Cluster Headache
Counseling for Sufferers

It is frustrating when medications do not work as hoped. But medicine primarily treats physiological pain. In counseling, we treat "the rest" – that is, your life with the pain. If the attacks remain, we have to change the strategy: Away from fighting the pain, towards more quality of life despite the limitation. I help you break through the paralyzing "fear of the fear", strengthen your psychological resilience, and find moments of joy again that the pain cannot take away from you.

Unpredictability is one of the biggest stress factors in cluster headaches. That is why we work out very concrete "safety nets". This means: We create emergency plans for the workplace and social situations. If you know exactly what to do in the "worst case", the basic tension drops massively. In addition, you learn to use your energetic, pain-free phases (the "gaps") consciously and without a guilty conscience. This brings back a piece of control.

Then your health has absolute priority. The conversation ends immediately – no ifs, ands, or buts. You incur no costs for the unused time, because nobody wishes for an attack. I know the situation from my own experience and know that you need to withdraw then. You do not have to explain yourself to me, do not need to apologize, and do not need to "hold out". We simply reschedule the appointment when you are feeling better.

Definitely. It is often difficult to make outsiders understand why you have "headaches again". I support you in finding the right words and images to make your situation tangible without having to justify yourself. Together we formulate clear messages for your employer or friends so that they understand what you need – and what not.

Yes. I have been living with episodic cluster headache myself for years. I know this annihilation pain where you want to bang your head against the wall. I know how dark thoughts can be in these moments. That is exactly why I do not offer empty phrases like "It will be fine". I pick you up where you are – with deep understanding of the suffering, but also with the unshakable confidence that you can lead a good life even with this burden.