Studying abroad is an adventure. It’s also genuinely hard sometimes.
Support for International Students
You left home to study somewhere new — and that takes courage. But somewhere between the excitement of arrival and the reality of daily life, things can get heavy. The coursework is demanding. Making real friends takes longer than you expected. You miss home in ways you didn’t anticipate. And when you’re struggling, it can feel like everyone around you is managing just fine.
They’re not. And you don’t have to manage alone either.
At Expat Psychologist Amsterdam we’ve been supporting international students since our very first years — and in 2021 we ran a large-scale psychological support programme for international students funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education. We understand this world, and we know what international students actually go through.
What brings students to us
Every student’s situation is different. Some of the most common challenges we work with include:
adjustment difficulties and culture shock · homesickness and loneliness · academic pressure and performance anxiety · identity questions — who am I, away from everyone who knows me? · depression and low mood · anxiety and panic · relationship difficulties · sleep problems · loss of motivation and direction
Whatever is making things hard right now — it’s worth talking about.
How we work with students
Our sessions are confidential, conducted in English, and tailored entirely to you. We don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on what you’re dealing with, we might draw on cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based techniques, EMDR or simply a consistent, supportive space to think things through out loud.
The goal isn’t just to help you survive your studies — it’s to help you actually thrive during them. Build resilience, understand yourself better, and develop tools that will serve you long after you graduate.
Sessions are available in person at our Amsterdam, The Hague and Leiden offices, and online worldwide.
Getting started
Step 1 — Reach out Send us a message or book a free 15-minute phone consultation. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you call.
Step 2 — First session You and your psychologist get to know each other. You share what’s going on, what’s been difficult, and what you’re hoping for. There’s no pressure and no judgment.
Step 3 — Your plan Together you agree on how often to meet, what to focus on, and which approach fits you best. It’s a collaboration, not a prescription.
Step 4 — Ongoing sessions You work through what’s in the way, build practical coping skills, and gradually find your footing again — in your studies, in Amsterdam, and in yourself.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
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