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Therapy for Third Culture adults, international lives & boarding school experiences
If you grew up across countries, moved often, went to boarding or international school, or now live far from where you started, you may carry a particular mix of adaptability and loss. This work is personal to our founder — and there’s room for all of it here.
Adults 18+ & couples · Secure video across Illinois · International students welcome while in Illinois
Does any of this sound familiar?
“When people ask where I’m from, I never know what to say.”
“I’m good at leaving. I’m less sure how to stay.”
“Coming ‘home’ felt harder than moving abroad.”
Illustrative statements written for this page — not client quotes.
What we often explore
Belonging & identity
Rootlessness and feeling like an outsider
Identity across countries and languages
Distance from your passport country
Moves & goodbyes
Cumulative transition grief and ambiguous loss
Repatriation and reverse culture shock
Long-distance friendships and relationships
Boarding & international schooling
Early separation from family
Hyper-independence and holding feelings in
Achievement pressure in elite settings
WHY THIS MATTERS TO US
Lived experience, not just training
Our founder, Zaraar, has lived in Pakistan, England, and the United States, and his own life includes boarding school and international education. We’ll treat your mobility as part of your story — honoring the resilience it built alongside the grief it may carry.
Questions
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No. Children of immigrants, expats, international students, and anyone who has lived between worlds is welcome.
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Yes, as long as you’re physically located in Illinois at the time of each session.
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Boarding school syndrome is a term psychotherapist Joy Schaverien used to describe patterns some adults carry after being sent to boarding school at a young age. It is not a formal diagnosis. Common patterns include emotional detachment, fierce self-reliance and difficulty depending on others, shame about vulnerability, a capable “boarding-school self” that hides distress, self-worth tied to achievement, and difficulty trusting closeness in relationships. Similar patterns can follow other early separations, such as migration, bereavement, or a parent’s illness (The Balance).
Wherever you’ve been, you can start here.
A free, no-pressure 15-minute phone call. Ask about fees, insurance, or how we work.
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