A specialised migration therapist for anyone on the migration journey.
Emigration is an emotional rollercoaster - both for the ones leaving and the ones staying behind.
There are many reasons to emigrate from one’s home country – whether for new or better work opportunities, physical safety, political stability, a better future for you and your children, following love, or wanting to experience something different to broaden your horizons.
Emigration affects the emigrant and the family and loved ones staying behind. As an online migration therapist, I’m here to guide you through your migration journey – for both those emigrating and those staying behind sharing each other’s life from a distance.
My online migration therapy sessions can benefit anyone on the migration journey.
I’ll guide you through the challenges that come up during the onset of your emigration journey, including:
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Struggling with the life-altering decision of whether to stay or to leave
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Unsure about how to tell your friends and family and manage the emotions of loved ones
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Currently navigating the stressful process of getting everything in order to emigrate
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Dealing with letting go of your current life
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Apprehensive about what waits for you at your new destination.
My services continue after your arrival at your new destination, where challenges may include:
- Adapting to a new culture, making new friends, and settling into a different way of life
- Spouses who have accompanied their partners on a foreign placement who are struggling to accept the move or adapt to their new way of life
- Feeling torn between your adopted country and your old home
- Immigrant children facing challenges of adapting to a new culture and way of life.
But, I’m also here to journey with those who stayed behind, including:
- Parents of emigrants who are struggling with ambiguous loss
- Siblings and friends who have had loved ones move abroad
- Anyone who has returned from living abroad and is experiencing the unique challenges associated with returning to their home country.
Let's walk the emotional journey together.
From the initial excitement of deciding to emigrate to taking the first step in starting the paperwork or applying for a job, telling friends and family about your decision, packing your life into boxes, and saying your goodbyes – you’re going to experience a multitude of emotions. And it doesn’t stop once you get on the plane. There’s a whole new journey ahead of you – both exciting and challenging at the same time.
I’m here to ensure you don’t go through the emotional journey of migration alone.
Hi, I'm Dr. Sulette Ferreira
As an online migration therapist, I connect with people around the world who are struggling with the complex emotions that come with migration.
I have vast experience – both personally and research-based—regarding the emotional effect of migration on those who leave and on their loved ones that stay behind.
I strongly believe that we are not meant to walk this ambiguous journey alone. I’m here to assist you in understanding the ambiguous loss of migration and finding meaningful ways to deal with the associated emotions.
Together we can embark on this journey to gracefully let go and grow through this unique experience.
Why emigration is an example of ambiguous loss
Few of the changes we face throughout our lives are as complex as those that occur during emigration. This is true not only for the emigrant but also for those left behind.
The loss that comes with emigration is immobilising, confusing and defies closure, and it can leave you searching for answers, which complicates and delays the grieving process that needs to take place.
The grief of moving abroad is a draining process that cannot be rushed and the assimilation into your new life can be equally strenuous for both you and your loved ones at home.
Whether you’re the one that decided to move or among the family and friends left behind, there is a grieving process that needs to take place in order for you to adapt to your new circumstances and integrate in your new environment. As an ambiguous loss therapist, I specialise in emigration loss and help my clients deal with the grief and many other emotions that come up throughout the journey of emigration.
“It’s in the art of letting go, that you are able to hold on.”
The psychological aspects of migration are complex and ongoing.
Initial feelings can include excitement, guilt and fear, which can evolve into a mix of sadness, relief, joy, anger and grief. Each stage of migration requires a different set of skills.
By processing each phase and dealing with the accompanying emotions, you will be able to move forward and find new ways to adapt to your new life. Together, let’s embark on this emotional journey of migration and change it to a growth experience.
I am grateful to have published articles nationally and internationally.
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INFORMATION
CONTACT
082 442 0131
info@drsulette.com
No. 9 Doral Close
Silver Lakes
Pretoria