We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caralyn Dreyer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Caralyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

A defining moment in my professional career happened when I encountered a difficult situation with a PR professional I was considering hiring to help me share my personal story. Over time, I realized this person didn’t have my best interests in mind and wasn’t as genuine as they appeared. My intuition, backed by some concrete information I uncovered, told me something wasn’t right — so I made the decision to walk away and continue building on my own.
That experience taught me a lot about trust, discernment, and the importance of protecting your voice and your vision. It also reminded me that what looks polished on paper or online doesn’t always reflect what’s happening behind the scenes. One of the biggest realizations I had was that many of the things I was being told I “needed to learn” from others were actually things I was capable of teaching myself. And I did.
Since then, I’ve launched my mental health blog and my mental health recovery podcast, both of which have allowed me to grow, rise, and connect with others on a deeply authentic level. The major lesson I took from that moment is to never underestimate yourself. You are often far more capable than you realize, sometimes it just takes the wrong situation to show you how much strength and skill you already have.

Caralyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a mental health writer, recovery advocate, podcast host, and writing tutor. I’m a survivor of sexual assault, a suicide attempt, and two abusive relationships, and I live daily with depression and anxiety. Those experiences don’t define me, but they’ve shaped my voice and purpose. They’re why I’m passionate about helping others find hope and healing through honesty, education, and connection.
I began sharing my personal story to reclaim my voice after years of silence, stigma, and shame. That journey led me to launch my blog, Darkness to Dialogue: Living Well with Mental Illness, and my podcast, Through the Darkness: A Mental Health Recovery Journey. Both give me space to talk about recovery in a real and relatable way, highlighting the fact that healing isn’t about perfection, but progress.
In addition to my creative work, I’m a professional writing tutor with a master’s degree in forensic psychology and two years of doctoral training. I combine lived experience with academic insight, offering a perspective that’s both credible and compassionate.
I’m most proud of building my platform independently after walking away from a professional relationship that didn’t align with my values. That moment taught me the power of self-trust, and that sometimes, the best way forward is the one you build yourself. My mission is simple: to show that healing is possible, even when it’s messy, and that you can grow through your pain to find your voice.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe my reputation has been built on authenticity, honesty, and being genuinely myself, both in my work and in how I connect with others. I don’t try to package healing as something pretty or polished; I talk about it as it really is, raw, imperfect, and ongoing. People resonate with that because it’s real. I don’t just share the highlight reel; I share the lessons, the setbacks, and the truth that recovery isn’t linear.
My audience knows that when I speak or write about something, it comes from lived experience and from the heart. I think that level of openness and consistency builds trust, and trust builds reputation. Over time, I’ve learned that people remember how you make them feel, and when you lead with honesty and integrity, your work naturally stands out.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A story that best illustrates my resilience isn’t one defining moment, it’s learning to keep showing up, even when my mental health makes that difficult. I live with depression and anxiety, and the symptoms can be debilitating at times. There are days when I feel frozen, unable to move forward, and I’ve often worried about the longevity of my blog, my podcast, and even my mission.
But resilience, for me, isn’t about always feeling strong, it’s about continuing to move in small, meaningful ways. When I began writing about mental health, I didn’t do it because I had all the answers. I did it because I needed to believe that healing was still possible, even in the middle of the struggle. That belief became the foundation of my blog and my podcast, Through the Darkness: A Mental Health Recovery Journey.
Living with depression and anxiety has taught me that real strength isn’t about never falling, it’s about finding the courage to rise again, even when it’s hard.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msha.ke/thecaralyndreyer
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caralyn_dreyer?igsh=MWp3aDI1MmU3dGRoag%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caralyn-dreyer?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Twitter: https://x.com/dreyercara?s=21
• Other: http://caralyndreyer.blogspot.com/ (mental health blog)
  https://msha.ke/thecaralyndreyer#links-4
  (Podcast)