The Self-Leadership Blog

To say moving abroad widens your horizons is a huge understatement and I’m very grateful for the chance to be based in SE Asia for this period of my life and career. However, life as an expat or digital nomad can also bring its share of unique stressors, from adjusting to a different culture and language to feeling isolated far away from familiar support networks. These pressures can also unearth or trigger old traumas, creating an awareness that something no longer feels right in terms of your mental health, and indicating that support is now needed. For many, seeking therapy becomes an essential tool for navigating these unique challenges as they seek to find people who truly understand their experience.

But how do you find the right therapist when you’re far from home and in an unfamiliar system?

In this blog post, I’ll delve into McCurdy’s harrowing and inspiring journey and explore how her story sheds light on the effects of narcissistic abuse, including covert forms of manipulation, and how it aligns with concepts I frequently work with in therapy, particularly IFS.

Jennette’s memoir is not only an intimate portrait of her life as a Hollywood child star, it is also a powerful reflection on how we can face our own pain, unburden ourselves step-by-step, and ultimately heal.

The new movie adaptation of Wicked is taking the world - and the therapy space - by storm as people recognise themselves in Elphaba’s epic struggle. 

As a therapist who really loves the bridge between pop culture and emotional healing, I’m consistently fascinated by the parallels between trends in modern day storytelling and therapy.  When a global ultra-phenomenon such as Wicked takes hold, I find there are usually a heap of therapeutically-relevant lessons that its story touches upon which explain its mass appeal.

Stories can communicate complex societal issues and psychological processes in seconds and in ways that resonate deeply. Similarly watching movies can bring us insights we might otherwise take months to uncover in a book - or in therapy itself.