Udoli

About Udoli

Udoli - a place where people come first.

Hi, my name is Jan Vacha and I founded Udoli in 2026. Here's a little bit about me and what Udoli's here for.

I came to consulting and psychotherapy the long way. A decade in public policy and education — working with the Czech government, the European Commission, studying at Oxford, in London and in Helsinki — taught me a great deal about systems, institutions, and structural change. What it couldn't do was replace the value of genuine human care and professional support.

Throughout my life, I have had a variety of mentors, peers and therapists who have helped me move through difficult personal and professional challenges. This support threw me into the world of strategic and conceptual work in policy, where I realized that what I enjoy the most is seeing people grow directly.

Jan Vacha smiling warmly, holding a plant leaf by a sunlit window

My Story

From policy rooms to the practice room.

After leaving policy, I first went into teaching, and then entered a psychotherapeutic training programme. In 2026, I set up Udoli, my hand-crafted company where I offer people the work that I have benefited from my whole life.

I work in Prague and online, in English and Czech.

Approach

Meaning is something we build, not something we discover pre-formed.

I don't work from a position of authority or a fixed theory of what your life should look like. My approach is grounded in social constructionism — the idea that meaning is something we build, not something we discover pre-formed. In practice, this means our conversations will be guided by your values, your language, and your sense of what matters, not by pre-set ideas of a good outcome or a diagnostic framework imposed from outside.

I ask questions more than I give answers. I am curious rather than directive. And I won't pretend to be neutral. I bring myself to this work, which I think makes it more honest. I believe that no one can be truly objective — and if we claim to be, we have not yet discovered our own biases formed by our cultural, social and economic positioning.

Modalities

I offer two modalities — 1:1 Studio and Psychotherapy Studio.

They're built for different needs. One is future-oriented and practical; the other is slower, deeper, and focused on mental health and wellbeing.

Accepting new clients

1:1 Studio

In my 1:1 Studio, I offer more practically-oriented consultations which take the form of a structured conversation. In our first session, we define the problem you want to work on and set up an engagement contract — a definition of the problem you'd like to work on, and the support I provide while we work together. I work with a variety of tools you may know from management, mentoring or even coaching.

This work is more future-oriented and doesn't go deeper into mental health. You can choose however many sessions you find useful — I don't sell packages to lock you into a pricing deal. The goal is to move towards a certain goal in a set timeframe.

Explore the 1:1 Studio
Opening for practice sessions in 2027

Psychotherapy Studio

In 2027, I will begin accepting clients into practice sessions under clinical supervision in my Psychotherapy Studio. This service is open to clients looking to work on deeper issues related to mental health.

Psychotherapy is different to 1:1 Studio — we do not establish measurable goals or set up a timeline to achieve a change. This is because psychotherapy, mental health and mental wellbeing take time and cannot be rushed. It is focused more on the past and the present, and is meant to help you improve your mental health and wellbeing. Psychotherapy is highly regulated, and there are good reasons why therapists undergo extensive training — if you are struggling with mental health, psychotherapy is for you.

Explore the Psychotherapy Studio
Jan Vacha smiling, sitting by a window in natural light

Credentials & Working with a Trainee

I am a psychotherapist in training — here's what that means for you.

  • MSc (Comparative and International Education), University of Oxford
  • BA (Education Studies), University College London
  • Currently in Year 1 of a 6-year Postmodern Psychotherapy programme, accredited by the Czech Association for Psychotherapy (member of EAP)

Being a psychotherapist in training means two things worth knowing: when it comes to psychotherapy, I work under regular clinical supervision throughout our time together, and I am still building the breadth of experience that comes with years of practice.

What I can offer is genuine: careful attention, a grounded theoretical foundation, and real investment in your process. If at any point I feel your situation needs a level of support beyond what I can responsibly provide, I will tell you directly and help you find it.

Fully qualified practitioners can be found in the directory of the Czech Association for Psychotherapy.

Curious whether we're a good fit?

Book a free 20-minute consultation - find out if we are what you're looking for.

Book a free consultation