Finding a therapist in Paris as an expat: what you need to know

Moving to Paris is a dream for many. The city, the culture, the way of life — it can feel like an adventure you have been waiting for your whole life. And yet, somewhere along the way, many expats find themselves struggling. With loneliness, identity, language barriers, or simply the weight of rebuilding a life from scratch.

When that happens, finding psychological support can feel like just another obstacle. Where do you even begin?

Why therapy as an expat can be different

Living abroad — even in a city as vibrant as Paris — comes with specific challenges that are not always easy to name:

•       The gap between how your life looks from the outside (exciting, enviable) and how it feels from the inside (exhausting, isolating)

•       Grief for the life, relationships and version of yourself you left behind

•       The pressure to adapt — to a new language, culture, workplace, and often to a new version of yourself

•       A sense of floating between two identities, belonging fully to neither

These experiences are real, and they are worth exploring with someone who can hold space for them — ideally in your own language.

How to find the right support

There is no checklist for finding a good therapist — but a few things are worth paying attention to. Working in your language matters more than it might seem: some things only exist in the words you grew up with. Beyond that, it helps to find someone whose approach makes sense to you, and with whom you feel, from the first session, that something real is possible.

One thing worth knowing when looking for support in France: the professional landscape works a little differently than in the UK or the US. The titles can be confusing — psychologue, psychiatre, psychopraticien, thérapeute — what matters most is the training behind them, and whether you feel safe and understood in the room.

My practice — a space for English and French speakers

I am a therapist trained in psycho-organic analysis (a body-mind approach developed from psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions). I work with adults in individual therapy, in both French and English.

My practice is located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, near République — a central and easily accessible neighborhood. I also offer online therapy sessions, which can be

helpful for expats whose schedules or mobility make in-person appointments difficult.

I work with issues including anxiety, depression, grief, relationship difficulties, burnout, addictions, life transitions, and identity questions — all of which are particularly common among people navigating life between cultures.

How to take the first step

The first step is often the hardest — not because therapy is scary, but because asking for help when you are already exhausted takes courage. If you are not sure whether therapy is right for you, or what it might look like, feel free to reach out. We can arrange a brief initial conversation before committing to anything. Please feel free to contact me to book a first session.