For expats in Brussels facing situations that don’t resolve.
At work, in relationships, or when patterns keep repeating.
When a situation stays stuck,
doing more can make it worse.
Some situations don’t need more effort.
They need a more precise reading.
What expatriates and international professionals often bring to therapy in Brussels
“We keep having the same arguments.”
“Work pressure is affecting our relationship.”
“We barely feel connected anymore.”
“We only talk about logistics and responsibilities.”
“One of us is emotionally absent or constantly working.”
“Since becoming parents, everything feels more difficult.”
“We feel exhausted all the time.”
“We’ve become more like co-parents than partners.”
“Small situations quickly escalate into conflict.”
“Living abroad has created distance and stress.”
“I feel emotionally overwhelmed.”
“We love each other, but something feels stuck.”
A different way of working
Many people come after having already tried to explain, communicate or adapt — without lasting change.
My approach combines systemic and strategic therapy (Palo Alto) with the exploration of repeating personal, family or transgenerational patterns when these are relevant.
The goal is not simply to understand what happened, but to identify what is keeping the situation in place today and create the conditions for change.
This is a structured, short-term process focused on one specific situation.
By understanding the visible and invisible dynamics behind the problem, we introduce concrete shifts that can create lasting change.
I work with expatriates and international professionals based in Brussels navigating complex relational, family, or work situations.
Johanna Touzel
Systemic & Strategic Practitioner
This is a short-term, structured process.
We begin by exploring the situation you are facing and the visible and invisible dynamics that may be keeping it in place.
Together, we identify the patterns that keep repeating. Sometimes they arise from present-day interactions. Sometimes they have deeper personal, family or transgenerational roots.
The goal is not simply to understand the past, but to free the present from patterns that no longer serve you.
This is not a lack of effort.
It’s how the situation works.
When a situation stays stuck, it is rarely because you are not trying hard enough. More often, invisible patterns and loyalties keep recreating the same dynamic. Once they become visible, change becomes possible.
Relationship and couple difficulties
I support individuals and couples facing recurring conflicts, communication difficulties, emotional distance or relational tensions.
This systemic approach is particularly well suited to couple and relationship difficulties, as it helps reveal the deeper patterns that keep the same conflicts repeating.
You don’t need to prepare anything.
We start from your current situation.
You don’t need to figure everything out first.
If this feels familiar, you can start here:
The process is designed over 3 sessions
to create real movement - not just temporary relief
€270 for the full process
A confidential one-to-one process, structured over 3 sessions.
Sessions in Overijse (close to Brussels) or online
For expats and international professionals in Brussels
Many of the people I work with are expatriates, international professionals, researchers, consultants, and individuals navigating complex multicultural environments.
Relocation, work pressure, relationship difficulties, family transitions, or recurring relational patterns can become particularly challenging when living abroad.
This process is designed to help clarify what keeps the situation stuck and identify precise shifts that can create movement.
Systemic & Strategic Practitioner
Leuven - Overijse - Online