In today’s high-pressure corporate landscape, the toll on mental health is becoming increasingly evident. Long hours, relentless deadlines, workplace politics, and the constant demand for peak performance have created a silent crisis burnout, anxiety, and emotional fatigue are now as common as coffee breaks. The conversation around mental well-being in boardrooms and breakrooms is no longer optional; it’s essential. Mental health is emerging as the cornerstone of sustainable productivity and human-centric leadership, yet the gap between awareness and actionable support remains wide in many professional settings.

Amid this pressing need, one name stands out for bridging that gap with purpose and precision: Claudia Schwinghammer, Founder and CEO of mental-health.wien & Spark. Applitude, a custom software development services organization, backs both of these ventures with their technical expertise & foresight. It is led by the tech expert Nebojša Stanković, CEO of Applitude. A seasoned mental health expert and the founder of a pioneering mental wellness organization, Claudia Schwinghammer has made significant strides in both the corporate and private sectors. Whether it’s empowering stressed-out employees within fast-paced workplaces or providing tailored support to individuals navigating personal mental health challenges, her holistic approach brings balance, empathy, and results.

Mind Catalyst

Spark, founded on April 1st, 2022, emerged from a profound intersection of professional insight and personal experience. After spending several years navigating, the demands and intricacies of the corporate world, Claudia Schwinghammer recognized a growing and unmet need for a more specialized, human-centric approach to mental health support, particularly tailored for professionals operating in high-stress environments. It is specially crafted for employee well-being and tackling the corporate stress caused in daily work at professional jobs.

The inspiration behind Spark was deeply personal. Following the loss of her father, she was compelled to channel her grief and her extensive experience in mental health into creating something meaningful. This organization not only addresses psychological well-being but also does so with empathy, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability. Spark was born out of this mission: to bridge the gap between emotional resilience and workplace performance, while also catering to individuals in private settings. She has also been voted as the best Hypnotherapist in the DACH region. Whereas mentalhealth.wien is her private practice in Vienna for one-on-one sessions with people personally where she offers psychotherapy and RTT® sessions to individuals. 

Today, her ventures stand as unique and trusted partners for mental wellness. Claudia Schwinghammer began with private clients who were elated by her working style. She gives them the credit as they suggested she start something similar for corporate companies, too. She has triumphantly achieved a 5-star rating on Google for her service, given by 100 of her elated clients. With Spark too, the success rate speaks, which is 94%. Repetitive clientele is not a new phenomenon for her. Her organization’s approach combines therapeutic expertise with an acute understanding of corporate dynamics, making it a valuable resource for CEOs, startup leaders, and employees alike. Under her leadership, Spark is redefining how mental health is perceived, prioritized, and practiced across industries.

Trusted Ascent

One of the most defining milestones in Spark’s journey was its nomination as one of the Top 10 Mental Health Services in Europe—a recognition that underscored the organization’s growing impact and credibility across the mental wellness landscape. For founder Claudia Schwinghammer, this achievement signified far more than just industry validation; it represented the alignment of vision, execution, and trust. Lately, she has been designated as the Best Hypnotherapist in the DACH region.

What truly sets Spark apart is not just its innovative approach to mental health, but also the strength of the team behind it. She has been intentional in building a core group of professionals who share her values and commitment to ethical, client-centric care. Having the right people on board—those she can rely on implicitly—has been instrumental in scaling the organization while maintaining the highest standards of trust and quality. This foundation has enabled Spark to deliver consistent, results-driven support to both corporate clients and individuals, while staying agile and adaptable in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Resilience Through Reinvention

In the early stages of Spark’s journey, Claudia Schwinghammer faced the same uncertainties and growing pains that many entrepreneurs know all too well. Transitioning from a structured corporate environment, where a steady paycheck and predictable routines offered security—to launching a business from the ground up brought its own set of challenges. The initial phase was marked by significant financial outlays, limited brand visibility, and the reality of building trust in a competitive marketplace.

As a single mother to her daughter, Laura, she bore the dual responsibility of raising a child while simultaneously nurturing a young business. The emotional and financial demands were considerable, yet they also became a powerful motivator. Her resilience and clarity of purpose enabled her to push forward through uncertainty.

Another key learning from those early days was the importance of discernment—especially when it came to building professional relationships. Claudia Schwinghammer began her entrepreneurial journey with an open and warm-hearted approach, eager to collaborate and connect. However, experience soon taught her the strategic value of knowing whom to trust and when to establish boundaries. Today, that hard-earned wisdom informs Spark’s core ethos: balancing empathy with discernment, passion with precision—qualities that resonate with leaders and clients alike.

Collaborative Growth

“Sharing is caring” is more than a saying at Spark—it is a guiding principle embedded in the organization’s culture. Claudia Schwinghammer believes that continuous learning and mutual exchange are key drivers of personal and professional growth. Under her leadership, Spark fosters an environment where open dialogue, peer learning, and regular knowledge-sharing sessions are not only encouraged but expected.

By learning from one another’s experiences and insights, the team collectively raises its standard of service and impact. This commitment to collaboration empowers everyone at Spark to evolve, adapt, and consistently strive to be the best version of themselves—for their clients, their colleagues, and the communities they serve.

Smart Automation

Spark made an early investment in a digital portal to streamline internal processes and reduce administrative workload. Recognizing that such tasks are better handled by technology, founder Claudia Schwinghammer prioritized efficiency and automation over manual effort. Admitting that administrative work is not her core strength, she strategically chose to delegate it to systems that enhance productivity. Spark continues to evolve through continuous learning and reflection. The organization collaborates with an external firm led by Nebb, fostering a strong partnership grounded in shared growth and mutual learning.

Structured Excellence

Spark established clearly defined roles and processes, resulting in an enhanced customer experience. Clients feel a strong sense of comfort and trust in their interactions, supported seamlessly by well-integrated technology.

Innovative Independence

Spark was built entirely through internal funding, without the backing of external investors—a strategic choice that has allowed the organization to retain full control over its vision, values, and direction. This independence has enabled Claudia Schwinghammer and her team to stay agile, purpose-driven, and deeply aligned with their mission.

What truly sets Spark apart in a crowded mental health landscape is its innovative methodology—a unique approach that engages both the conscious and unconscious levels of the human mind. By integrating evidence-based practices with deeper psychological insights, Spark empowers individuals and teams to unlock their full potential. This dual-level engagement fosters lasting transformation, whether in high-performance corporate environments or private therapeutic settings. It’s this forward-thinking, results-oriented model that continues to differentiate Spark as a leader in modern mental wellness.

Bold Consistency

Consistency, the courage to pursue bold, untested ideas, and unwavering belief in the value of Spark’s services have been key drivers of its success, reinforced continually by the success stories of its clients.

Inclusive Transparency

Around 80% of Spark’s team is currently female, reflecting a broader trend in psychotherapy and coaching fields that remain predominantly women-led for reasons that are not yet fully understood. Founder Claudia acknowledges the value of gender diversity and welcomes the opportunity to bring more male professionals into the organization. At Spark, transparency is a core principle. Roles, expectations, and outcomes are clearly defined, with no distinctions based on gender or background. The team operates on the belief that fairness and integrity transcend all differences. With professionals who speak 12 languages, Spark embraces diversity and fosters a culture of mutual learning and global collaboration.

Progressive Client Onboarding

In addition to premium coaching, Spark incorporated coaching sessions and keynote offerings as part of its service portfolio, recognizing the need for significant initial engagement to begin deep-level work. This approach allows clients to become familiar with Spark’s methods, gain trust, and smoothly transition into the transformative process.

With over 25 years of experience in business and a strong foundation in the pharmaceutical industry, Claudia Schwinghammer is an international business coach, psychotherapist, and founder of SPARK, one of Europe’s Top 10 Psychological Services. Through her company Applitude – Nebb, she empowers professionals with transformative mental health solutions tailored for both corporate and private clients.

Book a session or learn more at SPARK