For fellow entrepreneurs

What is Sophrology?  And why is it reimbursed by the Swiss private health insurance companies? And how is it that teenage boys are loving it?

Why this powerful European wellbeing method is gaining ground with teens — and why it deserves a place in UK homes and schools.

When I first moved to the Swiss Alps twelve years ago to work as a Housemistress in a 13-18 boarding house, I kept hearing one unfamiliar word: Sophrology.

The teenagersin my care—bright, energetic, and often overwhelmed—would speak about it with surprising enthusiasm. They’d set alarms to attend sessions before school, returning calmer, lighter, and more focused. These were boys who struggled with motivation, organisation, or confidence, yet they insisted that Sophrology helped them feel ready to face the day.

If you live with teenagers, you’ll know this: they rarely open up when you ask them to. The truth comes late at night, just as you’re craving sleep and they’re coming alive — when their guard drops and the real conversations begin.

For more than twenty years, I’ve been part of those late-night moments — first as a teacher and boarding housemistress, then as a mother of teenage girls. In schools across the UK and Switzerland, I’ve shared quiet kitchens and tearful corridors with hundreds of teenagers. And those moments have taught me more about the teenage years — and about motherhood — than any training course ever could.

Starting a new school year can be a mix of excitement and nerves for students. To help ensure a smooth transition, here are 8 practical tips to make the first week back as smooth and strong as possible:

1. Open Up the Conversation: Before school starts, have a chat with them. Ask them what they’re looking forward to and what’s on their mind. Share what you found daunting at their age and still do now in your professional life. This helps them know they are not alone in their emotions and to voice their feelings, setting the stage for a supportive start.