Burnout Aid portal team

Burnout Aid comprises an interdisciplinary team from the Culture Shock Foundation, as well as a network of collaborators, experts and partner organisations who jointly develop selected projects, research, tools and educational initiatives.

We combine experience of working in NGOs, culture, education, process design, support for people overwhelmed by responsibility, and new technologies. For years, we have been working with activists, leaders and teams operating under conditions of pressure, uncertainty and constant change.

We view burnout from both a relational and a systemic perspective. We are interested not only in individual rest, but also in how teams work, tensions within organisations, and the conditions that either strengthen or weaken people committed to social change.

We have created Burnout Aid as a space that helps people examine warning signs, their level of stress and their needs. We believe that caring for wellbeing is not an add-on to a mission. It is a prerequisite for the mission to continue.

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.

Sylwia Żółkiewska

Head of Digital Solutions & Strategy, Culture Shock Foundation

Digital product strategist, designer, new media expert, doctor of fine arts. She co-creates tools that combine technology, knowledge, and real user needs, and develops digital platforms and ecosystems. She has extensive experience in designing websites, applications, games, and educational resources for the cultural, educational, and NGO sectors. She combines research, design, and social perspectives, ensuring that digital solutions are useful, accessible, sustainable, and ethical.

Urszula Engelmayer

Editor, author and sociologist

She specialises in the content and linguistic editing of texts relating to social, activist, cultural and artistic activities. She co-founded the cultural and literary magazines *Bluszcz* and *Chimera*. She has coordinated projects and worked as a mediator and consultant. She runs workshops on communication and conflict resolution – firmly believing that understanding one’s own needs and expressing them clearly are the best ways to foster mutual understanding.

Patrycja Żołędowska

Designer & UX Strategist

Strategist, designer, and UX lecturer at the SWPS University. She applies her skills and practical experience to the development of accessible digital products and services. She specializes in designing solutions based on a human-centered design approach, taking care of accessibility, usability, and positive user experience. In her work, she combines technological expertise with an empathetic approach to audience needs.

Maciej Turczyniak

Software Developer

Archaeologist by education, programmer by passion and profession. For many years associated with non-governmental organizations in the field of culture. Enthusiast of Open Source ideas. In between programming, he deals with digital retouching and preparing photos for print.

Agata Gieryn

Psychotherapist, Psychologist & Group Trainer, Culture Shock Foundation

Certified Gestalt psychotherapist, psychologist, and group trainer. She specializes in the prevention of burnout among activists and those working in cultural institutions, offering individual support and leading support groups and development workshops. She conducts psychological consultations, support groups, and workshops.

Gabriela Chyłkowska

Junior Content Specialist, Culture Shock Foundation

She specialises in creating, editing, optimising and publishing digital content. A graduate in Journalism and Social Communication from SWPS University. She is passionate about travels, East Asian culture, pop culture and literature.

Karolina Pluta

Trainer & Coach, Culture Shock Foundation

Trainer, expert in supporting cultural professionals, coach, theatre pedagogue, and socially engaged artist. She runs workshops, creative processes, and individual sessions. She is experienced in burnout prevention, mediation within cultural institution teams, and implementation of social and artistic projects. Member of the Theatre Pedagogues’ Association and the Culture Shock Foundation. Author of publications, research, and recommendations for institutions and NGOs. In her work, she combines education with art and uses diverse tools, including working on the body, impro, NVC, and creative writing.

Milena Górczyńska

Translator & Editor of English-language Content

She is responsible for translating content published on the Foundation’s website from Polish into English. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics (English and German) from the University of Warsaw. Her passion is learning languages – she is also fluent in Spanish. Her interests include music, literature, the culture of German- and Spanish-speaking countries, and pop culture.

Sofi Krupa

Translator & Editor of Ukrainian- and Russian-language Content, Culture Shock Foundation

She is responsible for translating and adapting content from Polish and English into Ukrainian and Russian, as well as publishing material on the BurnoutAid website. She is currently a fifth-year psychology student at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW). She is passionate about music and art, which she sees as important tools for expressing emotions, supporting mental wellbeing and gaining a better understanding of human nature.

Contributors

Kateryna Shukh

Psychologist, coach, and trauma-informed specialist, Culture Shock Foundation

Psychologist, coach, and trauma-informed specialist with more than 10 years of experience in the humanitarian sector. She supports leaders and aid sector professionals through crisis, covering both prevention and regeneration. She works at the intersection of psychotraumatology, coaching, and art therapy.

Kristina Malysheva

Psychologist, existential counsellor and coach

Psychologist, existential counsellor and coach with 11 years of experience. She has worked with NGOs for 10 years, including six years in the context of the war in Ukraine, supporting people affected by loss, displacement and crisis. Her approach combines existential counselling with values-based work, metaphors, film and literature. Her own experience of displacement deepens her understanding of adaptation, identity and rebuilding a sense of safety.

Gala Kachur

Psychologist, Transactional Analyst and coach

Psychologist and Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA-P) with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. For over 10 years, she has worked in psychotherapy and psychosocial support, and since 2022 has supported refugees in Germany. Her recent practice focuses on trauma and refugee care. In coaching, she draws on transactional analysis, with an emphasis on clear goals, mutual commitment and collaborative work.

Natalya Mosol

Psychologist, Mental Health Coach and University Lecturer

Psychologist, university lecturer and trainer with over 25 years of experience and a PhD in Psychology. She supports children, families and communities, also working with NGOs and international organisations. She combines academic knowledge with practical expertise, focusing on resilience, adaptation and growth. In coaching, she uses evidence-based psychology and practical tools to create a safe space for meaningful change.

Natalya Trambovetska

Coach, psychologist and organisational development expert

ICF-certified professional coach, psychologist and co-founder of NGO Insha Osvita. Since 2009, she has worked in civic education, project management and organisational development. She has 10 years of experience in strategy, strategic planning and internal communications. Her coaching combines empathy with structure, helping people navigate complexity, gain clarity and translate reflection into concrete decisions and practical steps.

Mariia Vanieieva

Life, Public Speaking and Team Coach

Certified life, public speaking and team coach. With a lifelong background in theatre, she combines stage-based tools with coaching to support leaders facing pressure, transition and creative fatigue. She helps clients restore energy, resilience, confidence and presence. Her approach uses improvisation, voice, body and imagination to rehearse new ways of acting, communicating and leading with greater clarity.

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