A personal note from Thomas
"For a long time, growth for me meant a constant fight.
Whether I was overcoming addiction in my twenties, tackling academic struggles, or repairing personal relationships, I relied on strict willpower, heavy intellect, and a harsh internal critic. It was an exhausting way to live. I was constantly trying to force myself to fit into a box of who I thought I 'should' be.
Everything shifted when I was in my thirties. Even though I was already trained as a clinical psychologist, discovering Gestalt therapy completely transformed how I looked at life. I realized that true, lasting change doesn't come from constant self-criticism or forcing action.
Instead, it happens when we stop trying to 'fix' ourselves and simply begin observing who we are with curiosity and acceptance. By learning to slow down, listen to my body, and speak my truth in relationships, I found a deeper sense of ease, clarity, and authentic power.
Years later, while running a busy therapy and coaching practice, I went through a profound burnout. That experience forced me to slow down even further and deeply listen to what my body was telling me—solidifying my belief in embodiment, the reality that our bodies hold our deepest truths.
I created these circles because I kept seeing how many conscious, capable men are carrying heavy masks, dealing with quiet isolation, and settling for superficial connections.
I bring my clinical background, Gestalt training, and personal journey to hold a safe, boundaried space for you. My goal isn't to fix you—it's to offer a space where you can drop your armor, connect genuinely, and navigate life alongside other men."
A personal note from Felix
"Two weeks before I started my university studies, my father suddenly passed away.
I allowed myself to cry for the first 24 hours. Then I shut it down. I chose to be 'strong'—adhering to an image of masculinity as the tough, lone cowboy who handles everything alone. For years, I threw myself into my studies and work.
On the outside, I excelled. But on the inside, I had built a deep, protective shell that kept me safely insulated from my grief. The cost was high: I became emotionally blocked and unable to open up or connect with the people around me.
My path began to shift when I was introduced to meditation. That marked the start of a whole new chapter—a gradual move away from an outer-driven, achievement-focused life toward exploring my inner world. Step by step, that journey led me deeper: attending meditation retreats, studying Buddhist philosophy, diving into coaching, and exploring various holistic healing practices.
Through the guidance of wise mentors along the way, I finally learned how to sit with the grief of losing my father. In doing so, I dissolved the armor, replacing the pain with an immense gratitude for his love and everything he gave me.
When I became a father myself, that healing took on a whole new meaning. Becoming a dad forced me to ask: What kind of masculinity am I passing on? I realized I don’t want to raise my child from behind a protective shell. I want to be a present, emotionally open and accessible father.
I encountered men's work for the first time at a festival in the Netherlands. I was struck by the honesty and vulnerability in the room. That experience led me to attending the Free Man Festival in the Netherlands and eventually into Thomas’s men’s circle in Antwerp. When Thomas began looking for a co-facilitator in Brussels, I was excited to join him.
Having lost my father so young, sitting in the men’s circles made me realize how much I had missed a male role model during the transition into adulthood.
The men’s circles meet a deep, longstanding desire in me to connect with men in a space of real vulnerability. Joining in the honest stories of men’s triumphs, struggles, and everyday lives continues to be one of the most grounding, transformative and joyful experiences of my life.
