Home Away from Home - A 10‑Week Therapist‑Led Workshop
Settling somewhere new is can be difficult. This group offers a gentle, structured space to find your footing, grow connections, and feel more like yourself again.
What it is
Home Away from Home is a 10-week, therapist-led group for people who have moved abroad or relocated to Scotland and are navigating the emotional, social, and practical challenges of building a new life. We blend practical tools with an emotional lens so you can feel steadier, make friends with change, and build roots in your new environment.
Format: Weekly 90–120 min sessions (in person, with a light hybrid option if needed)
Group size: 12 participants (closed group after Week 1 for safety)
Facilitation: Trauma-informed, attachment-aware, culturally sensitive
Approach: Light psychoeducation • creative/reflection activities • small-group sharing • grounding rituals
Who it’s for
Newcomers to Edinburgh/Scotland — expats, students, professionals, partners
Anyone feeling unsettled, homesick, or in‑between after a move
People who want companionship and steady practices while adjusting to a new culture and community
If you’re unsure whether it’s a fit, reach out - we’re happy to chat.
What you’ll gain
Stability skills — simple grounding and anchoring practices for wobbly days
Connection tools — safe, doable ways to meet people and nurture belonging
Identity support — space to reflect on who you’re becoming and what stays you
Emotion care — normalisation and strategies for grief, guilt, homesickness
Local know‑how — crowdsourced tips for admin, healthcare, language, and more
A gentle community — peers who “get it,” plus a shared resource list you co‑create
The weekly arc (without spoilers)
Arriving & Safety — setting the container; what “home” means now
Change & Shock — understanding the stress curve and our nervous systems
Anchors — building a personal toolkit of steadying practices and rituals
Connections — relational skills for finding people and feeling less alone
Difference — navigating cultural friction with openness and care
Identity in Motion — who am I here? what parts are lost/arriving?
Hard Feelings — grief, homesickness, guilt; making room and moving through
Practical Matters, Emotional Lens — housing, admin, healthcare, language
Integration & Belonging — weaving the old with the new
Home‑Making — closing ritual; your personal “home recipe” for the months ahead
Dates, fees & access
Next cohort: Jan to March 2026 — Monday evenings, 2 hours
Fee: £40 per session (£380 for the full programme). If cost is a barrier, please contact us.
What’s included: 10 sessions • take‑home prompts/tasks • light refreshments • shared resource list • post‑group check‑in email
If your workplace or university can fund places for newcomers, we offer invoicing and bursary partnerships - ask us about it.
Your facilitator
Odett Toth, Counsellor (MSc, University of Edinburgh). 500+ clinical sessions delivered; research and practice in mental health accessibility; experienced with cross‑cultural transitions.
Laura Toth, Psychologist (GMBPsS, Glasgow). Experienced in supporting individuals through change, identity, and belonging; integrates evidence-based approaches with mindful awareness.
How a session flows
Opening check‑in (5–10 min grounding & mood)
Mini‑input (10–15 min, gentle context)
Interactive practice (30–40 min — creative/reflection or skills)
Group sharing (20–30 min, optional to pass)
Closing ritual (5–10 min)
You choose how much to share. Silence is also welcome.
FAQs
Do I need to attend all 10 weeks? Commit if you can - continuity helps. If you must miss a week, we’ll send a short recap and prompts.
Is this therapy? It’s a therapist‑led psychoeducational group with supportive sharing. It’s not a substitute for individual therapy; we can signpost if needed.
What if I’m not a student or new arrival but still adjusting to life here? You’re welcome. The focus is on building belonging after a move or relocation.
What if I can’t speak English very well? We keep language simple and offer written prompts. You can journal in your own language.
Accessibility? Sadly, we have a flight of stairs leading up to our space but we offer chairs with backs, low‑stim lighting, content notes in advance. Tell us what helps you participate.