US Licensed Psychologist Trying to Work in Bulgaria

@ivetastantcheva

If you're Bulgarian then you are, by definition, NOT an expat. :-) But, sure, Boston is fab, so it might be a teeny-weeny shock to the system to relocate back to Bulgaria. There are many benefits too, including far lower cost of property, lower cost of living, and far less stress and aggravation. I spent many years in USA (Boston, Chicago, San Francisco) and I would never go back!

Many Bulgarians do come back home, so you are not alone in considering it. If they bring savings and pensions generated from a working life in a rich country they can live extremely well here. My builder, my mechanic, and my teaching buddy are just 3 examples I know personally, and they all speak extremely highly of their new lives here. If you're in the same situation (and can also work remotely) then you might be pleasantly surprised by what's on offer.

As far as your specific profession, I have no direct knowledge of the licensing requirements. But I doubt that foreign-educated professionals have huge problems getting licensed here. I'd guess a bigger issue might be that your Bulgarian is very rusty or long-gone. Besides, I would never recommend working locally in a low-wage economy. You would probably earn far more working remotely, while enjoying more flexible hours, and the ability to live somewhere quiet and pretty (and inexpensive) rather than having to live in the big city.

I doubt that there are any licensing requirements for being a remote worker, but you might get fewer clients if you don't have particular accreditations/licenses that are commonly expected. But the whole Dr. Stantcheva thing probably goes a long way. :-)

I suppose the other issue is what kind of psychologist you are, and what kind of work you want to do. Research might require a university connection, while remote work is probably more suited to the chatty/therapy side.

Finally... why are you thinking about moving back to your home country? Are you hoping to explore your roots, re-connect with family, or brush up your language skills? What else do you have in mind? How does this potential move make you feel?

Thanks for the super thoughtful response! Really cool to hear that you have lived in The States yourself and are currently enjoying life in Bulgaria

To your point regarding language, I actually am fully fluent in speaking, writing, and reading in Bulgarian. My parents sent me to Bulgarian weekend school here in Boston and I spent many summers in Bulgaria, so luckily the language piece isn't an issue! I am thinking of moving back to Bulgaria because I am at a stage in my life where I want to start thinking about children, and I don't really know if Boston (America in general) is a good place to raise a family. To your point, the lifestyle here (in Boston) is just very hurried, stressful, and expensive. I definitely try to live my life by my value system, and if I'm being entirely honest, the traditional "American" value system regarding individuality, independence, consumerism, and general emphasis on status is not fully aligned with my values.  I very much so enjoy the more collectivistic mindset of Bulgarians and the agreed upon understanding that as humans our sole purpose is not simply to work and produce. As for speciality, I actually wouldn't consider myself a researcher but a clinician instead. I went the PsyD route (as opposed to PhD) for this reason. I am thinking of building out a practice here (Stateside) and seeing clients virtually in Bulgaria if the time difference allows. I don't have a specialty per se, but I am versed in a variety of modalities and populations/presentations. I think it would also be an exciting journey to further develop the profession and field in Bulgaria, since Psychology isn't as developed as it is here in the States. I haven't fleshed the details out yet...but I am just beginning to toy with this idea!

What about you? What caused you to move to Bulgaria? And how have you found life there to be?

@ivetastantcheva

Well done you for keeping up your native language, that certainly makes things simpler.

Living in Boston and doing remote sessions in Bulgaria would be an unusual approach to remote working as we usually prefer to live in the cheap place and have rich clients overseas. :-) But I'd guess it was possible, if that's what you wanted.

I popped over for a few days in Plovdiv merely to meet my immigration attorney and get an EU residence permit before Brexit slammed the European door in my face. But I enjoyed my few days so much that I left my job and flew back a few weeks later, and stayed. I'm a former ski bum, and now just a lazy old bum... and I'm too poor to live in Marin County or Tahoe, so I've found Bulgaria rather suits me.

Here we have a very nice city apartment in downtown Plovdiv, just minutes walk from three large parks (Youth Hill, Alyosha Hill, and the Regatta/Maritsa River). As a former European Capital of Culture, Plovdiv has become a delightful small city and a great place to live. Obviously, I can't say it's better than Boston, Chicago or San Francisco... but I'd have to spend nearly 10X more to get an equivalent apartment there. We also have a holiday studio in Bansko, which has turned into a very charming town next to the spectacular Pirin National Park. I used to ski in the White Mountains and Tahoe, and a vacation place there would be similarly prohibitive. In terms of bang-for-my-buck Bulgaria has been an absolute revelation.

I come from a country with a socialist medical system (like Bulgaria) so the USA seems like a medical anomaly. The astronomical costs of its healthcare are a real concern as you get older. In Bulgaria, I pay $20 a month to be fully covered in the public system and get free or nearly free treatment. Plus, private hospitals are affiliated with this system, so I enjoy VIP private care for a minimal surcharge.

Plus... good weather, nice people, wide open spaces, beautiful scenery and National Parks, high-speed internet, fresh, wholesome food, low crime, EU membership and easy access to Europe on low-cost flights by WIzzair and Ryanair. What's not to like, eh?