Let's connect Let's delve more into generational patterns and how they can impact the way we cope and connect to others, even when we move abroad. --------- We are here, too is a podcast about mental health and life abroad, hosted by Francesca Lo Verso, an Italian counsellor living in Scotland. We are here, too exists thanks to the support of friends, family and those of you whose testimony of life abroad inspired me. Thank you! Join the newsletter --> here Host and editor: Francesca L...

Let's connect An episode on generational trauma --------- We are here, too is a podcast about mental health and life abroad, hosted by Francesca Lo Verso, an Italian counsellor living in Scotland. We are here, too exists thanks to the support of friends, family and those of you whose testimony of life abroad inspired me. Thank you! Join the newsletter --> here Host and editor: Francesca Lo Verso www.francescacounselling.com IG: @francesca_counselling FB: francescaloversocounselling Ema...

Let's connect Families, boundaries and connection. This is an episode about hope! You may also like: S2E6: "No, I'm not going home for the holidays": a journey to self-acceptance S4E5: Aging parents and the distance between us --------- We are here, too is a podcast about mental health and life abroad, hosted by Francesca Lo Verso, an Italian counsellor living in Scotland. We are here, too exists thanks to the support of friends, family and those of you whose testimony of life abroad inspi...

Let's connect Caring for family (especially aging parents) across distance creates a complex mix of emotions as we navigate love, guilt, and the practical challenges of showing up when we physically can't be there. If you want to delve more into the themes of this episode, you may also like: S1E4: Why am I feeling this guilty? S1E11: The importance of relationships when living abroad S2E6: "No, I'm not going home for the holidays": a journey to self-acceptance S3E3: The somatics of g...

Let's connect Identity shifts don't always happen suddenly when living abroad; they unfold quietly until our certainty about who we are becomes less clear. The tension between who we've been and who we're becoming creates discomfort as we try to make sense of the different parts of ourselves. --------- We are here, too is a podcast about mental health and life abroad, hosted by Francesca Lo Verso, an Italian counsellor living in Scotland. We are here, too exists thanks to the support of frie...

Let's connect Finding stability isn't about a fixed state of being stable or unstable but rather a continuum of steadiness that ebbs and flows throughout our lives. When we feel grounded, we can respond to life from a place of certainty rather than reactivity, allowing us to think clearly and make decisions that benefit us in the long term. This is the theme of today's episode. If you would like to hear more about similar topics, I recommend the following episodes: S3E6: Loneliness abroad ---...

Let's connect Have you ever felt completely untethered from yourself after moving abroad? That disorienting sensation where suddenly everything you thought defined you seem up for questioning? You're experiencing an identity crisis, which might be one of the most powerful catalysts for growth in your journey abroad (and if you've lived abroad long enough, you'll know this feeling is cyclical!). In today's episode, we explore how an identity crisis can profoundly affect our relationships with...

Let's connect This episode is a kickoff to a broader exploration of relationships, not just confined to the intimate ones but expanding to how we connect with our new surroundings and cultures. The focus is on why, in the hustle and bustle of settling into a new country, the connection with ourselves is our most important "tool" to navigate the ebbs and flows of life abroad. Themes explored: • Importance of self-relationship during life transitions • Navigating the complexities...

Let's connect Ever found yourself in a foreign land, feeling the weight of solitude pressing down on you? My journey through the highs and lows of living abroad brought me face to face with the challenges of cultural adjustments and finding a place of belonging. In our latest discussion, I share the realities of navigating loneliness and stress in a new country. With the aid of therapy and self-care, I've learned to combat these feelings and want to offer you the same sense of hope and connec...

Let's connect This episode was a long one coming, and I hope it invites you to extend curiosity to those experiences that are often at the edge of our life abroad. If you want to deepen some of the topics discussed in this episode, I would recommend: Hard truth 1: S3E2: People-pleasing abroad: maintaining identity amidst cultural adaptation Hard truth 2: S1E2: Unpacking culture shock and S1E12: Tapping into your power Hard truth 3: S1E8: Remember your why Let me know what you think...

Let's connect Have you ever pondered where you truly belong? This week, I invite you on a heartfelt exploration of 'home' and belonging as we unravel how our sense of place shapes our mental landscape. We will venture through Scottish (and Northern European) folklore, where personal tales of finding comfort in the unfamiliar intertwine with the collective experiences of those who've ventured far from their birthplaces. We delve into the notion that 'home' transcends mere geography, morphing i...

Let's connect Edit: I've just realised I opened this episode saying, "In Season 4 Episode 1", when I actually meant "Season 1 Episode 4". -- Have you ever felt the weight of guilt gnawing at you physically while living miles away from home? This episode peels back the layers to reveal how guilt triggers neural networks, stirs muscle tension, disrupts our digestive and respiratory systems, and hijacks our emotional well-being. You'll discover the science behind these physical reactions and...

Let's connect In today's episode, I talk about people pleasing when living abroad and how it may take on the role of integrating us into the new country. Transitioning to life in a new country comes with its own emotional rollercoaster, a journey that many of us know all too well. This episode addresses the fine line between adapting and losing oneself. With heartfelt stories and practical advice, today's episode is a message of hope for those balancing the desire to please with the co...

Let's connect Emerging from a long hiatus, I, Francesca, return to the microphone with a tale that resonates deep within the heart of anyone who's ever found themselves rooted in foreign soil. This episode peels back the layers of identity shaped by the lands we call home and the internal tug-of-war between assimilation and authenticity. This conversation is a gentle nudge to embrace the richness of our heritage and the unique stories it weaves into our lives. It's about finding streng...

Let's connect Let me take you on a journey, a journey that many of us have experienced, but few have recounted - the emotional rollercoaster of going back home to our host country after the holidays. The thrill of the unfamiliar, the pang of homesickness, and the inevitable culture shock - they're all part and parcel of living abroad. We're going to dig deep into these feelings, giving voice to what many of us have felt but struggled to express. But living abroad isn't just about the p...

Let's connect Ever find yourself longing for the comfort of familiar faces while stationed in a new country? Have you ever realized that the people in your host country now know more about your current life than those back home? Join me as I share my personal experiences of living abroad, discussing the nuanced dynamics of maintaining ties with home while fostering new relationships abroad. Balancing the expectations of visitors from home and honoring your own routines abroad can be a ...

Let's connect Going on holidays to your home country or returning home after living abroad can feel like stepping into a parallel universe. As your host, Francesca, I reveal how I navigated my own journey through this disorienting maze in an episode dedicated to the fascinating subject of reverse culture shock. With the backdrop of an Italian native living in Scotland, I take you through my personal experiences of readjusting to life in a familiar place that somehow feels unfamiliar. Together...

Let's connect Ever sat alone in a foreign place during the holiday season, wrestling with the decision of whether to go home or not? You're not alone. Join me as I bare my soul and share my own rollercoaster of emotions - the initial fear, the white lie to protect my joy, the dread, and the eventual acceptance - that came with my decision to stay abroad during the holidays. In this personal journey, I unpack the feelings and tough conversations that followed my choice - conversat...

Let's connect What if your feelings of homesickness could reveal deeper insights about your personal values and life stages? As I, your host Francesca, grappled with an overwhelming sense of homesickness on my recent trip to Sicily, I discovered just how multifaceted this emotion truly is. This episode takes you on my personal journey as I try to comprehend my longing for home, and how it reflects the shifts in my values and outlook on life. Tune in as I dissect the complicated facets of hom...

Let's connect Remember those golden holidays back home, surrounded by familiar faces, savouring traditional delicacies and getting immersed in the joyous festivities? These memories can stir up a mixed bag of emotions, especially for those of us living overseas. In this engaging discussion, we unpack those complex feelings of nostalgia, longing, and sometimes, shock and frustration, that bubble up during such holidays. As we walk down memory lane, we scrutinize the inevitable comparisons we m...