[andrei_says_]

Slow down a bit. Give yourself time to enter his world learn about his experience and meet him there without passing judgment.

I like translating such interactions into kindergarden-emotion-language to distill the intention.

“You checked out! Explain self!” Will raise defenses.

“Hi human. I human, you human. I friend. (Stay here for a while) I notice thing. How you?

You human. I friend. I help. What happen?

I worry. You help understand?”

[carl_dr]

I know you’re not trying to be, but this is very childish.

The top two or three answers on this post are the way to go - talk, explain the issues, sure, see if there is something that could be done to help, but ultimately just look after OP’s own and OP’s organisation’s interests. It doesn’t matter if CTO is put out or not.

[andrei_says_]

I sometimes call this puppy language or toddler-speak - intentionally beyond childish. With extreme emphasis on emotion and attitude - which I believe is often the missing component.

We are all very very clever, but often miss the emotional part.