Dr. Caroline Fleck

Yeah, so when you're applying for grad school in psychology, you're supposed to talk all about like, you know, why do you want to be a clinical psychologist? And everyone talks about their like deep research interests and all of that. And I did too. And that was all bullshit.

Because the reason I went into clinical psychology is because I struggled with major depressive disorder from the time that I was 15 until about 26, 27. And it was hell. It was absolute hell. And in retrospect, I realized that so many of the experiences I had with therapists and mental health providers at that time were deeply invalidating. Like it did not feel helpful. It felt harmful.

Because the reason I went into clinical psychology is because I struggled with major depressive disorder from the time that I was 15 until about 26, 27. And it was hell. It was absolute hell. And in retrospect, I realized that so many of the experiences I had with therapists and mental health providers at that time were deeply invalidating. Like it did not feel helpful. It felt harmful.

Because the reason I went into clinical psychology is because I struggled with major depressive disorder from the time that I was 15 until about 26, 27. And it was hell. It was absolute hell. And in retrospect, I realized that so many of the experiences I had with therapists and mental health providers at that time were deeply invalidating. Like it did not feel helpful. It felt harmful.

I felt pathologized. I felt like I was treated like a patient, not a person. And not even like a medical patient, right? With like a broken arm or something, but like this broken person, right? And I wanted to be the type of therapist I didn't have. That was my motivation.

I felt pathologized. I felt like I was treated like a patient, not a person. And not even like a medical patient, right? With like a broken arm or something, but like this broken person, right? And I wanted to be the type of therapist I didn't have. That was my motivation.

I felt pathologized. I felt like I was treated like a patient, not a person. And not even like a medical patient, right? With like a broken arm or something, but like this broken person, right? And I wanted to be the type of therapist I didn't have. That was my motivation.

That and low key, I wanted to see if I could figure out how to treat depression and maybe come up with a treatment that would help me. So that was my true kind of motivation there. And again, when I look at it back through this lens, I realized that what I was experiencing was just pervasive invalidation. and I was hoping to provide experiences that were more validating.

That and low key, I wanted to see if I could figure out how to treat depression and maybe come up with a treatment that would help me. So that was my true kind of motivation there. And again, when I look at it back through this lens, I realized that what I was experiencing was just pervasive invalidation. and I was hoping to provide experiences that were more validating.

That and low key, I wanted to see if I could figure out how to treat depression and maybe come up with a treatment that would help me. So that was my true kind of motivation there. And again, when I look at it back through this lens, I realized that what I was experiencing was just pervasive invalidation. and I was hoping to provide experiences that were more validating.

And so I open with that a lot. I use that information in session. I share with people that there was a time in my life when I was suicidal. I know exactly what that feels like. I don't know what it is that got you here, but I know that level of desperation and it fucking sucks. And I'm so goddamn sorry. And it's this is the hardest thing. I've had breast cancer. I have MS.

And so I open with that a lot. I use that information in session. I share with people that there was a time in my life when I was suicidal. I know exactly what that feels like. I don't know what it is that got you here, but I know that level of desperation and it fucking sucks. And I'm so goddamn sorry. And it's this is the hardest thing. I've had breast cancer. I have MS.

And so I open with that a lot. I use that information in session. I share with people that there was a time in my life when I was suicidal. I know exactly what that feels like. I don't know what it is that got you here, but I know that level of desperation and it fucking sucks. And I'm so goddamn sorry. And it's this is the hardest thing. I've had breast cancer. I have MS.

Depression trumps those hands down. OK, that's a pretty big statement about how just profound that suffering is. And if I can communicate that, if I can connect with people in that way. There is a high level of validation that's communicated. I get it. I see you. I don't blame you. I don't think, you know, you're broken. You're just like me.

Depression trumps those hands down. OK, that's a pretty big statement about how just profound that suffering is. And if I can communicate that, if I can connect with people in that way. There is a high level of validation that's communicated. I get it. I see you. I don't blame you. I don't think, you know, you're broken. You're just like me.

Depression trumps those hands down. OK, that's a pretty big statement about how just profound that suffering is. And if I can communicate that, if I can connect with people in that way. There is a high level of validation that's communicated. I get it. I see you. I don't blame you. I don't think, you know, you're broken. You're just like me.

Yeah.

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