Loneliness and life abroad

Moving countries removes many of the things that quietly hold us steady: familiar people, language, food, roles and routines. Building new ones takes months or years, and the early stage is often the hardest.

For many Indians abroad, there is an extra layer. Families may have invested heavily in the move, so struggling can feel like letting people down. Different cultural expectations about independence, relationships and success can pull in opposite directions. Time differences make it hard to talk to family when you most need to.

Loneliness is a signal that a basic need for connection is not being met. It is not a personal failure.

• Building one or two small routines that feel like yours, such as a weekly call, a walk or cooking a familiar meal.
• Saying yes to low-pressure social invitations, even when you feel tired.
• Finding community, through work, study groups, faith or cultural associations.
• Being honest with one person at home about how things really are.
• Keeping regular sleep, especially if you work across time zones.

Our online sessions are built for Indians living abroad. You work with therapists who understand Indian families and culture, and also the pressures of building a life in another country, so you do not have to explain the basics.

Individual therapy helps with loneliness, low mood, anxiety and identity. Couples sessions help partners who are far apart, or adjusting together to a new place. We can also work with family members in India, so that everyone understands each other better.

We schedule sessions at times that suit your time zone, including evenings in India for clients in the US, UK, Middle East, Singapore and Australia.