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The clinic offers a full spectrum of services for children, adults and couples in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, for both local and expatriate clientele.

Both are qualified to work in their home countries: Canada and the United States, respectfully, as is their third partner, a neuropsychologist who specialises in assessing and treating developmental disorders in children.

Jefferson uses gestalt techniques to treat the symptoms and disorders his expatriate clients seek help for primarily depression and anxiety but is eclectic in his approach, adding cognitive techniques and role play. Marshall says she relies on narrative therapy, which she describes as helping people re-story their lives.

People with shattered or self-defeating narratives and those with chapters ripped out or forgotten are encouraged to reconstruct the stories they tell about themselves in order to make sense of their lives and alleviate distress and negative behaviour that results from unhealthy scripts that have been imposed.

Both Marshall and Jefferson have been away long enough to know there really isnt that much of a difference between those who leave and those who stay. The issues are the same but the stories are different, Jefferson says.

Marshall is quick to admit that some people would not end up in therapy at home, but do so here because they lack support systems, like long-term friends and relatives.

Sometimes all they need is to be reassured that what they are feeling is natural, she says in answer to questions about culture shock, which can be triggered by relatively trivial things, like constant bartering and the custom that foreigners should pay a bit extra because they have more money.

People get infuriated by having to pay more. Then, they freak out at themselves for freaking out, Marshall explains. Culture shock, however, is usually pretty easy to get over once identified, and most people do so within a few months, both therapists agree.

On the contrary, they dont ask clients who complain at overcharges whether they also object to being paid far more than their Khmer colleagues.

That would be antagonistic, Jefferson explains, adding, that some therapists do use antagonism as a technique to jolt clients.

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Expert advice from expats | 7 Days | The Phnom Penh Post - Cambodia's Newspaper of Record