6 Benefits of Online Therapy for Expats
Last Updated on May 15, 2025 by Prath
Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW
- Published on 15 May 2025
Expatriate life can be fun. But let’s be honest here: adjusting to a new environment, handling all chores alone, and finding a community to fit into is all hard. The journey doesn’t end when you settle in, either.
After a time, you may start to feel lonely or stuck. Some common emotions you may feel include emotional exhaustion, sadness, anger, distress, or anxiety.
It’s not just in your personal lives that you may struggle. For example, research shows that nearly 80% of expat employees struggle with negative mental health symptoms as a direct result of their work.
But here’s the good news: Online therapy in Singapore can be a great way to manage your mental health.
In this article, we’ll dive into the six benefits of online therapy for expats and answer some commonly asked questions about the expat journey and mental health support.
This Article Contains:
The 6 Key Benefits of Online Therapy for Expats
1) Convenient and Accessible
Expats may prefer to seek therapy without leaving their homes. For example, finding a Therapist nearby can be challenging if you’ve just moved to a new country.
Moreover, stepping outside the house to go to an unfamiliar environment within a few days of the move can also be challenging. Where do you go? How do you travel? What is the travel etiquette of the country? There are so many questions.
In countries like Singapore, finding time for in-person therapy is not always easy. This is especially true if you have a busy schedule or lack resources.
In such cases, online therapy in Singapore can be a great option for you.
Some benefits of the convenience of online therapy include:
- No commute
- Flexible hours (eg you can book a therapy session during a lunch break or even after work hours)
- Accessible from any location
2) Familiar Environment
Booking therapy sessions in an unfamiliar environment can be intimidating. For many expats, the lack of cultural awareness of the particular country can add more stress to the process. Many give up seeking mental health support due to such reasons.
For example, let’s assume a person called Max moved to Singapore for work and has been feeling homesick. Talking about his issues with a Therapist from a different culture makes him feel more lonely and excluded.
If you relate to the above example, you are not alone. As an expat, you can try online therapy in Singapore and talk to someone who’s from the same cultural background as you.
You can attend online sessions from a familiar environment. For example, some places of familiarity may include your house, work room, a park you visit daily, or a quiet cafe you’re already used to.
Tip: If you have yet to make the new place your home, try bringing all your comfort items to the place. Surround yourself with familiar objects that carry sentimental value or that make you feel at ease.
For example, family photos, favourite books, or even a cosy blanket can make you feel comfortable.
Additionally, you can add elements that remind you of your culture or home country, like local artwork, souvenirs, or foods that bring back fond memories.
3) Choice of Therapists
One of the major advantages of online therapy is the diverse choices of Therapists you can choose from.
At Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO), we have Therapists:
- Who lived in multiple countries, such as Australia and America
- From other countries like Malaysia or India, who live and offer mental health support in Singapore
- Who’ve worked with clients from several different cultural and social backgrounds
If you visit our website, you can filter Therapists by country, gender, language, and issues. The filter option allows you to look for a professional with specialisations in specific issues you want to address.
Moreover, you can choose Therapists based on their therapy style and approach.
For example, let’s assume you are a critical thinker and are drawn more towards therapy approaches that are scientific and practical in nature. In this case, you can choose a professional who has training in solution-focused brief therapy.
You can also share your preferences with the Therapist during your first session. Most professionals may offer a combination of approaches (ie eclectic) to best meet your needs.
4) Cultural Understanding
Living in a country with a vastly different culture can leave you feeling isolated or confused. Culture shock is real and, if not addressed properly, can lead to psychological distress.
Expatriates may also struggle with issues like social anxiety or depression due to these cultural differences.
Take Wei, for example. An expat from China living in the UK, he sought therapy to cope with family pressure. His therapist, from a Western background, suggested that Wei move out to gain independence, as this is common in Western cultures.
However, in Chinese culture, it’s typical for adult children to live with their parents, making the suggestion feel out of place for Wei. This misalignment left him frustrated and misunderstood.
Online therapy can help prevent such cultural friction. Here are some key benefits:
- Culturally competent therapists: A therapist who understands your cultural background and adjusts their approach to suit your needs.
- Relevant support: A therapist who provides tools and techniques that respect and incorporate your cultural values.
- Avoiding misunderstandings: A therapist who considers cultural factors before tailoring a therapeutic plan.
5) Expat Therapists
In addition to cultural understanding, some expats may feel more comfortable talking to a therapist who’s also an expat.
Expat Therapists can provide insights that are unique to living abroad as a foreigner. At TYHO, we have several expat Therapists who offer online therapy sessions. Simply reading their descriptions or watching their introductory videos can give you an idea of where they’ve lived and where they’re from!
Here’s how an expat Therapist can help:
In your personal life:
- Navigating homesickness or missing loved ones back home
- Managing and working on long-distance relationships
- Adjusting to local cultural etiquette
- Dealing with identity shifts or feeling ‘in-between’ cultures
- Coping with the stress that may occur due to relocation
In your professional life:
- Adapting to a new work culture or different leadership styles
- Dealing with isolation in remote or hybrid work settings
- Handling imposter syndrome in competitive international environments
- Managing career transitions, uncertainty, or burnout abroad
- Setting boundaries in culturally diverse workplaces
6) Long-Term Therapy Support
Seeking long-term mental health support is essential for all people, let alone expats.
As an expat, many things in your life may be uncertain. Perhaps you’re staying in the new country for a long time. Maybe you’re planning to move countries every few years.
With all these uncertainties, it can be hard to start your mental health journey if you’re unsure how long it’ll serve you.
However, online therapy can be a great way to start your journey and stay consistent for a long time.
You can continue to talk to the same Therapist from any location you prefer. Additionally, having a reliable Therapist in Singapore can provide a sense of emotional stability during major life transitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What are the common mental health issues that expats may face?
Expats often face unique challenges that can affect the quality of their lives. Some of the common issues include:
- Stress and anxiety: Adapting to a new culture, learning a language in a stressful environment, and a lack of a stable support system can feel overwhelming. These pressures, combined with the emotional labour of maintaining long-term relationships with loved ones back home, can also lead to symptoms of generalised social anxiety.
- Depression: The initial excitement of living abroad may usually be followed by feelings of homesickness, sadness, and even depression. The unfamiliarity of the environment, culture, and people can make expats feel lonely. These emotions may eventually lead to symptoms of depression.
- Social isolation: Living in a foreign country can take time to adapt and adjust. Not knowing how to interact with new people in the country can make expats feel isolated.
All the issues may or may not exist in isolation. For example, some people can feel depressed and anxious at the same time. In contrast, others may specifically struggle with depression.
2) What are some coping strategies for expats?
Living a happy life in a foreign country is possible. Through several therapeutic and self-care activities, expats can improve their emotional well-being.
Some common and simple strategies are:
- Learning the language: If you live in a country like Germany or the Netherlands, learning the language can help you connect with the local community. Languages are also a great outlet for building strong relationships.
- Building a routine: Creating a new and comfortable routine for yourself can help you manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Staying connected with loved ones: Maintaining long-distance relationships can be challenging, but they also offer a great way to manage your mental health. Try to schedule calls with your friends or family back home, and remember to keep in touch with your loved ones in a way that feels most comfortable to you.
- Maintaining physical health: Incorporating exercise or movement can also improve emotional symptoms. Sometimes, joining a running or walking club can keep you fit while also exposing you to new relationships.
3) How to start therapy in Singapore with TYHO?
Visit our app to start online therapy in Singapore.
You will find a comprehensive list of diverse Therapists in Singapore on the app. Use filter options like gender, language, issues, and approaches to find the best Therapist for your needs.
After filtering, review the shortlisted therapist profiles. Watch their introductory videos, read their descriptions, and look at the list of issues they can help with.
Once you find someone you like, book an online audio or video session with them. Make the payment and access the video link on your TYHO Dashboard.
If you need help selecting a Therapist, feel free to reach out to us here: [email protected]
4) What if therapy is not making progress?
If you feel like online therapy in Singapore is not progressing, it may be time to have an honest discussion with your Therapist.
Sometimes, talking about the setback with a professional can help you understand why a lack of progress exists.
For example, you may not notice progress due to some of the common reasons below:
- You’re not applying the skills you learn in real-life situations
- The therapeutic approach does not meet your needs
- You’re not actively addressing the issue you need help with
- The Therapist is not the right match for you
Remember that finding a good online Therapist can take time and effort, but it’s worth the investment.
If you’re struggling to progress even after talking to your Therapist, it may be time to look for someone new.
Changing Therapists is normal and required if things are not progressing. Reach out to us if you need help changing your Therapist!
Key Takeaways
- Online therapy provides a convenient, accessible, and flexible way for expats to receive support.
- Talking to a Therapist from a familiar environment can directly result in positive therapy outcomes.
- The wide choice of therapists and availability of expat therapists ensure that you can find the right match for your needs.
- Understanding cultural differences and offering long-term support make online therapy an ideal solution for managing mental health while living abroad.
You deserve high-quality support, no matter where you live. If you’re ready to start your mental health journey, find an online Therapist at TYHO today.
