Seeking Therapy as an International Student
Life As a Korean international student
I vividly recall the mix of excitement and fear upon arrival. This is a gentle reminder that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness, especially in the journey of an international student.
Nari Yoo | PhD Candidate at NYU Silver School of Social Work
As a Korean student who set foot on American soil in my mid-20s to pursue a doctoral degree, the excitement and fear I felt on the way from JFK Airport to Manhattan are still vivid in my memory, even after four years. Leaving behind life in Korea and embarking on a challenge in a new country was by no means easy. Teaching students in my second language, writing papers, and constantly facing language barriers, cultural differences, and the physical distance from family and friends were the shadows that always followed the joys of studying abroad. In 2024, video calls have become commonplace, Korean TV shows are easily accessible through streaming services like YouTube or Netflix, and having Korean food through Korean markets is really convenient. However, the stress from cultural differences and language barrier remain a significant challenge in the life of an international student. The feeling of "ambiguous loss" from not being able to be present for the important moments in the lives of loved ones back in Korea and the sense of growing apart from them bring an indescribable loneliness. Moreover, the unstable status as an international student and the uncertainty about the future make it difficult to find peace of mind. Another challenge of studying abroad is relationship issues within a small social network. Relationship issues with friends, lovers, or partners in another country can cause great distress and remind us of our existential loneliness: “Why am I here?”
Build your mental strength at your own Golden Clinic
Many international students in this situation rely on self-help books and YouTube videos for self-care. However, it is not easy to find advice that perfectly fits one's situation through such self-care, and spending time this way often exacerbates feelings of depression and anxiety. This is the perfect time we should consider therapy. At first, it may feel unfamiliar and daunting, but for those who have watched "Dr. Oh's Golden Clinic" at least once, it might not be as unfamiliar as one might think. All it takes is the mindset of going to your own secret (and private) Golden Clinic! Once you start therapy, you can fully look into your own issues and develop the mental strength to view your situation from the perspective of a mental health professional. It's okay if you don't have time to go to therapy in person or if it's not easy to take the first step. After the COVID-19 pandemic, most therapists have started offering online therapy, and this culture has become widespread. All you need to do is schedule your first session and then log into the meeting room on your laptop. Before my first therapy session, I spent a lot of time thinking about what to say and how to make the best use of this time. However, it's good to remember that therapists are trained to help you feel comfortable talking about yourself, and they are there to guide you, so it's okay to start by talking about your daily life or recent events.
How to Get Therapy as an International Student in the U.S.: How to Find It, How Much It Costs, and What Languages to Speak
A. Using your on-campus counseling center
Compared to the long wait times for counseling at school counseling centers in Korea, it's much easier to get counseling in the United States than in Korea. Most universities in the US have mental health and counseling systems in place. By visiting the counseling support page on each school's website, you can easily find tailored therapy programs for international students. Services offered by school counseling centers include crisis support, individual counseling, and group counseling for crisis situations such as suicidal ideation. For crisis counseling, you can find information by searching for crisis support or mental health crisis. As for individual counseling, it's available to anyone, even if you're not having a major crisis. Just as we go for regular medical checkups even if we don't have physical health problems, it's a good idea to schedule a mental health checkup and take personality and career assessment tests to understand your personality and situation. If this process identifies a need, you can also work with a therapist to set long-term goals for developing healthy coping skills. If you don't feel comfortable with individual counseling, we recommend starting with group counseling with other people in similar situations. Group counseling topics offered by school counseling centers can range from academic anxiety, social anxiety, and other school-related topics to support groups that fit your identity.
B. Seeking therapy off-campus
If therapy at the school counseling center is not enough, referrals for long-term therapy can also be provided. You can also search for therapists covered by your insurance network on websites like PsychologyToday or Zocdoc. Since mental health professionals are licensed by the board in each state (as opposed to South Korea, which does not yet have a law for mental health professionals), you can get therapy covered by your insurance. You can inquire with the therapist or insurance company for detailed guidance on the coverage and reimbursement conditions of your insurance. If there is a therapist that you really want to talk to but insurance does not cover their services, check if the therapist offers "Sliding Scale." The therapist can adjust their fees based on the client's income level, and since international students often have no income, they may be able to receive therapy at a relatively lower price through this system. My last advice is not to be discouraged by a failure on your first try. Each therapist has different strengths and applies different techniques, so there may be therapists who are a good fit for you and those who are not. If you feel that the first therapist you saw was not a good match, I recommend trying two or three more therapists, as your time and emotional capacity allow.
These websites also have options to filter and search for therapists who are bilingual in Korean and English. Mustard Seed Generation has a directory of Korean therapists, and Asian Mental Health Collective has a directory of Asian therapists. If you don't feel comfortable talking to a therapist in English, you can also book a Korean-English bilingual therapist and mix the two languages in a way that's comfortable for you. Even if the therapist is not fluent in Korean, they may be able to understand how you are expressing your feelings in Korean, so it's best to ask the therapist what you are comfortable with. In my case, after studying and working in a second language all day, I often didn't want to talk to a therapist in English, and I didn't want to translate my distress and frustration into English again. In this case, it can be very helpful to find a therapist who speaks Korean as well as possible. These bicultural or bilingual therapists can help you with your adjustment to life in the U.S., the stress of the language barrier, and the challenges of being an international student.
Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness
Further, the perception of mental health services is more positive and less stigmatized in the United States compared to South Korea. There are even surveys that show that "In Therapy" is a green flag on dating apps. Many Koreans are concerned that going to a psychiatrist and receiving therapy will be on their record and that this will be a disadvantage when applying for school or employment in the future. Counseling in and of itself is not a prescription for medication, and it is common in the United States, with 23% of Americans reporting having received therapy or mental health treatment in 2022. Tech companies in the U.S. are hiring on-site therapists and encouraging employees to seek mental health counseling. Eunjoo Kim, a senior designer at Google who studied abroad in the U.S., said that receiving therapy at Google was a turning point for her.
However, Koreans with mental health issues are still often afraid to seek professional help for their mental health, including therapy, or feel that it is only for people with serious mental illness. This misunderstanding of therapy often leads to missed treatment and a vicious cycle where depression and anxiety become chronic and ruin your relationships, jobs, and others in the long term. If you're one of the many international students who are crying at home alone, drowning their sorrows in alcohol or drugs, or watching YouTube videos related to mental health, I want to tell you that studying abroad can be tough and sometimes overwhelming to handle alone. Seeking help is a strength, not a weakness. This is the right time to seek therapy if you are reading this article while searching for the mental health of an international student.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nari Yoo is a PhD candidate at NYU's Silver School of Social Work. Her research has a dual focus: understanding community-level dynamics and harnessing technological advancements to enhance the well-being of racial/ethnic minorities and immigrants in both the U.S. and Asia. Her long-term objective is to create technology-assisted and/or community-based interventions that provide culturally and linguistically relevant services. Outside of her research, she immerses herself in cross-cultural experiences through travel, books, and thought-provoking documentaries.
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The information presented by MSG is intended for informational purposes only. Consuming this information does not constitute a professional, clinical relationship between consumers and the writers and presenters. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please contact 911. If you would like to speak with a therapist, please refer to our online directory. Any reference on this website to any mental health professional, service or organization, or any linkages from this website to the website of another party, does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of Mustard Seed Generation or any of its volunteers acting on its behalf. Mustard Seed Generation provides the information on this website “as is” for general information only.