Preventive mental health for leaders
We operate at the intersection of neuroscience, behavioral science, and clinical mental health protocols.
Pausa for Leaders:
The Architecture of Mental Health
The Problem Leaders do not talk about
1. You absorb the stress of your team
You carry everyone’s worries, doubts, and emotional load - because there is no one above you to hand it to.
2. You handle conflict, responsibility, and uncertainty alone
You make the hard decisions in isolation and hold the weight of every outcome, even when you look calm on the outside.
3. You live in constant noise and nonstop decisions
Your attention is pulled in a hundred directions a day; your mind jumps from fire to strategy without a single moment to breathe.
4. Your mind never fully shuts off
Even at night or on weekends, your brain keeps spinning - planning, anticipating, problem-solving - and real recovery never happens.
This is pre-burnout.
The silent decline of clarity, energy, and emotional stability.
Pausa intervenes before that point - restoring your clarity, resetting your system, and giving you back the mental foundation real leadership requires.
At Pausa we don't wait until you hit the wall. Our Core is a science-backed 72-hour physiological reset - decompressing your nervous system, restoring clarity, and priming you for high performance.
Then we turn insight into habits around 5 Pillars of Healthy Lifestyle (sleep & recovery, physical exercises, nutrition, mindfulness, and community), using simple, daily practices that protect your capacity long after the retreat ends.
The Pausa Method:
Reset. Rewire. Sustain
"Health is not valued 'till sickness comes." - Thomas Fuller
Intimate by design: "We host a maximum of 6 leaders at a time. This isn't a crowded conference. It's a private, focused environment for deep work."
The Pausa Location:
1.5h from Lisbon, six private cabins immersed in nature
Designed for rest: "Each cabin is free of digital distractions. No TVs, no Wi-Fi. Just a comfortable bed, a journal, and the sound of nature."
Space to connect: "Our communal space is where we gather for workshops, share meals, and engage in guided conversations."
22%
increase in strategic clarity
Leaders who took structured breaks reported a 22% increase in strategic clarity compared to those who did not.
48%
of leaders burned out
4:1
Return on Investment
Nearly half of all workers reported feeling burned out in 2024, jeopardizing critical decision-making, focus, and corporate stability.
Investment in proactive mental health yields a proven minimum return of US$4 for every US$1 invested, driven by increased productivity and better health outcomes.
"Resilience is a muscle that anyone can strengthen." — Sheryl Sandberg (Author, Option B)
The World’s Top Performers on Mental Health:
Insights from CEOs, Olympians, and Founders who lead under pressure
"It’s OK to not be OK. We need to normalize asking for help." — Michael Phelps (23x Olympic Gold Medalist)
"You cannot access empathy if you're not willing to be vulnerable." — Brené Brown (Research Professor & Author)
"Mindfulness has been the most transformative tool to help me become a better CEO." — Marc Benioff (CEO and Co-Founder of Salesforce)
"Sleep is not a luxury; it's a biological necessity for productivity, creativity, and decision-making." — Arianna Huffington (Founder, Thrive Global)
"Inspiration doesn’t come from constant pushing. It comes from slowing down and letting silence do its work. That's when I experienced a sense of clarity I hadn’t felt in a long time." — Felix Haas (Entrepreneur & Investor, Lovable)
Take a moment.
For real.
Stop now, and take a few deep breaths.
"All graduates of the Pausa Reset are invited to join The Circle - an active, private community of like-minded founders and leaders."
The Pausa Circle
A high-trust circle of founders and top talent committed to clarity, consistency, and long-term performance.
Upcoming Reset
🗓️ 2026, Feb 5, 14:00 – Feb 8, 14:00
📍 Just 1.5 hour from Lisbon
🏡 6 private cabins - 4 still available
💶 €1.260,- per participant (excl. VAT)
Includes full program, private cabin, transfer from/to Lisbon, all meals, post-retreat integration plan
Upcoming Reset:
Join a curated group of founders and leaders for 72 hours of guided reset and deep clarity
Research shows that individual wellbeing is only half the solution. True success comes from combining individual interventions (our specialty) with organizational change.
We help you reset, then partner with Portugal's top organizational consultancies to help you build a healthier company culture.
For Businesses:
Healthy leaders build healthy organizations
"Growing up in a culture where burnout wasn't even a recognized term, and being part of a military family that discouraged showing vulnerability, I faced the challenges of being a solo-founder in four companies. Before that, I experienced burnout in a corporate setting, understanding firsthand the emotional toll of constant overdrive. The mind never rests. As a leader, you strive to appear strong for your team, yet you also need support. Panic isn't an option.
Through years of trial and recovery, I developed a toolkit for clarity and resilience. Pausa is my pledge to share these tools with other leaders before they reach a breaking point. In our always-online world and under the BANI framework, mental and emotional health is crucial, influencing teams, decisions, and outcomes. We must lead by example. That's why we have created a method rooted in neuroscience, behavioral science, and WHO/WPA protocols, in collaboration with top mental health experts.
Pausa is dedicated to maintaining the clarity and strength essential for true leadership."
The Pausa Founder:
My mission. My passion. My cause
Yaroslav Derevianko
Co-founder of Pausa
