intercultural — Blogs

The Fruit of Unresolved Grief Makes a Nasty Jam

Grief, counseling, ATCK, intercultural, international school, Lois Bushong, Third Culture Kid, TCKLois BushongNovember 1, 2021third culture kid, Adult Third Culture Kids, grief, Unresolved grief, international transition, Therapy Comments

I went to my 50th high school reunion and bumped into me.

for me, an adult TCK who didn’t go to just any high school but rather to a boarding school, it was a highly emotional event. Back in the day, landing at Toccoa Falls Academy in northern Georgia began for some of us the lonely path of adjusting to a new culture, grieving too many losses known and unknown to us, and experiencing a freedom (and a loss) of being several countries away from our parents. During my youth, I did not recognize the value of good friendships. Yet those Toccoa Falls Academy friends were to become my family for three years.

Sadly, after graduation, I lost touch with them. Now, I’ve come upon the landmark of the Academy’s 50th at the same time that I’m arriving at what psychologist Erik Erikson identifies as the stage where we reflect back on our life.

interculturalLois BushongOctober 31, 2015TCK, intercultural, international school, international relocationComment

TCKs Make Great Therapists!

I believe the majority of TCKs are wonderful counselors and psychologists. They have faced their own demons and conquered them. They are well trained, very compassionate with their clients, and have excellent skills in working with all levels of society.

Last year, I stumbled on to an article on why Third Culture Kids make good therapists. So here goes my own list, with apologies to the originator of the idea of WHY TCKs make good therapists: