats facing mild to moderate mental health challenges. Recognizing that each client is unique, Letiecq’s counseling approach is intentionally person-centered, strengths-oriented and developmental. However, Letiecq often integrates evidence-based therapies – such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – to support healing and growth. This adaptable approach enables Letiecq to effectively address a broad range of mental health challenges that are impacting clients’ daily lives at home, school or work, and in their international landscape.
Counseling with Adolescents
Adolescence is a critical period of development, characterized by significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes. In recent years, there has been a growing mental health crisis among adolescents, with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and stress. This is especially true for expat adolescents, who often face unique challenges related to identity, cultural adjustment, and separation from familiar support systems.
Online counseling provides a safe and accessible space for adolescents to explore and navigate these challenges and foster healthy development during this pivotal stage of life. And, because counseling is virtual, clients receive consistent care throughout transitions and relocations — crucial for expat families on the move.
Letiecq helps adolescents in the following areas:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Emotional Regulation
- Behavioral Issues
- Coping Strategies
- Attention & Concentration
- Identity Development, including LGBTQIA+
- Peer Pressure
- Social Isolation
- Bullying & Cyberbullying
- Trauma
- Substance Use
- Social Media Use
- Loss & Grief
- Adjustment challenges
- Academic Performance
- Organization Skills
- Time & Workload Management
- College Planning
- College Preparedness
- Transitioning to University
Letiecq also collaborates closely with parents, school counselors and school leaders, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that adolescent clients receive comprehensive support at home, in school, and across services.
Counseling with Adults
In today’s fast-paced world, mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and stress are becoming more common, particularly among expats who face unique stressors such as cultural adjustment, isolation, and identity shifts. Letiecq’s comprehensive counseling approach empowers adults to overcome challenges and build the emotional and psychological resilience necessary for a fulfilling life. Letiecq offers expat adults reliable online counseling to manage stress, anxiety, and the complexities of expat life, fostering well-being and personal growth when local services are limited or unavailable.
Online counseling provides a safe and accessible space for adults to explore and navigate these challenges. And, because counseling is virtual, clients receive consistent care throughout transitions and relocations.
Letiecq helps adults in the following areas:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress & Burnout
- Emotional Regulation
- Coping Strategies
- Identity Development, including LGBTQIA+
- Adjustment Challenges
- Social Isolation
- Relationship Dynamics
- Separation & Divorce
- Loss & Grief
- Trauma
- Substance Use
- Work Performance
- Career Development
- Work-Life Balance
- Parenting
- Relocations & Repatriation
When authorized by the client, Letiecq collaborates with other healthcare professionals and key stakeholders to ensure comprehensive support across all areas of the client’s life, including home, school, work, and community services.
Focus on Expatriates
Living and working abroad presents unique challenges for expatriates, requiring resilience, adaptability, and a strong support system. Whether adjusting to a new culture, managing career transitions, or maintaining personal well-being, expats face a variety of obstacles that can impact their daily lives and long-term success. The following are common challenges many expatriates encounter:
Cultural Shock & Adjustment
Adapting to a new culture, language, and social norms can cause culture shock, and may lead to anxiety, frustration, alienation, or even an adjustment disorder.
Loneliness & Social Isolation
For many expats, being far from family, friends, and familiar support networks while building new relationships can lead to loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection.
Depression
The stress of relocation, combined with the challenges of adapting to a new environment, can lead to homesickness, a sense of lost identity, pressure to fit in, and a heightened risk of depression.
Anxiety
Uncertainty about the future, language barriers, and adapting to a new culture can increase anxiety. The loss of familiar routines and support systems makes managing stress harder.
Relationship Strain
Relocating can strain relationships due to adjustment pressures and differing expectations of expat life, leading to conflicts with partners, family, or friends.
Burnout & Work Stress
Many expats move for work, and the pressure to succeed in a new job or maintain a work-life balance in a different cultural context can lead to burnout and increased stress.
Identity & Self-Esteem
The loss of familiar culture and the challenge of fitting into a new one can lead expats to question their identity, self-esteem, and sense of belonging, particularly in the new environment.
Reverse Culture Shock
Returning home can be challenging for expats, who often face reverse culture shock, struggle to re-adapt, and experience feelings of disorientation and frustration.
“The intention to heal is the first step toward transformation and empowerment”
David Letiecq
Benefits of Counseling with Letiecq
Letiecq’s online counseling offers personalized support, expert guidance, and confidentiality to help you improve mental health and achieve personal empowerment. Key benefits cited by clients include:
Accessibility
Online access to mental health support regardless of your location in the world
Convenience
Schedule sessions at times that suit your time zone and lifestyle, eliminating the need for travel
Comfort & Privacy
Discuss personal issues, safely and privately, from the comfort of your home or office
Cultural Sensitivity
Connect with a seasoned expat therapist who understands cultural adjustment
Continuity of Care
Maintain a consistent therapeutic relationship and uninterrupted support, even when moving
Start Your Journey of Healing & Empowerment Now!
Important Notes Regarding Counseling Services
- Letiecq does not provide online counseling services for persons presenting with severe mental health symptoms / conditions. For these individuals, in-person therapy and other support services in their local community are recommended to ensure an appropriate level of support.
- For individuals currently in the United States, Letiecq offers online counseling exclusively to residents of Virginia and Washington, DC, where David Letiecq holds active licenses as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).