Expat Couple? Is Your Dream Business Hurting Your Relationship?

As an expat, I understand that you're someone who believes that life holds more than just the mundane. Your heart is filled with the spirit of adventure, and you recognise that life is a journey of growing and evolving.

Running your own business as an expat can be an exciting endeavour, filled with dreams of success and a fulfilling new life. Its quite common for expat couples to have moved overseas with the dream of starting their own business, only to find that the reality often brings long hours, stress, and challenges that can take a toll on their relationship. Perhaps you relate?

Once the excitement of starting your expat business fades and the daily grind sets in, it's common to feel overwhelmed and disconnected from your partner. The demands of running a business can consume your time and energy, leaving little room for quality time together. Arguments, resentment, and bickering may start to dominate your interactions, taking a toll on both your personal and professional lives. 

Understanding the Unique Dynamics 

As an expat couple running a business together, you face the unique challenge of being constantly thrown together in both personal and professional settings. The clash of perspectives and approaches to managing the business can create tension and conflict. 

What once seemed like an exciting joint venture may become a source of frustration and strain on your relationship. It's important to recognise that these challenges are common among expat couples and that there are proven strategies to help you overcome them.

Overcoming Challenges

If you relate to this, please rest assured, you’re not alone in facing these pressures. With the right support, you can overcome these hurdles, build a thriving business, and still maintain a strong and fulfilling relationship in your new life abroad.

Couples therapy tailored to your specific needs as an expat couple can provide you with the tools and guidance to navigate the complexities of running a business abroad. A skilled therapist can help you:

Improve communication: Effective communication is essential for resolving conflicts and understanding each other's perspectives. Learn how to express your needs, listen actively, and find common ground.

Manage stress and work-life balance: Explore strategies to manage stress, create boundaries, and prioritize self-care. Finding a healthy balance between work and personal life is crucial for maintaining a strong relationship.

Enhance collaboration: Develop strategies for working together harmoniously, leveraging each other's strengths, and fostering a collaborative environment that supports both the business and your relationship.

Prioritise quality time together: Make a conscious effort to carve out dedicated time for each other. Set aside regular activities that allow you to connect and enjoy your new surroundings as a couple.

Running a business as an expat can be challenging, but it doesn't have to come at the expense of your relationship. By recognising the pressures you face as an expat couple and seeking professional help, you can overcome these hurdles.

As a couples therapist specialising in helping expats, I've seen that sadly if issues are not resolved, they can go on for many years with resentment and unhappiness building up. It's important then, that you get help from someone who is professionally qualified to help you overcome your relationship problems and who fully understands expat life too!

So don't be held back. These are all issues that can be overcome, whether they're new problems or things that have been troubling you for a long time.

As an expat myself, I have a deep understanding of your unique needs. I can help you get past all the frustration and conflict, and teach you powerful communication skills so that you each to feel truly heard and understood. Rather than pushing each other away, you'll start to thrive in your new life together as a happy and fulfilled couple.

So don't let the concerns of expat life take a toll on your relationship. Take the first step today.

10 Things to consider when seeking a therapist

Many couples find that working through the challenges of expat life actually brings them closer and makes their relationship stronger than ever.

But it can be hard to know what to look for when you're seeking help. It’s important to find a therapist who’s not only professionally qualified, but also the right fit for you both.

To make that easier, I’ve put together a short guide with key questions to consider.