Carol Saldinger, MSW, LCSW

Psychotherapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Master's in Social Work | Loyola University Chicago

Bachelor's in Education | National College of Education

Clinical Specialties or Interests

Initially, I worked with children, adolescents, and adults. My theoretical orientation leans towards long term psychotherapy from a psychodynamic theoretical frame. I began to see individuals, primarily adults who were motivated to do deep work. I think I had some natural abilities to go more in depth with them because of my own life experiences.

I also very much enjoy working with the LGBTQ+ community. That came from a personal experience of having a couple of friends who lived their life secretly and who died during the AIDS epidemic. I received additional training because I was crushed by their deaths and by the secrecy that they had to keep. So I wanted to understand more and more. Then I began to work with that community always with my friends in mind - kind of like a living memory.

Why or how did you get interested and involved with counseling?

I think it was a natural evolution. I got married very young, I was a young mother. I found myself having feelings I didn't understand, which turned out to be anxiety and also some periods of depression, especially post-partum depression. I sought help from my internal medicine doctor who recommended counseling and made a referral. That began my own self-exploration and I was thrilled to have some very gifted psychoanalysts that worked with me. I was fascinated by what they did and felt very cared for while learning so much about myself that I felt compelled to give back in some way. So when I was invited to stay with YFC after my internship, it felt absolutely right. I felt so privileged to have been so well cared for and that I had insurance to cover my therapy. I wondered, why shouldn't everybody have an opportunity to have a positive therapeutic experience... and so I stayed.

Why have you remained passionate about counseling? What motivates you to continue each day? What keeps pulling you into it?

The people that work at YFC are my kind of people. The collegial support, friendship, warmth, and welcoming makes it a really inspiring and positive place to want to come to work every day. Each and every generation has its own family, and since I've been here so long, I've been part of a lot of therapeutic families. I've seen a lot of change, which sometimes has been hard, but at the same time I have witnessed so much growth. That motivates me and challenges me to become more flexible, and I have become more accepting of change. I'm in my senior years and they talk about how you can't teach new tricks to an old dog, but I have learned a lot and have gone with the flow and I think I am a better person for it.

How do you like to work with clients? How do you connect with them?

People tell me that I'm very calming and that I'm easy to speak to. I know I'm a good listener. I want to hear people's stories, understand their emotions, and empathically join them in the way I know how to do it. There's no formula for that. It's just part of me.

If a client is contemplating self-harm or hurting another, something needs to be done quickly to keep the client and others safe. But generally, my approach is by listening and letting them know that I'm really hearing them by my reflections. They seem to be willing and open to begin a journey. I don't try to take away people's defense mechanisms. Those are there for a reason and usually a very good reason. I respect that. When those defenses come down, it's because they are strong enough to see things from a different perspective.

Do you have a favorite wellness strategy that you use with clients?

I personally do meditation and I strongly encourage people to just experiment with it and try it. So during a session, if they're open to it and not too uncomfortable to step out of their safe place, then I do it with them so I can demonstrate and educate at the same time.

I also offer other things such as creative visualization. For example, I might take them through a passageway with that. Sometimes if they are particularly spiritual, then I incorporate some spirituality into the meditation. It all depends on the client.

For clients who are really uncomfortable with it, I just show them deep breathing and how that can relax the nervous system and the body.

In the context of counseling and your role, can you share any challenges that you've faced along the way and how you've managed them?

My biggest challenge is technology. Since I didn't grow up with today's technology, it is difficult for me. I want to be on top of it, and I ask for help regularly. The great thing is the people around me here at YFC are so helpful and kind so that's great.

Additionally, dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and the uncertainty of it has been difficult. It's hard to not know what normal will look like and when. Feeling the ambiguity in that has been challenging. Given that, in this field, we are flexible. We have been able to still see our clients online throughout this crisis. When I first met in person some of my new clients that I only saw online, it was surreal, but great. Offering the best possible therapy when we are distanced by wearing a mask or by talking behind a screen or by feeling uncomfortable in the situation we are in. I've gotten better with that but it has been challenging.

What do you love about being a part of the YFC team? How would you describe YFC in a few words?

I love that YFC can also be fun! We all recognize what burnout looks like and feels like. So to have the willingness and desire for administration and board to support us plus having fun with one another through outings and things like that is a great perk. We all try to participate if possible. That's not why I stay but that is what can lift up my week, if I'm looking forward to something like that.

Consultation means everything to me. I love the teaching part but I also love the learning opportunities, which are endless. That keeps me there. And different theoretical orientations are challenging but also help me learn something new and offer opportunities for me to incorporate something different into my work. I love hearing about successes with other perspectives - that's what it's all about - helping people find their way with whatever works. There's no one way to do it.

What is your happy place?

My happy place is at the end of a long day, when I get under the covers, I open up my kindle, and I get lost in my favorite book.

Another one is when I go hiking in the mountains of Colorado. I really love it there. It's very peaceful and it gives me an absolute knowing that there's so much more in the world than can be described. Native Americans might call it The Great Mystery.

What's one thing people might be surprised to find out about you?

My father and mother were Latin American dancers in their spare time. They would bring friends over on a weekend night and dance in the house with the Latin music on. My father taught me how to do a really mean mambo!

At one point I was a musician and offered piano lessons to children for many years. I also volunteered at a hospital for about 4 years. And at one point I worked for WTTW where I was in charge of a fundraising event on the north shore of Chicago.

What's the last song that you listened to?

Hello by Adele! Also my favorite book that I'm reading right now is called Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. It's about Hamlet's son and Shakespeare and it's amazing! Beautiful writing.

What's your favorite must-see movie?

I have to say James Bond!