Liberté - Instytut Psychoterapii

SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR LEADERS AND FOUNDERS IN WARSAW

Is It Burnout Already?

Fatigue following a demanding quarter simply calls for rest. Burnout, however, is a chronic, progressive state of depletion that does not dissipate after a well-spent weekend or vacation - it escalates gradually if left unaddressed.

The following assessment is for informational purposes and does not replace a clinical intake with a psychotherapist. It provides an objective evaluation of physiological and psychological indicators, serving as a foundation for informed managerial and personal health decisions.

Disclaimer

This assessment is designed for preliminary self-evaluation and does not constitute a medical diagnosis or formal psychological opinion. Specialists at the Liberté Institute utilize standardized clinical instruments (such as the MBI or OLBI) within a comprehensive structural clinical interview. This tool is structured around the official three-dimensional burnout model established by the World Health Organization (WHO / ICD-11).

Understanding Burnout (WHO / ICD-11 Framework)

In the ICD-11 classification, the World Health Organization defines burnout not as a medical condition, but as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The clinical presentation comprises three core dimensions:

  1. 01

    Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion

    both physical and mental.

  2. 02

    Increased mental distance from one's job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism

    related to one's role, team, or organization.

  3. 03

    Reduced professional efficacy

    and loss of agency.

At the Liberté Institute, therapeutic interventions for burnout are grounded in Evidence-Based Medicine - utilizing psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) depending on symptom severity. Treatment targets underlying defense mechanisms, unrealistic perfectionism, and rigid control structures.

Assessment Instructions

Evaluate the following statements and indicate how frequently you have experienced each condition over the past 4-6 weeks.

Rating Scale

  • 0Never or almost never
  • 1Rarely
  • 2Sometimes
  • 3Often
  • 4Frequently or always

0 / 13 answered

Assessment items

  1. 01You wake up in the morning lacking the energy required to make ongoing managerial decisions.
  2. 02Neither a free weekend nor a scheduled vacation provides a tangible sense of recovery.
  3. 03You experience headaches, chronic muscle tension, or sleep disturbances more frequently than last year.
  4. 04You have to force yourself to execute tasks and projects that previously came naturally.
  5. 05You experience mental exhaustion before the workday officially begins.
  6. 06Responsibilities and organizational objectives that once provided fulfillment now feel burdensome or meaningless.
  7. 07You notice growing detachment, indifference, or cynicism toward your team, clients, or business partners.
  8. 08You react with irritability or tension to decision-making scenarios that you previously handled as routine.
  9. 09You increasingly question the purpose of continuing to grow the role, company, or project you built.
  10. 10Despite working longer hours, you perceive a distinct decline in your actual output and effectiveness.
  11. 11Making key strategic decisions requires drastically more psychological effort than before.
  12. 12You doubt your leadership capabilities or the soundness of your decisions more frequently than usual.
  13. 13You feel a loss of control over organizational areas you previously managed with confidence.

Answer all 13 statements to see your result.

Want to discuss your result with a specialist?

An initial consultation clarifies whether what you experience is burnout, and which form of support will be most effective.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

  • Does this assessment provide a formal medical diagnosis?

    No. In the ICD-11 classification, burnout is categorized as an occupational phenomenon rather than a distinct medical disease. An online tool cannot replace a comprehensive clinical interview conducted by a qualified psychotherapist or psychologist, who must rule out differential diagnoses with overlapping symptoms (such as a major depressive episode or mood disorders).

  • How does this tool differ from clinical instruments like the MBI?

    Diagnostic instruments such as the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) or the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) are licensed, validated questionnaires administered by clinicians within a formal assessment protocol. This tool uses the same underlying WHO conceptual model, adapted specifically for preliminary online self-evaluation.

  • Why doesn't taking a vacation resolve advanced burnout?

    Rest addresses physical fatigue. However, burnout among leaders and founders typically stems from deeper personality structures - such as rigid patterns of over-responsibility, fear of delegation, or an unconscious alignment of self-worth exclusively with organizational performance. Upon returning from time off, unaddressed psychological mechanisms immediately recreate the same physiological stress response.

  • What occurs during the initial consultation following a high score?

    The initial intake focuses on evaluating your reported difficulties, assessing overall psychological functioning, and determining whether psychodynamic psychotherapy (e.g., TFP) or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most appropriate modality. Consultations are available in person at our Warsaw clinic (Plac Zbawiciela) or via secure online sessions.