Claus has a remarkable ability to untangle thought patterns that you’ve unknowingly made far more complicated than they need to be. By the time I came to him, I had created countless theories about why I was suddenly going through such a difficult period.

Claus helped me step back and see the bigger picture. He asked a few simple questions that took me back to what was actually happening, instead of where my mind had led me. He demystified my experience, helped me see that what I was going through was completely understandable, and made the work ahead feel much more approachable.

Ever since our conversation, whenever I notice my mind starting to spiral into overthinking and analysing everything, I remember what Claus said. That conversation became a reference point that brought me back to the real reason I was struggling. I wasn’t dealing with countless hidden psychological problems. I was deeply stressed, completely exhausted, and the causes were, in reality, very tangible circumstances in my life, things that many other people would have found overwhelming too.

One of the greatest things Claus taught me was that it’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay not to be able to carry the weight of the world. And when you reach your limit, it’s okay to rest without feeling guilty.

I’ve always had a mind that works a little differently. I think differently and I approach life differently, and that’s always been true. After our conversation, I realised how much unnecessary suffering I had created by continuing to build theories about my mental wellbeing.

What I really needed was space to breathe. In many ways, I had been making it much harder for myself than it needed to be.

Thank you for bringing me clarity.