Relocation changes everything. It’s not just about packing your life into a suitcase and starting over in a new country-it’s about leaving behind your familiar identity, career, and social support. For many Ukrainians abroad, the emotional and psychological challenges of immigration are as complex as the practical ones. As a coach, I work with people who, despite different stories, face surprisingly similar struggles. Together, we navigate the path from simply surviving to truly living again.
By Oksana Vygorii, Coach for Immigrants
The Stages of Immigration: Why It Feels So Hard
Psychologists often describe immigration as a multistage process, each with its own emotional and psychological challenges:
- The Honeymoon Stage – Everything feels exciting and new. The country seems full of opportunities, and there is a sense of adventure. People often feel motivated and hopeful at this stage.
- Culture Shock – Reality starts to settle in. Language barriers, bureaucratic challenges, and cultural differences begin to feel overwhelming. Loneliness and frustration are common.
- Disorientation and Identity Crisis – This is often the hardest stage. Many immigrants feel lost, questioning their value and abilities. Career setbacks, financial struggles, or the loss of a familiar social circle can lead to self-doubt.
- Adjustment and Adaptation – Slowly, people begin to integrate into their new environment, developing routines and understanding how to navigate the system. Confidence starts to return.
- Rebuilding and Thriving – This is the stage where people not only adapt but start creating meaningful careers, relationships, and a sense of belonging in their new country.
When Do People Usually Seek Coaching?
Most of my clients come to coaching when they are stuck in stage three-Disorientation and Identity Crisis. This is when they no longer feel like the person they used to be but don’t yet see a clear path forward. They may have lost confidence in their professional skills, feel emotionally exhausted, or struggle with decisions about their future.
Coaching is especially helpful for those who are ready to move forward but don’t know how. They don’t necessarily need therapy to heal deep emotional wounds, but they do need support in setting goals, regaining self-confidence, and actively creating a life that feels fulfilling.
Coaching vs. Therapy: What’s the Difference?
A common question I hear is: Should I see a therapist or a coach? The answer depends on what kind of support you need.
- Therapy focuses on healing past traumas, deep emotional wounds, and psychological issues. A therapist helps you process pain, deal with unresolved experiences, and restore emotional well-being.
- Coaching is about building new “muscles” –practical skills, mindset shifts, and strategies to move forward. It’s focused on personal growth, setting and achieving goals, and developing confidence in your abilities.
Think of it like this: if therapy is about recovering from an injury, coaching is about training to run a marathon. It’s not about fixing what’s broken-it’s about making you stronger, more focused, and more resilient.
The Common Challenges Immigrants Face
In my coaching practice, I hear many different stories, but the deeper challenges are often shared:
- Some clients arrive with strong professional backgrounds but find themselves stuck in jobs far below their qualifications. Exhaustion from long hours and night shifts leaves them without energy to study the language or explore new career opportunities. Over time, dreams shrink, and life becomes just about getting through the day.
- Others face long periods of unemployment and start doubting whether their skills are even relevant anymore. The confident, capable person they once were feels like a distant memory.
- Some people, unexpectedly, struggle even when basic needs are met. They may have supportive partners and financial security, yet carry guilt and inner conflict around not earning their own income. Instead of enjoying this new chapter, they feel stuck in self-judgment, questioning their worth beyond work.
Despite the differences, what unites these experiences is the feeling of pause. Life feels frozen. The future is blurry. There’s a deep fatigue not only physical, but emotional and mental.
How Coaching Helps Immigrants Start Living Again
Coaching offers a space where people can finally stop, reflect and carefully begin rebuilding their lives – on their own terms, in in their new reality.
We work together to:
- Restore self-confidence and remember their professional value.
- Define realistic goals that fit their current energy and resources.
- Shift from survival mode to conscious living, with permission to dream again.
- Release guilt and internal pressures, especially around identity and money.
- Reconnect with personal passions, talents, and missions.
For some, this means daring to open a business or re-enter their professional field abroad. For others, it’s learning to live with peace and joy, even if life looks very different from what they imagined.
A New Chapter, One Step at a Time
Rebuilding life after immigration is not a fast process, but it is possible. I see it every day in the people I work with: those who believed they had nothing left to offer rediscover their strengths. Those who felt invisible start to shine again. And those who had stopped dreaming begin to imagine new futures.
With the right support, this new chapter can become more meaningful, fulfilling, and alive than you ever thought possible.
About the Author
My name is Oksana Vygorii. I’m a coach who helps immigrants find themselves again after moving abroad – because I’ve been there too. I know what it feels like to leave behind not only your home but also your career, your usual rhythm of life, and sometimes even your sense of who you are.
Today, I work with people from all over the world who are ready to stop surviving and start living again. Together, we rebuild confidence, discover new opportunities, and create a life that feels meaningful – even far from home.
I believe that immigration isn’t just about adapting to a new place. It’s also a chance to rediscover yourself in ways you never expected.
You can find me on Instagram or LinkedIn
Or visit my website:
www.ovcoach.com
Rome, Italy
