Choosing to move to a different culture doesn’t have to be something you regret.
You can feel at ease, without fear in the place you’ve chosen to call home.
Does this sound familiar?
Immigrants, emigrants, expats, refugees - or those who simply thought the grass would be greener somewhere else.
People may call you many things, and often those labels carry a hint of judgment.
You changed the place where you work and live. You didn’t simply move across town or make a small adjustment. You made a decision that changed your everyday life, routines, surroundings, and the world you knew.
Perhaps you wanted to free yourself from the weight of everything you had known. Perhaps you had different ideas, different values, or simply a deep need for change.
And so you pulled up your anchor and set out. Because you could. Or perhaps because you needed to.
Now you are here-wherever life, circumstances, or your own choices have brought you. This is the place where you are building your life now.
And if you ever think about going back, you may already hear their voices saying, “We told you so.”
And so here you are, building the life you hoped for. You tell yourself you have to be strong because others have managed it too.
After everything you’ve been through, what do you truly want now?
- To build a life in a new country, surrounded by a different culture, unfamiliar customs and different way of life - without the constant undercurrent of anxiety.
Without feeling caught between two worlds: no longer fully belonging to the place you left, yet not quite feeling at home in the place you’ve arrived. - To step outside of your home with confidence instead of wondering what might go wrong today. You have done your homework, learned a new culture, a new language and yet it still feels like you are walking on eggshells.
- Or simply to leave the house and feel like you are part of the life around you. To step outside your comfort zone, knowing you’ll be okay.
- To not regret your decision to leave your home country. To miss home with nostalgia, not with an ache in your chest and your heart pounding.
- To understand that everything you once had is far away and, in many ways, gone. And despite that, to embrace each day and enjoy the life you imagined building.
Back then, I found the courage to change. Now, I've found relief.
“I felt stuck. Like I was trapped somewhere between a rational decision I had made and an avalanche of emotions that came crashing over me the moment I opened my eyes in the morning. There were days when I didn’t even want to open them. More and more, I just wanted to hide under the covers and shut out the world outside.
And yet, it was a world I had chosen with such excitement. A world I simply didn’t fully understand. I was overwhelmed by guilt, by a sense of failure, by the weight of the consequences—and by the fact that I was the one who had created all of this.
Water tasted different. Some foods simply weren’t available. There were things I wasn’t allowed to do, and so many things I suddenly had to do. I honestly don’t know whether I was more frustrated or angry.
Thankfully, thanks to Věrka and her highly professional yet warm and sensitive coaching, all of that is now in the past. If I regret anything, it’s only that I waited far too long to seek coaching, thinking that I would eventually just get over the move and get used to everything.
I finally feel free and happy. Of course, I’m still discovering things with amazement and learning every day. But I’m no longer paralyzed by a mountain of doubts and guilt. I’m finally okay.
Back then, I found the courage to change. Now, I’ve found relief.”
M. M., marketing specialist
Life coaching is an effective way forward
Through a structured coaching dialogue, I’ll guide you in clarifying what you want to change, where you want to go, and what steps will help you get there.
I won’t give you a set of ready-made answers or instructions to follow. Did I hear you sigh and say “That’s unfortunate?” Quite the opposite!
Through carefully chosen questions tailored specifically to you, I will guide you in identifying your obstacles, values and possibilities. All the answers are already within you- we’ll uncover them together.
What you’re looking for is relief and the confidence that you are making the right decision for you and the life you are building. My goal is to be there alongside you as you rebuild your self-confidence.
Together, you can reconnect with the potential you sense is within yourself but haven’t yet found a way to access-or discover possibilities you never knew were there.
Who am I?
My name is Věra Wegricht, and I’m a life coach, primarily for people who have left behind their home, their roots, and the life they knew to start over in another country and culture—and who have found that this decision has brought more doubt, fear, or anxiety than they ever expected.
How do I know this, you ask? I lived it! Today, I live in Bahrain. Before that, I lived in Rwanda, Japan, Switzerland, and the USA. However, my roots are in the Czech Republic, even though my life has taken me far beyond it.
I have experienced so many different cultures, foods, traditions, and people! Some were locals, but most of them, like me, were expats. And regardless of where they came from or how many times they had moved before, many struggled to adapt to a new culture and fully enjoy the life they had worked so hard to build.
Understanding these psychological challenges, which almost every expat experiences sooner or later, led me to a simple decision.
With a degree in International Psychology, I returned to my studies and became a certified life coach and mentor.
Since then, I have been walking alongside people who have moved away from their original home—and, somewhere along the way, have found themselves feeling distant from who they are.
My education & Training:
- The University of Texas, B.A. in Psychology
- Master’s Degree in International Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- Certified Professional Coach (CTA-CPC) – Coach Transformation Academy
- Certified Professional Mentor (CTA-CPM) – Coach Transformation Academy
FAQ
1. Why am I feeling anxious after moving, even though I thought everything through carefully?
Feeling anxious after moving to another country is a common response to a major life change. Even when you have a job and a place to live, you may still feel uncertain, tense, or wonder whether you made the right decision.
2. What can I do when I don’t feel at home here?
Start with small things that give you a sense of stability: routines, trusted people, familiar faces, and a clear plan for adapting. A sense of home develops gradually - it doesn’t simply appear the moment you arrive.
3. Is it normal to regret moving abroad?
Yes. In fact, questioning or even regretting a move abroad is very common, especially during the adjustment period. Some even wonder “What if I never feel at home here?” That does not necessarily mean something is fundamentally wrong. What matters is understanding what’s behind those feelings- is it anxiety, exhaustion, loneliness or a deeper long-term feeling that this life simply isn’t right for you.
4. How do I know if what I’m experiencing is culture shock?
Culture shock can show up in ways you might not immediately connect with your move: exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, loneliness, self-doubt, difficulty concentrating, or a growing feeling that you don’t quite belong anywhere. It may show up as physical symptoms as well: changes in sleep or appetite, or digestive problems. And it can happen even when you were genuinely looking forward to the move and, on paper, everything is going well.
5. How can I cope with loneliness abroad?
Regular contact with people close to you, building new social connections, having your own routines, and setting realistic expectations can all make loneliness abroad easier to navigate. Coaching can support you in building a support system and reducing the feeling of being isolated.
6. Can coaching help with anxiety while living abroad?
Sometimes anxiety isn’t really about the anxiety itself. You may be struggling to find your bearings, make decisions, adapt to a new environment, or simply feel unsteady in your everyday life. Coaching can’t replace therapy but it can offer practical support when you feel ungrounded or need a clearer sense of what’s happening.
7. What if I am not happy after moving abroad?
Not feeling happy doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Your life may look successful from the outside while, on the inside, you’re feeling pressure, sadness, emptiness, or fear. Coaching gives you a safe space to explore these feelings, understand what is behind them, and find a way forward.
8. How do I decide whether to stay or go back?
When you’re anxious or overwhelmed, it can be difficult to know whether you truly want to leave or whether your current emotions are clouding your judgment. Through coaching, you can untangle those feelings from your longer-term needs, values, and the reality of your situation.
9. Why is it so difficult to talk about struggling abroad when everyone thinks I am so lucky to have this life?
People around you may see only the advantages of living abroad—the job, the weather, the money or the adventure. They may not see the cultural exhaustion, feeling uprooted, or loneliness underneath it. Coaching gives you the opportunity to talk openly about what you’re really experiencing, without feeling guilty or ungrateful.
10. When should I seek support after moving abroad?
If the emotional challenges start affecting your sleep, work, relationships, or everyday life, it may be time to seek support. You don’t have to wait until you feel overwhelmed. Addressing things early can make them easier to understand and work through before they become more difficult.
Pricing
All sessions are held online via Zoom or WhatsApp.
Contact Me
The first step doesn’t have to be a big decision. Just write me a few lines about what you are going through right now.
I will get back to you as soon as I can, and we’ll find a time for your free introductory consultation. Everything you share with me stays between us.
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