Mokuteki

Take part in a webinar for an inside look at the REFLOW test

DESCRIPTION OF THE WEBINAR:

How can curiosity about burnout be turned into a practical test for insight and change?

Join us for a conversation about the journey behind REFLOW. We will share the experiences, questions and relational perspective that inspired its development. We’ll explore how REFLOW helps assess burnout risk, pinpoint areas that need attention, and discover possible directions for change. We’ll also introduce the premium version, which pairs the test with an individual consultation to explore your results and develop a personalized action plan and present our international coaching program MOKUTEKI.

From lived experience to a tool for understanding burnout - Behind the Scenes of REFLOW

17 November 2026 · 15:00-16:20 CET · online · English

Leading: Agata Gieryn + Magda Adamowicz

Please submit any questions to: hello@cultureshock.pl.

What is Mokuteki?

The method we use in Mokuteki (目的, “purpose” in Japanese) is based on the assumption that burnout is not solely an individual problem. What also contributes to burnout are relationships with others, working conditions, the way an organization operates, and sociopolitical circumstances.

As part of Mokuteki, we develop approaches to counteracting burnout in Ukrainian civil society. We support leaders in strengthening agency and resources; at the same time, we look at how organizations can shape more supportive work environments.

What do we develop in Mokuteki?

Support for leaders

We strengthen resources, agency and decision-making among leaders acting under the pressure of a prolonged crisis and facing overload and challenges resulting from the current situation in Ukraine.
Change at the organizational level

We look at relationships, work culture and structures that may protect from burnout or increase the risk of overload.
Knowledge translated into practice

We combine knowledge about burnout, expertise and tools adapted to the reality of working in a prolonged crisis. We train coaches who develop a complex understanding of burnout – its individual, organizational and social factors. As a result, they can provide leaders of Ukrainian civil society organizations with more adequate and stable support.

By strengthening the competences of those who support leaders, we help build the resources of leaders and organizations themselves. This, in turn, may increase the ability of Ukrainian civil society to act in a prolonged crisis.

Why did we create Mokuteki?

We see that under a prolonged crisis, standard approaches to coaching may not be enough. We need methods that take into account the specific circumstances in Ukraine, the extent of the pressures faced by leaders and the interrelationships between their wellbeing and the functioning of their organisations.

Read the articles about the beginnings of Mokuteki by Magda Adamowicz and about Mokuteki from the perspective of the coachee, Kateryna Shukh:

Don’t do such things alone: the story about how the Mokuteki project began

Magda Adamowicz shares the story that gave rise to the Mokuteki project. Working as a coach, she quickly encountered emotions that are rarely expressed openly: helplessness, anger or anxiety. It became clear to her that classic coaching models do not work in the conditions of a permanent crisis, such as the war in Ukraine. Along with Paulina Jędrzejewska, she developed a program for those who support leaders of human rights organizations operating in such circumstances.

3 min. read

Support for supporters – Mokuteki training program from the participant's perspective

How can you support others when you are on the verge of exhaustion yourself? The author shares her experience of participating in the Mokuteki training program for those supporting Ukrainian civil society. Several months of meetings preparing participants for coaching leaders of Ukrainian organizations are not only training; above all, they are part of the systemic response to burnout in wartime conditions.

6 min. read

2026 edition

From experiences to lasting changes

How can we ensure that supporting leaders doesn’t end with the last training session?

In the 2026 edition, we develop Mokuteki drawing on the experiences from the previous edition. We want to better understand which forms of support meet the needs of leaders and organizations, which solutions are worth developing and how to enhance cooperation in counteracting burnout.

We’re drawing conclusions from the past edition

We’re returning to the experiences of participants of training and coaching processes. We’re preparing surveys and interviews that help us better understand the long-term effects of the program. We’re looking at its strengths, areas that need change and the way gained experiences influence the daily work of leaders and organizations.
We’re developing cooperation and a community of experts

We’re building a space for knowledge and experience exchange between those who support civil society. We’re developing expert cooperation and preparing the next activities that will help maintain the relationships built in the program.
We’re sharing knowledge

We’re organizing open sessions dedicated to burnout, wellbeing, mental resilience and coaching in the context of work for civil society. We want the knowledge and experiences from Mokuteki to be also available to those outside the group of direct participants of the program.

What's happening in Mokuteki 2026?

We’re recruiting for next editions of the program and developing activities related to examining the experiences of the past edition’s participants. We’re also organizing open webinars dedicated to counteracting burnout and supporting civil society actors.

Mokuteki 2027 will include three participant groups.

Spilnota Mokuteki 2027 UA – a community uniting supporters of Ukrainian civil society with all activities led in Ukrainian only.
Mokuteki 2027 EN – a community uniting supporters of Ukrainian civil society with all activities led in English only.
Liderzy NGO UA – leaders of Ukrainian non-governmental and civil society organizations who want to take part in coaching.

Application forms are available in Ukrainian (for Spilnota Mokuteki and leaders) and English (for Community of Mokuteki and leaders).

Mokuteki is a process, not a single training. We want the knowledge, relationships and tools developed as part of the initiative to help create work environments in which caring for people becomes part of the organization’s functioning.

2025 edition

Mokuteki 2025

From training to individual support

How to support people who struggle with challenging work for Ukrainian civil society every day?

The first edition of Mokuteki combined training for specialists, the development of coaching competences and individual support for leaders of Ukrainian civil society organizations. Our goal was to prepare those who support leaders for work with burnout, stress and trauma, taking into account both individual experiences and challenges related to an organization’s functioning under a prolonged crisis.

How was Mokuteki 2025?

Based on methods and tools developed by the Culture Shock Foundation, together with Magda Adamowicz from Araminta, we designed a training program for specialists supporting leaders of Ukrainian human rights organizations.

The program consisted of a cycle of online workshops led by experts and a five-day on-site training in Murzasichle. Participants developed knowledge about burnout, stress, trauma and mental resilience, learned coaching methods and looked at the challenges related to managing people and the organization.

A cycle of online workshops – knowledge and experience of the invited experts

Experts from various fields created the program. Therefore, burnout could be considered from several perspectives – from personal experiences of overload, through the functioning of organizations, to working with trauma and the body’s resources.

Anastasiia Medko – psychologist and specialist in burnout prevention – led a session dedicated to burnout at the individual level.
Natalia Sarata from RegenerAkcja and Magdalena Sadura from the Polish Migration Forum provided insight into burnout at the organizational level, showing how work culture and the organization’s functioning relate to the wellbeing of those who constitute it.
Paula King from Kingstown College, psychologist, coach and the member of EMCC Global’s Management Board, led a workshop about coaching in the context of burnout and trauma.
Sam Argent from Kingstown College in Dublin and Still Flow Coaching Through Change focused on coaching supporting mental resilience and people who have experienced trauma.
Sat Dharam Kaur, related to Compassionate Inquiry, led a session “When the body says no” together with Anastasiia Medko; the session was dedicated to the relationships between burnout and the body’s signals.

The program also included an introductory session led by Paulina Jędrzejewska and Magda Adamowicz, as well as a five-day on-site training during which Paulina Jędrzejewska led the bodywork and the integration of the knowledge acquired.

Five-day on-site training

The meeting in Murzasichle was a space for expanding knowledge, bodywork, reflection and exchanging experiences. Participants combined what they’ve learned during workshops with group work and preparation to support leaders.
To complete the program successfully, it was required to actively participate in the on-site training, attend at least 90% of the sessions, keep a personal reflection journal and lead coaching sessions with clients as part of the program.
Individual coaching – knowledge used in practice

The support concerned counteracting burnout, stress management, building emotional resilience and challenges related to managing people and the organization. As a result, the knowledge acquired in training could be used in work with specific needs of leaders.
We also developed online resources

At the same time, we worked on the Ukrainian- and Russian-language version of Burnout Aid and adapted selected resources, including the REFLOW test and the Knowledge Zone. We considered both linguistic aspects and the need to adapt content to the local context and experiences of people working in Ukraine.

Mokuteki is the Culture Shock Foundation’s initiative intended for professional development. It supports the development of coaching competences and the ability to enhance mental resilience, but does not equal obtaining external coaching accreditation.

Want to keep up to date with our activities?

Sign up for the Culture Shock Foundation’s newsletter and stay informed about out initiatives, new resources and upcoming activities to counteract burnout.

Burnout Aid newsletter – join!

Join the Burnout Aid and Culture Shock Foundation newsletter. Several times a year we share inspiration, best practices and tools to support well-being.

Organizers

Culture Shock Foundation

Since 2010, we have been strengthening the position of Polish and European civil society organizations and cultural institutions by enhancing efficiency in burnout prevention, the ethical use of technology, digital solutions, and leadership development. We also offer customized support through workshops, coaching, and self-assessment tools.

Araminta

Collective of a civil society experts and advocates dedicated to enhancing human rights and democratic resilience. Araminta enables and empowers human rights defenders and the communities they represent by forging new local and global alliances, designing innovative models of financial sustainability, and developing practices that prioritize care, protection, and resilience.

Experts

Paulina Jędrzejewska

CEO, Flow Strategist, Culture Shock Foundation

Supports individuals, NGOs, social organizations, and cultural or creative institutions in adapting to rapid change. Since 2010, she has led the Culture Shock Foundation, combining culture, technology, research, and burnout prevention. As a coach, supervisor, mentor, and facilitator, she focuses on wellbeing and sustainable leadership, integrating insights from culture, identity, performance, neuroscience, and anthropology.

Magda Adamowicz

Advisor, coach, cybersecurity expert, Araminta

With over 20 years of experience in human rights advocacy, she provides support to civil society organizations and human rights defenders. She holds a Harvard Online cybersecurity certificate and is currently pursuing further education in coaching and mentoring at Kingstown College. She works as an independent advisor and coach.

Magdalena Sadura

Manager, Cultural Studies Expert, Trainer, and Facilitator

Specializes in migration, democratization of institutions, and cross-sector collaboration. Supports refugee integration (Polish Migration Forum, Polish Hospitality Foundation) and cooperates with NGOs and cultural institutions on burnout prevention, mental health, and change management.

Natalia Sarata

Facilitator, Mentor, and Social Movements Consultant

Active in human rights work since 2002. Having personally experienced activist burnout, she now helps organizations build cultures that prevent it. Collaborates with RegenerAction Foundation, Ulex Project, and TechSoup. Currently focuses on mentoring and creating a forest-based regenerative retreat for activists.

Sat Dharam Kaur

Kundalini Yoga Teacher, Trainer, Author, and Naturopath

Creator of the 2024 Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training program, which integrates science, polyvagal theory, trauma-informed practice, and spiritual femininity. Worked with Dr. Gabor Maté on the Compassionate Inquiry project. A bestselling author and international speaker on yoga and personal growth.

Sam Argent

ICF PCC Coach, Lecturer at Kingstown College

Leads coaching and mentoring programs, supporting resilience and conscious leadership development. Helps clients build a growth mindset, overcome obstacles, and create fulfilling lives. Former group trainer for Common Purpose Leadership programs in Ireland and the global Professional Women’s Network entrepreneurship program.

Paula King

CEO of Kingstown College, MCC Coach, Psychologist

Founder of EMCC Ireland and board member of EMCC Global. Author of Becoming a Master Coach, and an award-winning trainer with over 20 years of experience. Holds accreditations in Appreciative Inquiry, psychometrics, and NLP. Combines empathy, mindfulness, and courageous challenge in her coaching work.

Anastasiia Medko

Psychologist, Business Trainer, and Sandplay Therapist

Specializes in preventing professional burnout. Co-founder of the International Training and Supervision School TrainingBOX and author of the course Technology of Training Activity. Provides individual and group consultations, psychoeducational programs, and supports professionals working in high-stress environments.