or expat couples, especially those from mixed cultural backgrounds, the reality of day-to-day life brings unique challenges. As a couples therapist with 29 years of experience in addiction treatment and international couples therapy in Paris, I’ve seen how these pressures can test even the strongest relationships.

Toxic positivity, on the other hand, slaps a “good vibes only” bumper sticker over a gaping wound. It’s a spiritual air freshener. It’s that friend who says, “It’s all good,” that makes you throw up in your mouth a little bit.

To raise children amid affluence is to navigate a paradox: you must offer the benefits of financial freedom while safeguarding your child's internal sense of purpose, resilience, and emotional authenticity. You must parent not just with resources, but with awareness.

The real work of intimacy? Learning to stay present long enough to really understand each other, especially when you come from different worlds.