“Here, Everybody Moves”: Using Relational Cultural Therapy with Adult Third-Culture Kids

Abstract

Researchers have underscored the need for appropriate counseling services for Third Culture Kids (TCKs), yet few have addressed therapeutic approaches. This article applies Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT) to the counseling of Adult TCKs, focusing on TCK experiences such as inaccessibility of parents and ‘parentification’. The long-term impact of such childhood experiences, including emotional disengagement, role-playing, and replication, is explored. Finally, a case scenario is presented to illustrate the application of RCT.