The Good Expat Life

27/03/2026

Recently, I had to cancel a long-planned trip to Cambodia and Vietnam due to the ripple effects of the conflict in the Middle East.

In the grand scheme of things, it clearly falls into what many would call a luxury problem.

And yet, if I’m honest, cancelling the trip brought up something that felt remarkably like grief.

That reaction made me curious about something many of us experience but rarely talk about: the surprisingly real sense of loss that can arise when plans, hopes, or anticipated experiences disappear.

In a new blog post, I reflect on anticipation, environments that nourish our nervous system, and why certain disappointments can feel deeper than we expect.

Writing about it made me realise how many psychological ideas sit quietly inside experiences like this: anticipation, unacknowledged loss, how certain environments regulate us, and the slightly awkward shame we sometimes feel about being disappointed by things that might seem “small”.

Interestingly, this reflection has inspired me to explore some of these themes a bit further over the coming weeks, rather than taking April off from writing here as I had originally planned. You are welcome to join us in the Facebook support group for expats, where I will share some of these April reflections alogn with some of my own photos from Vietnam: The Good Expat Life – Worldwide Expat Support.

For the blog post, you can read the full piece here.

Sometimes, the losses that affect us most are not the ones the world immediately recognises as grief.A cancelled journey, a postponed plan, or an experience we had quietly been looking forward to for months can touch something deeper in our nervous system. This reflection explores why certain places...

25/03/2026

𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

When an international chapter comes to an end, most of the visible pieces are usually well organised: the move, the job, the practicalities, the paperwork.

What is far less recognised is the internal transition that follows.

Repatriation touches identity, belonging, meaning, and relationships.

You return with expanded perspectives, changed values, and new ways of understanding yourself, and often meet environments that expect you to be the person you were before you left.

From a psychological perspective, this is not a problem to be solved.
It is a developmental process.

The task is not to “go back”, but to integrate!

In my clinical work, I see again and again how powerful it is when this phase is understood in that way. The feeling of being in between is no longer a sign of failure, but a sign that something in you has grown and is still finding its place.

In my own expat and repatriation experiences, one of the most important realisations was that belonging became less about geography and more about where I can be met as the person I have become. That shift changes the whole narrative: from loss to integration.

If this is something you are navigating at the moment, you do not have to do it on your own.

I offer a 25-minute free, non-binding consultation, where we can explore what you are going through and whether I am the right person to support you.

It happens only very rarely that I don’t have a waiting list – and right now there is space to begin.

I am currently preparing to close down shop for a few weeks, and I will be back in my practice again on 13th April – refreshed and ready to work.

You are very welcome to reach out already now if you would like a time after my return. Also, you are welcome to join in the conversation in my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thegoodexpatlife

22/03/2026

🌿 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Repatriation is often described as a practical transition.

Finding a home.

Starting a new job.

Getting the children settled.

But for many internationally mobile people, the real movement happens beneath the surface — in identity, in relationships, in the quiet question:

“Where do I belong now?”

In my latest blog post, I write about the emotional and psychological side of returning home after living abroad, and why this phase deserves far more attention, both in organisations and in our private lives.

If you are navigating this transition yourself, I would love to hear what has surprised you most about coming back — what has felt easy, and what has been more complex than expected.

🔗

Repatriation is the phase no one prepares you for! To begin with, the emotional and psychological aspects of expatriate life are finally receiving the attention they deserve. Today, many organisations recognise that international assignments succeed not only because of the employee’s performance, ...

14/03/2026

𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲

A common fear I hear from returnees is: “Have I lost the person I became abroad?”

This month, in my Facebook group, we’re exploring identity as part of the repatriation journey. It’s one of my favourite subjects, because our sense of self is so closely tied to our mental health and emotional wellbeing. I wanted to share a few reflections here as well.

From a psychological perspective, identity does not disappear – it expands.

The task in repatriation is integration, not going back.

Which parts of yourself only exist because you lived abroad? Personally, I noticed that in English, and in England, I felt much safer expressing myself emotionally. I continue to weave that into my merged identity between my expat self and my home self.

If you’re curious to learn more about identity in expat life, I’ve written about it in several blog posts, and in 2024 I gave a presentation on identity for expats on The Expat Woman. You can listen to it here:

Listen to my podcasts and watch videos on expat life and mental health. From psychotherapist Henriette Johnsen and The Good Expat Life.

08/03/2026

𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟏𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 😳

Normally, on International Women’s Day, I use this space to highlight women I admire and find inspiring.

This year feels a little different.

2026 marks 𝟏𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 and began my journey of supporting expats around the world. Allowing the spotlight to fall briefly on my own work feels slightly uncomfortable. Not only because it has taken me years to find my voice in public, but also because celebrating anything personal can feel complicated in a world that often feels increasingly uncertain and fragile.

Many people are currently facing unimaginable loss, displacement, and upheaval. In that context, speaking about expatriate life, and about my own joy in the work I do, can feel like a delicate balance.

And yet, perhaps this is exactly why the work matters.

Over the past decade, building this practice has been a whirlwind of personal and professional ups and downs: sleepless nights, tears, plenty of learning, and many moments of laughter along the way. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: A deep sense of purpose and privilege that I still carry with me every day.

With the anniversary approaching, I’ve been reflecting on my why. Quite simply, I created the therapeutic space I once needed.

As an expat myself, I longed for a service that truly understood the invisible layers of that experience: the identity shifts, the quiet grief, the cultural in-betweenness, the questions about belonging, the strain on relationships, the reinvention, and the resilience.

So much of it goes unspoken, yet it shapes everything.

I wanted to create a place where none of those curveballs need explaining: Where lived experience meets professional care.

And why do I keep going?

Because every single day, the world walks into my practice.

It is a profound privilege to be trusted with people’s inner lives. To sit beside them in vulnerable and courageous moments. To witness the turning points, the softening, the strength, and the thriving.

There is deep joy in seeing people reconnect with themselves, with each other, and with a sense of belonging: Wherever they are in the world.

And I continue to learn something new every day: about people, about relationships, about resilience, and about what it means to be human.

To all my clients, past and present: thank you for allowing me to walk alongside you. It is an honour beyond words.

And heartfelt thanks to the many people who have supported this journey: collaborators, colleagues, friends, my husband for believing in this dream, and everyone who has listened, encouraged, and helped along the way. You know who you are.

Over the coming months, leading up to the official anniversary in August, I’ll share a few reflections from the past decade.

For now, I find myself wondering:
What has the past 10 years changed in your life?

02/03/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

For a long time, the focus in the expat world has been on adapting to life abroad.

But in my clinical work, and in my own life, I repeatedly meet a different reality:
Coming home can be the hardest transition of all.

In March, I will be exploring:
✧ Why the return can feel emotionally disorienting
✧ Feeling like a stranger in your own country
✧ Identity shifts and relationship changes
✧ How to build a meaningful life that includes your international self

Most of this will unfold inside my private Facebook group, because repatriation is a deeply personal experience that deserves a safe and supportive space.

If this resonates with your story, you are very welcome to join us there:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thegoodexpatlife

01/03/2026

🌿 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 – 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 🌿

I am adding yet another string to my bow, and as part of my training to become a certified, advanced hypnotherapist, I am currently looking for a small number of practice clients.

Hypnotherapy is a gentle and focused way of working with the subconscious mind and can help create positive and sustainable change with issues such as habits, sleep, self-confidence, and overall well-being.

I am offering 6 individual sessions at DKR 400 each, for:

✨ 2 people who want to stop smoking – 1 session per client
✨ 2 people who want to lose weight – 1 session per client
✨ 2 people who want to sleep better – 1 session per client

📍 Sessions take place in person at my practice:
Baumgartensvej 46, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
(They are not available online during my training.)

Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

If this speaks to you, please email me before 20th March 2026 at:
📧 henriette@thegoodexpatlife
Subject line: Training client hypnotherapy

Feel free to share this post with anyone who might benefit 💚

28/02/2026

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧/𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 – 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

Separation in international life often carries extra layers:

🌍 loss of place
👤 identity shifts
📦 practical uncertainty
💔 grief mixed with relief or fear
It’s rarely just one feeling — it’s a process.

I’ve written more about these emotional phases in a gentle, supportive way here:
👉 https://www.thegoodexpatlife.com/post/divorcing-abroad-and-what-is-a-stuck-parent

If this topic touches you, you’re not alone; and support matters.

Expat life can be testing on any marriage, and studies show that nearly 70% of all failed international assignments are due to “marital breakdown”. Breaking up a marriage is always an emotional challenge, and the reasons may vary from having grown apart or having different life goals to infideli...

23/02/2026

𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐈 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐥, 𝐛𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧.

On the inside? I was lonely. Homesick. Struggling to find a true sense of belonging.

This contrast is something many expats live with. Outward success, inward isolation.

It wasn’t until I did the therapeutic work on my attachment style that I began to feel at home — not just in a country, but in myself.

✨ That’s what my course 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 & 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 is designed to help expats achieve: belonging that comes from within.

👉 Details here: https://www.thegoodexpatlife.com/attachment-style-course

✨ I’m Henriette Johnsen, a bilingual psychotherapist and couples counsellor. As a former three-times expat, I know both the excitement and the challenges of international life.

Today, I help expats strengthen their mental health and relationships so they can feel grounded, connected, and truly thrive anywhere in the world. Follow me for tips!

Alternatively, contact me for therapy – or, if you aren’t looking for therapy, 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 & 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝, my online attachment style course is perfect for you if you are looking for more self-awareness, a stronger sense of identity and belonging, as well as having your attachment style reprogrammed for better, safer, and more meaningful relationships ✨

20/02/2026

𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧.

I know this not only from my work as a therapist, but from my own expat journey – including the years I spent in London.

You build a life.
You function well.
And yet parts of you feel different:

A little more sensitive.
A little less anchored.
A little more in need of a place where you can simply be.

For international couples, I often see how this becomes part of the relationship too:

Two cultures.
Two ways of expressing love.
Two ideas of home.

What you need in therapy at that point is not only tools. You need to feel understood in the full complexity of your life.

This is the space I aim to offer to expats, individuals, and mixed-nationality couples.

If you are in that place and feel that this speaks to you, you are always welcome to send me a message or book an initial conversation - I would love to help you lead a good expat life!

You will find the link to my contact details in the comments.

17/02/2026

I cannot yet reveal what I will be talking about, but do check out this event in May - a wonderful opportunity to learn from expat women who have made bold moves across the globe 🤩

And please share this post if you know of anyone in your network who might be interested in listening in!

Last year she sponsored the Summit.



This year she returns as a speaker and as a member of The Expat Woman Membership.

Meet our first confirmed speaker for The Expat Woman Summit 2026: Henriette Johnsen

A Danish-born, UK-trained psychotherapist and couples counsellor, Henriette specializes in attachment and expat relationships.

Often called “the therapist for the passport people,” she helps internationally mobile individuals and couples build emotional safety, strengthen communication, and create more secure, supportive relationships wherever life takes them.

She is also an active member of The Expat Woman Membership - our private network of globally mobile women building careers, businesses, and leadership abroad.

When I asked Henriette what being part of The Expat Woman has meant to her, she shared:

“Being part of The Expat Woman Membership has given me a meaningful space to connect with other internationally minded women and learn from their diverse experiences of building lives and careers abroad.

The community has encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, particularly around speaking more publicly and sharing my work more visibly. Having a place to exchange ideas, perspectives, and encouragement with fellow expat women has been both grounding and professionally inspiring.”

This is exactly why we built The Expat Woman Membership.

Women building lives abroad.

Encouraging each other.

Stepping into visibility.

Sharing their voice.

Stay tuned for what Henriette will be speaking about - her session will resonate deeply with anyone navigating relationships across borders.

Our 2026 speakers include members of The Expat Woman Membership, expat leaders, women who have made bold moves abroad, service providers, and sponsors who believe in supporting globally mobile women.

Want to attend this free, virtual, global summit? Add your name to the waitlist at this link: theexpatwoman.com/summit

Want to join The Expat Woman Membership - learn more and join us here: theexpatwoman.com/membership

05/02/2026

🌟 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 - 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥) 🌟

Join this FREE WEBINAR on 4th March 2026, where you’ll learn how your attachment style shapes your relationships, your sense of self, and your emotional well-being.

In this webinar, you will:

🧠 Learn about the 4 attachment styles and how they’re formed
🔍 Begin to identify your own attachment style
🌍 Understand why expat life can amplify anxiety, loneliness, or relationship struggles
✈️ Hear about my own expat journey and the transformation that followed
🌱 Learn how to start working with your attachment style to build healthier relationships –
anywhere in the world

This session is ideal for expats who feel stuck, disconnected, or curious about personal growth and emotional resilience.
📅 4. marts | 3.30pm CET
🎟️ Free webinar
🔗 Register here: https://www.thegoodexpatlife.com/webinar

If you can’t make it to the live session, no worries –everyone who signs up will receive the replay link.