For global professionals in France

You have the career.
You have the address.
Now find the life.

Identity reconstruction coaching for professionals in tech, finance, and corporate relocating to France — who feel successful on paper but invisible in real life.

Dr. Amy Franks, MD · U.S. Board-Certified Psychiatrist · Paris

Book a discovery call My approach →

Paris — Haussmann rooftop

Dr. Amy Franks

MD · Psychiatrist · Paris

Sessions in English

The work

Beyond settling in.
Truly belonging.

Most expat support stops at logistics — visas, apartments, neighbourhood guides. The Expatriate Society addresses what nobody else does: what the move quietly does to your sense of self.

Identity

Relocating doesn't just change your address — it challenges who you are. I help you reconnect with your values and ambitions so you show up fully, in every room and every language.

Belonging

Cultural fluency goes deeper than French lessons. I help you rebuild a sense of connection and manage old and new relationships when adapting to a new culture.

Resilience

The hardest part of living abroad isn't the bureaucracy — it's learning how to find yourself in a new place. I address stress-management and coping skills so that you continue to thrive abroad.

I arrived in Paris with a prestigious job title and zero idea who I was outside of it. Working with Dr. Franks gave me back my sense of direction — professionally and personally.

Senior Finance Director · New York → Paris

Dr. Amy Franks, MD · Paris

Dr. Amy Franks, MD

A psychiatrist who has lived every part of this transition.

I'm Amy. I'm a U.S. board-certified psychiatrist — and I know exactly what it feels like to arrive in France with impressive credentials, high expectations, and a quiet sense of being completely lost.

I built The Expatriate Society because I couldn't find what I needed when I arrived. And because the professionals I speak with every day deserve better than generic expat forums and well-meaning advice from people who've never done this.

My clinical training means I understand what identity displacement actually does to a person — not just emotionally, but psychologically. That's what makes this work different.

MD · University of Colorado Immigration researcher Board Certified Psychiatrist Based in Paris

Work with Dr. Franks →

Research & publications

The clinical foundation behind the work.

Peer-reviewed

2024

Clinical and legal considerations when optimizing trauma narratives in immigration law evaluations

Franks A, Ali DA, Adi A. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law · doi →

2023

Management of self-inflicted nonaccidental amputations of the upper extremity: A systematic review

Retrouvey H, Franks A, et al. J Hand Surg Am · 48(10):993–1002 · doi →

2016

Coding and billing issues in hospital neurology compensation

Korb PJ, Scott SJ, Franks AC, et al. Neurol Clin Pract · 6(6):487–497 · doi →

Preprints & presentations

2025

Moving beyond medical exam questions: A clinician-annotated dataset of real-world tasks and ambiguity in mental healthcare

Lamparth M, Grabb D, Franks A, et al. arXiv preprint

2022

Catatonia in obsessive compulsive disorder: A case study and literature review

Suddath A, Franks A, et al. 30th European Congress of Psychiatry · Budapest

2017

Youth community health awareness partnership: Alcohol use in the community of refugees from Burma

Arlas N, Coulter J, Franks A, et al. Dept of Family Medicine Research Poster Session · Aurora, CO

Work with me

Choose the level of
support you need.

Every engagement begins with a free 15-minute discovery call. No commitment — just an honest conversation about where you are and what would serve you best.

Entry point

The Clarity Session

€250 / single session

60-minute 1:1 session with Dr. Franks

Pre-session intake form for efficiency

Book a session

Flagship · Most popular

The Reconstruction Program

€1,800 / 8 sessions

8 × 60-minute sessions

Full identity reconstruction framework

Cultural integration resources

Apply now

Client voice

"I'd done all the practical things right but was struggling with feeling 'between two worlds'. This work changed everything."

Tech Executive · London → Paris

Questions

Honest answers.

What kind of clients do you work with?

I work with English-speaking expatriates navigating the challenges and opportunities of living abroad. My clients include professionals, trailing spouses, entrepreneurs, academics, and adjusting families.

Do I need to speak French?

Not at all. All sessions are conducted entirely in English. Navigating France as an English speaker is often part of what we work on together.

I'm not "struggling enough" — is this still for me?

Yes. Many clients are functioning very well externally. They're just not thriving internally. If something feels off, that's reason enough.

I'm not in Paris — can I still work with you?

Absolutely. Most sessions are via video call. In-person sessions are available in Levallois-Perret for those in the Paris area.

How is this different from other expat coaches?

No other coach in this space combines a U.S. psychiatric background, lived experience in France, and a structured identity reconstruction methodology. That combination is the difference.

Do you provide medical or psychiatric services in France?

No. The Expatriate Society offers life coaching only — not psychiatric treatment. Dr. Franks is not practising medicine in France. That said, coaching with a psychiatrist goes deeper than standard coaching. The clinical lens changes everything.

✦ The Expatriate Society ✦

You didn't move to France
just to survive it.

Every client journey begins with a free 15-minute discovery call. No commitment, no pressure — just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to be.

Book your discovery call Spots are limited — Dr. Franks works with a small number of clients at a time.

You have the career. You have the address. Now find the life.

Beyond settling in.Truly belonging.