The International Therapist Directory is an online global listing of professional therapists, counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists interested in providing culturally sensitive cross-cultural treatment and care for today’s international expat community. Over 350 therapists in at least 50 countries are listed in the directory.
The directory is intended to be a resource for internationals looking for a culturally sensitive therapist and for therapists to identify and connect with one another for peer support and professional development. Most therapists listed speak English. For a nominal annual membership fee, therapists may list their practice in the directory and access a private forum for therapists to share information.
The directory was established in 2009 by Josh Sandoz, MA, LMHC under the auspices of Interaction International, a nonprofit organization founded by David Pollock, PhD, co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds. A year later, the directory became an independent website, which Josh continues to oversee. Josh is an ATCK (Adult Third Culture Kid), a therapist, and the former Director of Child and Family Support Services with Interaction International. He resides in Seattle, Washington, where he has a private practice.
Join us! If you are a qualified therapist and would like to be listed in the directory, visit our Become A Member page for all the details.
Josh Sandoz, Founder & Curator, International Therapist Directory
A message from Josh Sandoz, Founder & Curator, International Therapist Directory
Born in South Korea to foreign missionary parents, I grew up as part of an international community, attending a school with students from over fifty different countries. It was out of this background that I came to feel a special affinity for the internationally mobile community with its distinct qualities, character, and needs. Growing up internationally can be a remarkable experience.
In many ways, I am incredibly grateful for my own international upbringing. However, a highly mobile and cross-cultural lifestyle can come with some unique challenges as well. In a day where the usefulness of mental health therapy is becoming more and more recognized, one of those challenges can be finding a culturally sensitive therapist. While working for Interaction International, I routinely received emails from individuals asking if we knew of therapists in various parts of the world who would be sensitive to their international experiences. People seemed to be looking for a sense of cultural fit before beginning the work of therapy. At the time, I remember scouring the Internet for some kind of comprehensive resource, and I found nothing satisfactory. I decided to do something about that, and I began to develop the International Therapist Directory.
My hope for the International Therapist Directory is that it be useful for internationals looking for a culturally sensitive therapist and for the listed therapists themselves to identify and connect with one another for both peer support and professional development. It is a joy to oversee, and I look forward to its ongoing growth in the months and years to come.
If you have comments or questions, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line!
Regards,