Finding Home: Daria Somova’s Path from Immigrant to Expat Therapist

With infectious energy lighting up the screen, Daria Somova meets her clients from her cozy corner in Prague. As an emotional-focused psychologist, Daria uses her own immigrant experiences to naturally connect with expats who are adjusting to life in a new country during her therapy sessions.

From a childhood dream of becoming a psychiatrist, to building a successful business abroad, and finally completing her psychology degree to open her practice, Daria has directly channeled her life experiences into helping her clients.

Her approach is fresh and engaging, offering a supportive space for those adapting to new surroundings. Daria isn’t just their therapist; she’s a fellow traveler on the journey of personal growth.

Early Dreams and Real Challenges

Ever since she was little, Daria has been fascinated with the human mind. “I was always interested in psychology. When I was a child, I had this weird dream to become a psychiatrist for prisoners,” she laughs. She didn’t start out in psychiatry, but that early love for psychology eventually circled back.

Living the life of an immigrant herself, Daria gets what her clients are going through. She moved from Russia to Prague when she was just 17 and has bounced around a bit since then, picking up firsthand experience with the ups and downs of living abroad.

Facing a tough, unwelcoming job market in Prague, Daria used her multilingual skills and international experience as stepping stones. “I had experience, spoke multiple languages and nobody would hire me. So that’s when I said, well, I’m going to hire myself.” Starting an immigration service business was her bold answer to those closed doors.

Daria’s Therapeutic Approach

The well-known immigration consultancy, Move to Prague, was born. “We have worked with over 12,000 people from more than 100 countries,” Daria explains. She found the most joy in forming genuine connections. “We became friends with a lot of our clients over time,” she reflects. This desire to connect on a deeper level eventually steered her towards a new path.

Daria’s shift to therapy was about making a real difference. It hit her during her own sessions, “I went for my own therapy a few years ago and realized how much it can improve your life, to get to know yourself better, to get the tools to help yourself in this journey,” she shares. Her mission is to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues and change lives, just like therapy changed hers.

She believes in not just treating symptoms but addressing the root causes of mental distress: “What I do is kind of new. It’s called emotional objective therapy.” This method is about getting to the heart of emotional troubles fast and effectively, addressing issues stored in the subconscious.

And Daria’s big on empowerment. “A good therapist will teach a client how to manage their troubles on their own,” she says. Her goal is to equip her clients with the tools they need, turning therapy sessions into lessons in self-care and emotional resilience. This is Daria’s way of making sure her clients don’t just lean on her but learn to stand strong on their own.

Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Change

So how does one turn a dream into reality? “Well, I’m going to say just courage and desperation.” Daria laughs. “Jokes aside,” she continues, “I was always very entrepreneurial. When I was five, I had my first stationary computer. And I made a little PC club out of my room so kids would come and play.” That early hustle set the stage for everything that followed.

“It’s very hard to surprise me after all those years in the immigration business,” she shares. Yet, entering the world of mental health was a different game. “Even seasoned therapists and psychologists get surprised by what can happen in a session. You can work with people all your life and still have no idea what this person is feeling.”

Transitioning to therapy wasn’t immediate for Daria. “It took me some time to get into it and to know that I’m not a complete idiot and that I actually won’t harm people but help them.” The need for rigorous self-assessment was crucial. “I’m also very responsible, so I needed to have a lot of evaluations, a lot of supervisions, over 400 hours of practice, with my supervisors and professors telling me, ‘Daria, you got this,’ before I went ahead and started.”

All these experiences, the highs and the learning curves, have shaped Daria into the therapist she is today—meticulous, deeply caring, and always ready to learn.

Start Your Healing Journey: Connect with Daria

Daria has come a long way from running a little PC club as a kid to helping people tackle big life changes. Her journey through entrepreneurship and mental health is packed with personal insights that she brings into every therapy session. 

She uses emotional objective therapy not just to tackle symptoms but to get to the root of problems. Whether you’re dealing with cultural shifts, identity crises, or just the everyday stress of living abroad, she’s here with a friendly ear to guide you through it.

Daria offers a free 15-minute call to get to know you and see if her approach aligns with your needs. Fluent in English, Czech, and Russian, she meets clients both in person (in Prague) and through various digital platforms.

Ready to take control of your life and start your journey to self-discovery and emotional well-being? Daria is just a call away. Visit her website to book your session and join her in turning challenges into opportunities for growth.