Home Is Where the Heart Is: Aporias of Love and Belonging in Intercultural Couples

Abstract

Multiculturalism in couple relationships is a trend that is set to rise in Western countries, due to the increase in globalisation, migration and the changing demographic of the population. In this chapter, I review the existing systemic theoretical perspectives and burgeoning literature in this area. I describe the sociopolitical context that serves as a backdrop for intercultural couples. I propose two interrelated themes—the meaning of home and the meaning of love—and illustrate the salience of the themes through clinical vignettes. The clinical implications focus on the need for clinicians to grapple with the complexities of the two themes of the meaning of home and love, and to unpack their own assumptions about these themes, from a self-reflexive perspective. I hope the chapter highlights the dilemmas and opportunities for intercultural couples, and the clinicians who work with them.