EMDR for Expats, Immigrants and Global Nomads – Therapy That Moves With You

What Makes Trauma Different for Expats?

Trauma doesn’t always come from a single, dramatic event. For many expats and nomads, it’s the accumulation of stress, disconnection, cultural shifts, and identity loss that begins to wear on the nervous system.

Trauma is not just what happened — it’s how your brain and body struggled to make sense of it.

When we’re overwhelmed, our nervous system goes into survival mode. In this state, the brain and body may disconnect in an attempt to protect us. Over time, that unprocessed experience can show up as:

• Emotional numbness or outbursts

• Flashbacks or unexplained anxiety

• Trouble feeling “at home” anywhere

• Feeling stuck, foggy, or shut down

For expats, this can be compounded by the loss of familiar support systems, culture shock, visa stress, or the sense that “you should be grateful” — even when things feel hard inside.

How EMDR Works

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy approach that uses guided eye movements or bilateral stimulation to help the brain re-process difficult memories, sensations, and emotions.

It’s not about erasing the past. It’s about helping your mind and body understand that it is the past — and that you are safe now.

During EMDR sessions, we gently activate both hemispheres of the brain while revisiting stuck emotions or images. This helps your nervous system “file away” experiences that have been frozen in time, so they no longer feel like a current threat.

I like to think of EMDR as removing an emotional roadblock — so your internal traffic can flow freely again.

You can explore my blog for more resources on EMDR and each of the phases here!