Cross-cultural Coaching

Cross-cultural coaching is a relationship that expatriates, their spouses and family members can have with a professionally trained and certified coach who has experience working within a cross-cultural context. A cross-cultural coach is also someone who has intercultural expertise, who has had international experience and who understands the kinds of cross-cultural dilemmas that expatriates may encounter.

Cross-cultural coaching is for expatriates and/or expatriate couples who are committed to taking action toward the realization of their visions, goals or desires in the context of an international assignment. In partnership with their coach, expatriates co-create a safe, supportive and confidential relationship in which they can focus their attention on what is important to them and gain clarity and awareness of what’s going on with them in their adjustment to international living.  Professional coaching uses inquiry and personal discovery to help their clients expand their awareness and responsibility and move toward desired outcomes with structure, support and feedback. Coaches are trained to hold their clients as naturally capable and able, as whole and complete, and as creative and resourceful in tackling life’s challenges as they create and fulfill the vision they have for their lives.

It is becoming increasingly recognized that professional coaching, including couple’s coaching, is uniquely suited to help expatriates and their families in effectively meeting the dilemmas inherent in international living. The advantages of professional coaching for expatriates include:

• A coaching relationship is a flexible and responsive resource that an expatriate can request when needed over the course of an expatriate assignment.
• The expatriate can choose to contract with a professional coach who is from their home country and who speaks their own language.
• The coaching itself can be done in the expatriate’s home, at an agreed upon location or over the telephone.
• The expatriate can achieve desired outcomes in relatively short periods of time (two to six months).
• Professional coaching is less stigmatizing and more “user friendly” than traditional mental health services with which an expatriate and their family may not be comfortable accessing in their host country.
• A trained certified coach can help the expatriate seek therapeutic services within the local community if more intense psychological adjustments should be needed.
• Lastly, a certified coach is professionally trained and understands the importance of confidentiality.

A coaching relationship can provide expatriates and their families a rich opportunity to explore their values and what is important to them, what they are passionate about, what they are concerned about, and what kind of life they envision for their lives in their new host country. Through periodic conversations with a professional coach, expatriates are able to enhance the quality of their lives, achieve their personal and career goals and be supported in living passionate, balanced and fulfilling lives.  If you are interested in finding out more about couples coaching, I invite you to contact us.