From Lviv region to the canton of Fribourg
Iryna Tikhonova has been living in Bösingen, canton of Fribourg, for over two years. She came to Switzerland from a small town in the Lviv region. She recently earned a coaching diploma and today calls herself an “emotion expert.”
Her new profession sounds intriguing and even a little mysterious. But Iryna explains it simply: it's about the ability to understand your emotions, work with them, and turn them into energy to achieve your goals.
"No negative emotions"
“We are used to dividing emotions into “positive” and “negative,” says the specialist. “For example, anger, fear, or disappointment seem bad to us because they can make us feel tired, stressed, or even in pain. But in reality, emotions are not enemies, but signals. They tell us what is happening to us and what we should pay attention to. If we learn to understand our emotions correctly, they become useful clues that help us take better care of ourselves and our lives.”
According to Iryna, this approach allows you to direct your energy in the right direction, rather than wasting it. Coaching helps you discover hidden internal resources that affect your health, relationships, work, and even integration into a new society.
Personal experience as evidence
Iryna Tikhonova has had a difficult path to integration. She studied at the University of Bern and recalls that the studies were so exhausting that many dropped out. “I could have dropped out too. But knowing about emotions helped me not to give up. Today I am fluent in German and have a recognized certificate,” she says.
It was this experience that convinced Iryna that coaching is necessary for other Ukrainians. After all, even successful people who held responsible positions in their homeland often lose faith in themselves in Switzerland.
Upcoming project in Bern
To support such people, Iryna, in partnership with USB, is launching training on emotion management. The format is both online and offline in Bern. “We plan to launch in two to three weeks. We are now starting to recruit groups,” she explains.
The program will consist of simple theory in an understandable form and practical exercises. Classes will last several hours: offline in an intensive format, online - spread over several days.
Topics that resonate
A special emphasis is placed on integration in Switzerland. “Many people get rejected after applying for jobs and immediately think: there’s something wrong with me. We will learn not to devalue ourselves, but to understand how our emotions work in such situations,” explains the project founder.
Iryna is convinced that this approach will help Ukrainians more easily navigate the path of adaptation and maintain faith in their own strength.
Training for everyone who wants changes in life
Participation in the classes is financially accessible and open to everyone, regardless of age. The only condition is the desire to change your life. “This is knowledge that stays with you forever. It is impossible to “disappear,” says Iryna with a smile.
Her main goal: Ukrainians should feel happy, regardless of where they live - in Switzerland or in Ukraine.
