Burnout Coaching & Stress Management

When constant stress turns into exhaustion

You are still functioning. But you notice that it costs you something that no longer refills by itself. Coaching in English, in Wetzikon or online – for people who want to step off before they drop out.

Free introductory session Prices & packages →

In short: I coach people with constant stress, exhaustion or after a burnout – in English or German, in Wetzikon (Zurich Oberland) or online via Zoom. Coaching is not therapy: I do not make diagnoses and I do not bill health insurance. A session lasts 60 minutes and costs CHF 140 in person or CHF 130 online; the introductory session is free.

Does this sound familiar?

You are still functioning – but it feels as if you are only working through a list.
You are tired, even after the weekend and after a holiday.
Things that used to give you joy leave you cold.
You get irritable faster than you would like – often with the wrong people.
In the evening you cannot wind down; at night your thoughts keep circling.
You often think “this cannot go on” – and carry on anyway.

If you nodded at three or more of these points, a conversation is worthwhile. Not because something dramatic is about to happen – but because exhaustion builds up quietly, and it is hardest to see from the inside.

Not sure where you stand? Two free, anonymous self-tests give you a first orientation – they do not replace a diagnosis: the burnout self-test and the stress test.

Why I know what I am talking about

I had burnout myself. Before that I was a development engineer, project manager and later an IT consultant and team leader – someone who considered himself rational and resilient. Success, results, the next goal. Pausing was not an option.

Burnout forced me to look inwards. Among other things, I discovered that I am highly sensitive – and that I had adapted for years until I had lost touch with myself.

I am not telling you this to make myself interesting. I am telling you so that you know: I know this state from the inside, not just from a textbook. And I know how unpleasant it is when someone responds with “you just need to switch off”.

More about my path: About me

If you moved to Switzerland for work

If you moved here for work, some of the load is invisible: a new language, no family nearby, unwritten rules at work that nobody explains. That is not weakness; it is extra load that rarely shows up in a job description, on top of everything else.

You can talk about all of it in English – German is not needed for the coaching. The booking form for the introductory session is in German, so you can also simply call me on +41 78 239 12 12 or write to winn.chelini@chw-coaching.ch. More on coaching in English: Life coaching in English for Zurich and Zug.

What burnout actually is – and what it is not

Burnout is included in the WHO’s international classification ICD-11, but explicitly not as an illness. It is listed there as an “occupational phenomenon”: a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The WHO describes three dimensions:

Exhaustion

A loss of energy that sleep and days off no longer refill.

Inner distance

Cynicism or indifference towards your work – often in people who used to be especially committed.

The feeling of making no difference

Your own performance feels small, no matter how much you actually get done.

Two things about this matter. First: according to the WHO, the term refers explicitly to the work context. Exhaustion from caring for relatives or from a difficult phase of life is just as real – it is simply not called burnout.

Second: because burnout is not a diagnosis, nobody can “diagnose” you with burnout. What doctors and therapists diagnose is, for example, depression or an adjustment disorder. That is not hair-splitting; it is the reason why the line between coaching and therapy has to be so clear here.

In more depth, with early warning signs and the first steps in Switzerland: What is burnout? Signs, causes and what helps.

For a sense of how common this is: in the Job-Stress-Index 2022 of Health Promotion Switzerland (Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz), 30.3 per cent of employed people said they felt emotionally exhausted – the first time above 30 per cent since 2014. So you are anything but alone with it. More in my article Burnout early warning system.

Sources: WHO, “Burn-out an ‘occupational phenomenon’” (2019)· Health Promotion Switzerland, Job-Stress-Index (in German)

The line I do not cross

Coaching is not psychotherapy. I do not make diagnoses, I do not treat illnesses, and I do not bill health insurance. That is not a phrase in the small print; it is a line I actively draw in our conversations.

If I have the impression that you need medical or therapeutic help, I will tell you – even if that means you do not book sessions with me. Anything else would be dishonest towards you and bad for my conscience.

Coaching is a good fit if you …

have been living with constant stress for months and notice that it is changing you
carry a lot of responsibility – at work, in your family or both
have had burnout before and do not want to end up there again
are considering, after sick leave, what a return to work could look like
are waiting for a therapy place and do not want to be alone in the meantime

Then you need something else

You need a diagnosis or a sick note.
You want the costs to be covered by your health insurance.
You are having thoughts of taking your own life.

In Switzerland, your family doctor (Hausarzt or Hausärztin) is usually the first stop if you need a sick note. The certificate tells your employer whether and to what extent you are unable to work; as a rule, it does not contain a diagnosis.

If you are waiting for a therapy place

In Switzerland, weeks to months often pass between deciding to seek help and the first therapy appointment. This waiting time is the most dangerous part – you have overcome your hesitation and are then put off.

I cannot replace therapy, and I do not try to. But I can accompany you during this time: give structure, practise relief techniques, be someone you can talk to. As soon as your place is available, therapy takes priority – and if it makes sense, I am happy to continue alongside it. How I see this, I have written down here: Waiting for a therapy place: what coaching can bridge.

How we work together

No off-the-shelf programme. The process follows what you need – this is the thread running through it.

Taking stock

We take an honest look: where are you right now, what drains your energy, what gives you energy? And – importantly – whether coaching is the right thing for you at the moment.

Recognising patterns

Exhaustion rarely comes from the workload alone. We look for the inner automatic patterns behind it: perfectionism, a strong sense of responsibility, not being able to say no.

Relief in everyday life

Concrete techniques that work between two meetings – breathing exercises, body scan, short mindfulness units from the MBSR approach.

Working on thoughts

Recognising, checking and reframing stressful thought patterns. This is the part that comes from cognitive behavioural therapy and works very well in coaching.

Anchoring

Between sessions you take impulses and exercises with you. Not as homework, but so that what came up in the session reaches your everyday life.

What you take away

to recognise your own early warning signs before you hit the wall
to tell “demanding” from “dangerous”
to plan recovery so that it actually restores you
to set boundaries without having to justify yourself
to deal with the pressure you put on yourself
to feel again what you actually want – not just what you must do

My methods come from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR by Jon Kabat-Zinn), from coaching based on cognitive behavioural therapy and from many years of working with people who carry responsibility. Which of them we use depends on you – not on a manual.

Practical details

Where: In Wetzikon (Ettenhauserstrasse 46) or online via Zoom – your choice. In English or German.
How long: 60 minutes per session.
What it costs: CHF 140 in person, CHF 130 online. Bookable individually or as a package – all details on Coaching packages.
First step: A free introductory session (about 20 minutes) – no strings attached, via Zoom or phone.

Frequently asked questions

Is burnout a medical diagnosis?

No. The WHO lists burnout in its classification ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon, not as a medical condition. What doctors diagnose is, for example, depression or an adjustment disorder. Coaching does not diagnose anything.

More on this: What is burnout? Signs, causes and what helps

Do I need to speak German for the coaching?

No. The sessions are in English, or in German if you prefer. Only the booking form for the introductory session is in German; you can also arrange the call by phone or e-mail.

You do not have to wait until nothing works any more

The best time for a conversation is while you still have the energy to have one. Get in touch – together we will look at what you need right now.

Free introductory session Or call +41 78 239 12 12 →

Your progress is my joy.