Enikö Hajas

Every week I sit across from someone who made what felt like the most romantic decision of their life, but that initial excitement is now fading away. They moved countries for love. They said yes to a person, and in doing so, said yes to a place. And now the place is slowly breaking something in them that they can’t quite name. This is one of the most underexplored forms of expat grief, and it’s one I see constantly in my practice. The Invisible Contract Nobody Signs When you relocate for a...

Moving abroad is often seen as exciting, liberating, and full of possibility. For many expats, it feels like a fresh start, a chance to redesign life, rediscover themselves, and experience something new. But alongside that excitement, something unexpected often shows up: grief. Why Does Grief Happen When You Move Abroad? At the beginning, many expats are filled with excitement. Everything feels new. There’s a sense of freedom in being able to redefine who you are and how you live. However,...

He Withdraws, She Feels Alone: The Pattern That Breaks Couples Abroad When couples move abroad, they often expect adventure, growth, maybe even a stronger bond. And in many ways, that’s true. But what I’ve seen over the past 20 years as a couple therapist working with expats is this: building a life in a new country doesn’t just challenge your logistics, it challenges your relationship in ways you didn’t expect. And very often, it’s not the external stress that breaks couples.It ’s how they...