How to Find a TCK-Informed Therapist

Why a Regular Therapist Is Often Not Enough

Research by Dr. Rachel Cason found that only 19% of the therapists used by TCKs were actually aware of the TCK experience. A therapist who is unfamiliar with the TCK world will often pathologise things that are normal for globally mobile individuals — the lack of a fixed sense of home, the accumulation of losses, the complexity of identity.

This does not mean that a non-specialist therapist cannot help. But it does mean that finding one who understands the population, or who is willing to learn, makes a significant difference.

Questions to Ask a Prospective Therapist

• Have you worked with TCKs or ATCKs before, and how do you understand the specific challenges of that experience?
• How do you approach grief that is tied to places and transitions rather than people?
• Are you familiar with the concept of unresolved grief in the context of globally mobile childhoods?
• What is your experience with identity complexity and belonging issues?
• Are you able to work with clients across time zones if I relocate again?