Expat Support, Or: What It Is That I Do

Posted on 20. Apr, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Announcements, Blog
2 comments

A number of readers who found this blog through Google or via Twitter have emailed me with questions about the type of work I do with expats.

You can find out more about my services on my Winning Away website. For those of you who are interested in the idea-behind-the-company, I thought I would also post a bit of information here on the blog.

My work is one of my passions and I could talk about it all day. Likewise, this post could easily turn into a novel, so I will break it up into three parts:

I. What I do and who it is meant for
II. What kind of results my clients get
III. What happens when you hire me, a.k.a. the process

Part I: What I Do

The short version is that I help expats live their lives abroad to the fullest.
More specifically, my clients come to me when they need support with the emotional and motivational impact of expatriation.

You will find plenty of people who will help you with the logistics of relocating abroad, from how to ship your furniture to how (and where) to file your taxes. These people are not going to be much help when you start feeling homesick or disoriented, though – they would rather not have to deal with your emotions, thank you very much. That’s when I take over.

We will get into the tools I use in Part III, but my objective is to provide a structure for expats to say what is on their mind without fear of being judged, so that they can get the support they need and hopefully take away one helpful technique or two.

You can bring pretty much any topic to the table. The way I see it, life is not divided into neat little compartments: your work life affects your home life (and vice-versa), your creative work may spill over into your business life, and so on. All of these factors will ultimately impact your happiness as an expat, so they are all relevant to the work we do together.

Who it is meant for

The word expat can mean a number of things, depending on who you ask. In my case, I work with the following types of people:

- Expatriates, including self-sponsored immigrants, businesspeople, entrepreneurs and diplomats
- Accompanying partners
- Adult TCKs (Third Culture Kids)
- “Ex-expats” who have returned to their home country

In case you were wondering, you do not have to have “problems” or be in the middle of a crisis to work with me.
For example, many expats choose to tackle ambitious projects while they are abroad, such as writing their first book or starting an online business. My job in this case is to provide positive reinforcement, give objective feedback and make sure they are staying focused on their goals. I might also teach them a few time-management or stress-reduction techniques.

Who it is NOT meant for

While it may seem counterintuitive for a business owner to turn down clients, this type of work is not meant for everyone.
There are essentially three categories of expats with whom I do not work:

- Children or teenaged TCKs
The methods I use are designed for adults. I believe that working with children and teenagers requires a different set of skills that I do not possess. If your expat kids need support, I will be happy to provide the names of a few coaches and therapists who specialize in working with children.
- Aspiring expats
Experience has taught me that my techniques work best with expats who are in the thick of it. I do work with expats pre-departure if they need help preparing and planning ahead, but I do not work with people who are sort-of-considering-it and wondering what country would be best for them.
- People who believe in quick fixes and who are not ready to invest time and effort
It takes work to get significant and lasting results. You have to be willing to do the necessary work and to experiment with new techniques. It can be a bit of an effort, but we try and keep it as fun as possible, and best of all… it works!

The next post will be about the benefits and results you can expect when you hire me. In the meantime, if you have further questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email or leave a comment!

Emmanuelle