Finding an English-Speaking Therapist in Łódź
Building a life in a new city can be exciting and exhausting at the same time. If you are looking for an English-speaking therapist in Łódź, this guide offers practical, honest pointers: why language matters, what to look for, what to ask and how to take a first step – in person or online.
Why language matters in therapy
Therapy is made of words, but not only of words. It lives in nuance, in humour, in the half-sentence you didn’t plan to say. When you speak a language you are less at home in, part of your attention goes into translating. You may sound calmer and more organised than you feel, simply because you are choosing your words so carefully.
For some people, a second language offers a helpful distance: it can be easier to talk about something painful in a language that wasn’t spoken at home. For others, the most important feelings only come alive in their first language. Both experiences are common, and neither is wrong. It is worth noticing which is true for you.
Even when sessions are in English, you can bring words from your own language into the room. Saying a word aloud and then explaining what it means can sometimes be exactly where the feeling is.
What people living abroad often bring to therapy
Moving to Łódź – often written Lodz in English – for work, study or love can bring a lot at once. Many people notice a loneliness that is hard to explain to friends back home, or a tiredness that comes from constantly adapting to a new language, new rules and new unspoken expectations.
Some come because of strain in a relationship, perhaps when one partner moved for the other’s career. International students may feel the pressure of studying far from their usual support, while professionals may carry high demands at work as their private life is still taking shape. Illness or loss in the family can feel especially heavy when you are far away.
You don’t need to be in crisis to look for support. Wanting to understand yourself better in a new context is reason enough.
You shouldn’t have to translate yourself twice – once into another language, and once into a calmer version of yourself.
What to look for in an English-speaking therapist
Speaking English is a starting point, not a qualification. Whatever the language, a few things are worth checking.
Training and supervision
Ask what therapeutic training the person has completed, and in which approach. It is also reasonable to ask whether they have regular supervision – ongoing consultation about their work with an experienced colleague, which is part of careful professional practice.
Approach
Therapists work in different ways: some focus mainly on thoughts and behaviour, others on relationships, emotions or the body. A good therapist can explain their approach in plain words. I work with Gestalt therapy, which focuses on awareness and contact in the here and now, and with Somatic Experiencing® (SE), a body-oriented approach to the nervous system; I completed the SE training in Poland with European certification. You can read more about my approach.
Language comfort
Notice whether you feel understood, not only whether the therapist speaks English: can they follow nuance and humour, or do you find yourself simplifying what you say? If you are bilingual, you might ask whether it is possible to move between languages. I work in English and Polish, which some people find helpful when their life is lived between the two.
Practical fit
Consider location, session times and length, and whether online sessions are possible. If you might move again, ask whether the work could continue online. It is also fine to ask about practical arrangements, such as cancellations and fees, before you commit to anything.
Questions to ask in a first contact
A first message or call does not need to be long. Questions like these can help you get a sense of fit:
- What approach do you work with, and what might a session look like?
- How comfortable are you working in English?
- Have you worked with people who have moved to a new country?
- Can we meet in person, online or both?
- How long are sessions, and how often do people usually meet?
Notice how you feel during that first exchange, too. Do you feel respected? Is there room for your questions? That early sense of basic safety can tell you as much as the answers themselves.
In person in Łódź or online
Meeting in person gives therapy a physical place in your week, which can be grounding when so much else in a new city is still unfamiliar. Online sessions can help if you travel often, live outside the city or expect to relocate and would like your therapy to continue. Many people combine both.
You can read more about therapy in Łódź, or, if you are weighing up the options, about in-person vs online therapy.
Taking the first step
A short message is enough: a few words about what brings you, which language you prefer and whether you would like to meet in person or online. You don’t need to have the right words or a clear diagnosis. The first session is also your chance to decide whether the fit feels right.
I work with adults in English and Polish, in Łódź and online, in sessions of 60 minutes. Many people find their way to me through personal recommendation, which can be a good starting point – but it is still worth checking the fit for yourself. And if my way of working doesn’t suit you, I hope this guide helps you find someone who does.
Therapy is not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 112.
