Meret Flessenkamper
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Program: PsyD
Book I would recommend: The last book that made me feel connected and hopeful is One Story, One Song by Richard Wagamese. He is an incredible storyteller, and despite some of his stories touching on homelessness, generational trauma, abuse and not knowing where you belong, he writes with such wit and lightness and a sprinkle of humor.
Favorite Quote: “You can’t test your courage timidly. You have to run through the fire, arms waving, legs pumping and heart beating wildly with the effort of reclaiming something vital, lost, laid aside, or just plain forgotten. When you do that, you discover that we shine most brightly in community, the whole bedraggled, worn, frayed and tattered lot of us, bound together forever by a shared courage, a family forged in the heat of earnest struggle.” -Richard Wagamese
What would people be surprised to know about you?
People might be surprised when they hear that I love haircutting – I have given friends everything from a pink bob to a soccer buzzcut – and experimented with everything else on my own head!
Name a cause you are passionate about.
I am passionate about treating all creatures with respect and empathy – humans of every age, origin, appearance, sexual orientation, etc. but also my animal friends and the natural environments I find myself in. I will derail my day to bring a squirrel to the creature conservancy just as I would drive an injured human to the ER.
Why did you choose MSP?
I wanted to attend a school that has a progressive attitude towards psychotherapy and meet like-minded people that I can connect with.
What do you want to do with your degree?
With my degree, I plan to one day open a practice with like-minded psychologists, and engage not only in client work but also teaching and supervision. In addition, I want to use my degree to be a part of the political discourse and support prevention efforts, in order to tackle the roots of the systemic problems that make and keep us sick.
How did you first get interested in the mental health profession?
I have always been nosy and it turns out that it’s quite useful when you are working with people!
Interested in being featured in the Student Spotlight?
