This Tiny & The Muse interview, we get to know Carmen Kleinsman, who intuitively transitioned from a sales career to a career in healing.
We'll discuss burnout and how it can serve as a meaningful redirection towards a more fulfilling path. Let's dive into the deep, unknown subconscious with Brainspotting & inner child healing.
Who are you, what do you do, and what were you doing before your current work?
My name is Carmen and I live in Muiden with my partner and daughter. I'm an inner child coach and Brainspotting practitioner. Additionally, I assist Marie-Jose Boon with Brainspotting training sessions, act as a supervisor, and am part of the Brainspotting team in the Netherlands. Before this, I worked for many years as a sales account manager for various fashion companies. Sometimes, my time in sales feels like another life. It wasn't until my burnout in 2014 that I truly felt the old life no longer fit, and the new path wasn't yet clear.
How did you get involved in your current work?
I've been fascinated by the human psyche for as long as I can remember. I probably should have studied psychology, but at 17, when I had to make that choice, it wasn't the right time.
When I experienced burnout in 2014, my search began for the type of therapy that suited me best. I felt very anxious during that time and barely slept, even though I was exhausted. I was physically present, but everything seemed to pass me by—a very frightening feeling. Besides resting, walking, and talking with a psychologist, I spent hours in the public library reading about philosophy, psychology, and spirituality. Reiki, hypnotherapy, and gemstones all interested me and brought me back to my inner world.
Talking to professionals made me aware of my thoughts and patterns, but no lasting change occurred. After a traumatic birth in 2020, burnout-like symptoms reappeared. When I heard about Brainspotting through a podcast, my interest was immediately piqued. Brainspotting evolved from EMDR, and I initially started it to process my traumatic birth. Gradually, other themes emerged through Brainspotting, such as attachment. During the sessions, there is little to no talking, and no conscious memory is needed to resolve traumas. I discovered that my body knows much more than my mind ever could through cognitive therapy.
Brainspotting, along with inner child healing, has made me feel more mature, lighter, and freer.
I can stay closer to myself and make authentic choices. I have a better sense of what suits me, can better recognize and set my boundaries, and truly choose for myself, which also improves my relationships. I feel more connected to myself and my surroundings, and that is precisely what I wish for the women I now guide. Through courses, training, education, and mentorship, I specialized in the path I first walked myself. Now, in my practice, I help other women navigate this journey.
What's the most significant revelation you've had as a mentor/coach?
The body truly knows much more than our thinking brain can comprehend. Every session, I see how a system processes blockages without many words. Our system knows exactly what to do, as long as we trust it. Additionally, every system is unique—there is no 'one size fits all'!
Has motherhood changed your business, and how do you balance motherhood and work?
Before Ruby my daughter was born, I realized how important freedom and flexibility are to me. Her arrival only reinforced that. Until she started school, I worked three days a week, and I'm very grateful for all the time I spent with her. Since May, she has been attending school, and it feels like a new era for me. More time and space have opened up for me and my work, which feels great! I sense that Ruby is also eager for me to do what I am here to do. I work in the mornings and some afternoons, while the other afternoons and weekends are reserved for family time.
What advice would you give your younger self with your current professional knowledge?
Got a minute? First, don't worry so much about the present or the past, but enjoy the here and now. Everything is exactly as it should be. Listen to yourself and your body, and act from that place. Take control of your life and don't worry too much about what others think. I believe that, along with the knowledge I've gained and internalized over the years, this advice comes with getting older.
What question do you most frequently receive at work?
The most common question from people in my practice is how to stay closer to themselves. They want to compare themselves less to others, feel less insecure, learn to set better boundaries, and truly stand in their own power.
A fact and a myth within your expertise?
Some people still believe in the idea of being completely healed. There is no such thing.
Life will continue to trigger us; how we handle it is up to us.
A mantra/quote?
The most beautiful quote ever written, in my opinion:
"We're all just walking each other home" - Ram Dass.
The product or service you are most proud of and why?
I'm proud of the entire package I offer, from individual Brainspotting sessions to the four-month inner child journey. During the inner child journey, we give your inner child the attention and love they deserve. We teach the inner child that they are safest with you. In my opinion, this journey, combined with Brainspotting, is the most valuable gift a woman can give herself.
How can the muses find you?
Via Your Inner Peace
Comments